BlackBerry® Professional Software and BlackBerry® Enterprise Server Express

[tbs]

I recently downloaded Blackberry Professional software to install on my Exchange 2003 server.  I have completed the pre-requisites and I am about to install the software but have three concerns that I do not see addressed in the documentation / instructions.

#1 Will the Apache that is installed with the BPS conflict with IIS that is running my OWA?

#2 Is Blackberry Professional Software designed or supported to work on Active/Passive clusters? or simply put, is it cluster aware?

#3 If the the answer to #2 is "yes" then is it simply a matter of installing the software on the Active node, failing over then installing it on the passive (now active [after failover]) node?  Do I need to install the software on both nodes or can I just install it on the active and copy the binaries to the passive node??

These are probably easy to answer, but I need to be comfortable before I install any software in my Exchange environment.

[Roger3]

Wow, I just registered on this forum to ask this exact question!  Thanks TBS. 

[knottyrope]

I dont see cluster mentioned here.

http://na.blackberry.com/eng/support/software/professional_exchange_ver_january09.pdf

[AndyDufresne · Accepted solution]

I've put my responses in line with your questions ...

 

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tbs wrote:

I recently downloaded Blackberry Professional software to install on my Exchange 2003 server.  I have completed the pre-requisites and I am about to install the software but have three concerns that I do not see addressed in the documentation / instructions.

#1 Will the Apache that is installed with the BPS conflict with IIS that is running my OWA?

>> BPS installs apache?  First I've heard of it.

#2 Is Blackberry Professional Software designed or supported to work on Active/Passive clusters? or simply put, is it cluster aware?

>> BPS / BES is NOT cluster aware.  In the event of a failover depending on how quickly Exchange recovers BPS may also recover.  That said ... if you're using BPS with a cluster you shouldn't be installing BPS on an Exchange server.  It should be on its own stand-alone OS instanace.  Best practice is if your mailbox server fails over, restart your BPS. I know people with Exchange clusters that use BPS purely because they have a few BlackBerry users.

#3 If the the answer to #2 is "yes" then is it simply a matter of installing the software on the Active node, failing over then installing it on the passive (now active [after failover]) node?  Do I need to install the software on both nodes or can I just install it on the active and copy the binaries to the passive node??

>> Already answered ... not cluster aware.

These are probably easy to answer, but I need to be comfortable before I install any software in my Exchange environment.

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[tbs]

Yes - knottyrope - I do not see it mentioned either but the "salesperson" said it would work.  All of us IT people have been in that spot before which is why I am after any confirmation or anyone with real world experience to tell me that it works fine before I mess with my mail server.

[Roger3]

Found the number for Sales Support (1.800.327.9085 if you're interested) and asked the same question.  BPS is NOT cluster-aware, but BES is.  They didn't recommend trying to install it on a cluster as they haven't tried or tested it at all.