BlackBerry® Enterprise Server Version 5.0

[fergusstrachan]

Hi, I've searched but haven't found exactly what I need here, so any help would be much appreciated.

We simply want to virtualise our BES 5.0 server, and I'm looking at the best way to do it.

Details:

- BES 5.0 with about 100 users

- DB is on a separate dedicated SQL server

- No "T support" as far as I know

- Just want to virtualise the BES server, and will update the OS at the same time (Win2003 - Win2008R2?)

I've read about cut-overs and using the HA facility in 5.0 but there seems to be some conflict in what I'm reading...

Is the HA method (KB22499) the best one to use? Seems like it would be easiest since it involves little/no changes in DB, SRP etc...

If so, is KB22499 the best doc to follow, because this specifies "select the option to install as a standby server" whereas the doc "Install a standby BlackBerry Enterprise Server" (http://docs.blackberry.com/en/admin/deliverables/12070/Install_a_standby_BES_858872_11.jsp) shows slightly different options. Maybe this is just differences between incremental BES versions, but I've seen major diffs between (I think) 5.0 and 5.1 before and am a little paranoid.

Are there any caveats/gotchas I should be aware of?

Thanks for reading this long-winded message. :-)

Fergus.

[Alex_C]

Hi Fergus,

As you didn't mention to which virtualization product you want to migrate, I cannot tell you the exact way, and to be honest I'm barely familiar with virtualization software.

But I know from workmates that there is a tool with which you create a kind of clone of the physical server, say a virtual disk, which you then can mount on the host system. Anything should be the same when starting the guest - the BES.

Regarding the OS upgrade... I think it would be the easiest way to shutdown the "old" server and reset the computer object in AD. Afterwards you can setup the new server with Win2008R2 as virtual machine. Install BES and connect it to the dedicated SQL DB.

If you don't want to face the downtime, install the new server with a BES trial key, move the users/devices with the Blackberry Transporter, and after the old BES was shut down, take over the productive SRP and CAL license keys.

I hope this helps!

Cheers,

Alex

[fergusstrachan]

Thanks Alex,

the virtualization side is kind of immaterial - It's VMWare, and yes we could use Converter but the OS upgrade is still required so we're just building from scratch in the VSphere environment.

We don't want the downtime, which is why I was looking at the HA method which means no additional SRP, no moving of users between DBs and presumably less updating of devices afterwards.

Ferg.

[Alex_C]

OK, I see.
Well, sorry then, I have no experience with HA...
Hope you get it sorted!
Cheers,
Alex

[knottyrope]

HA is a quick method to do this and you can revert to the old server quick if things should go wrong.

[fergusstrachan]

Will give it a go then, thanks.

No gotchas or anything then..? I doubt that. ;-)

[heyknotty]

Appologies if this isn't a seperate post, but I have what i believe is a related question...

My BES (5.03 MR3) a Windows 2003 R2 32 bit standalone running in VMware with 120 users.  We're introducing Lync 2010/Enterprise client shortly, so want to introduce a Window 2008 R2 (64 bit) BES (5.03 MR6) running the collaboration service.  Would we be best to also go down the HA path?  What would be our safest/quickest route and any related KBs that should be followed?

PS: thanks in advance my guru friend who dominates these forums... ;-)

Addicted to my PB64 - awaiting 2.0!

[knottyrope]

yes HA fail over is one of the best methods.

How to migrate the BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5.0 to new hardware using the high availability feat...