BlackBerry® Training and Certification

[Keyser_Soze]

February 3, 2009-Questions

Q1.  Why are Terminal Services a requirement for BES?

A1.  Terminal Services is not a requirement for BES, it is mentioned that Terminal Services – Application Mode must NOT be installed on the server on which you are installing the BlackBerry Enterprise Server.

Q2.  Where is the support Forums?

A2:  http://supportforums.blackberry.com/rim.

Q3.  The manual mentions something about the knife edge should only be used when upgrading from BES 3.6? How does that affect users, with a higher existing version?

A3.  You can actually perform a knife edge cutover from any version of BlackBerry Enterprise Server.

Q4.  When preparing to do an upgrade, is it OK to run the upgrade tool, far enough to get the warnings, and the component compliance checks, without affecting the active version of the BES software?

A4.  Yes this will be ok, as no system changes are made prior to that screen.

Q5.  In an existing BlackBerry environment, is there a way to move some of the services

(like Attachment, Collaboration) off of the existing server and install them on another server to assist with load balancing without resorting to a full reinstallation?

A5.  Yes, this is possible, however the steps for each component differ, so please refer to the installation guide or BlackBerry Technical solution Centre at Blacberry.com/btsc for detailed steps. You do not need additional licensing to move a component off the core BlackBerry Enterprise Server.

Q6.  Is there any reason to install the MDS services if you are not integrating BlackBerry with your business applications?

A6.  No, there would be no other benefit to using the MDS integration Service. As Web browsing functionality would be handled by the MDS Connection Service.

Q7.  What are some problems that may occur by having all services on one box?

A7.  In a large scale environment that uses all of the BlackBerry Components to full potential, there may be a performance decrease if they are all installed on one computer, so at that point you would want to look into distributing components to other servers.

Q8.  Is it recommended that any person who is doing an upgrade to the BES software, have domain admin access, and administrator access to the Exchange servers that are accessed, as well as the SQL servers that are accessed? If not what limited access is require

A8.  When you are actually running the BlackBerry Enterprise Server Software, you need to be logged in as your BlackBerry Service Account (besadmin). If you need to assign permissions to the besadmin account during the pre-install checklist, you will likely need elevated permissions (such as local administrator or domain administrator, depending on which permissions you are granting)

Q9.  Can you install just the blackberry manager on a workstation to access the users and most BES features?

A9.  Yes, this is actually quite common.

Q10. Are there any commands, that should be run, like or in addition to handheldcleanup,

before an upgrade is attempted ? I don't see any reference to them in the manual so far....

A10. For a 3.6 to 4.0 or 4.1 upgrade, please see the following article for additional steps:

http://www.blackberry.com/btsc/KB10354

For upgrading from 4.0 to 4.1, or installing service packs within either of those versions,

no other commands will be necessary.

Q11.  If mds got installed during an upgrade but is not being used what are the options.

Should you just let mds exist with the services running? should you stop the

services, or any other suggestions?

A11.  You could just leave MDS Integration Service installed with Services Stopped, otherwise, you would need to perform a clean–uninstall of your BlackBerry Enterprise Server, and then re-install without choosing the MDS Integration Service.

Clean uninstall instructions

Q12.  If you install the Blackberry Manager on your local workstation, do you need to log in to your local workstation with the besadmin account, or can you run it using your regular user account?

A12.  You can login as besadmin, or use role based-administration, which will be covered in a later chapter

Q13.  Can the BES servername be modified after the initial installation?

A13.  No, once you choose a name for the BlackBerry Enterprise Server Instance, you are not able to change it.

Q14.  What are the ramifications if "BESadmin" account is not used and only domain admin? 

A14.  The BlackBerry Enterprise Server will still be installed successfully, however users will experience problems with wireless calendar synchronization. There is a process called “Switch Service Account” that you can use to correct this problem, and instructions are available in the BlackBerry Technical Solution Centre.

Q15.  So which components can't be installed remotely..?

A15.  Core BES components – Dispatcher, Messaging Agents, Policy Service, and Synchronization Service

Q16.  Is Windows Server 2008 supported?

A16.  No

Q17.  Are there any known issues with using any name other than BESAdmin for the service account name?

A17.  No, you can choose whichever name you like, however in most of our documentation, this account is referred to as “besadmin”

Q18.  Our BES server has the database installed locally, is there a procedure to export

and reconfigure the database to a stand-alone SQL server (2005)?

A18.  Yes, there is a procedure documented in KB03112 in the BlackBerry Technical Solution Centre.

Q19.  Can the BlackBerry Manager be installed on mulitple machines?  For example on the BES and on my desktop?

A19.  Yes

Q20.  If we use a remote SQL server do we use a UNC path for the data directory and backup directory?

A20.  When you choose to install on a remote SQL Server, it will automatically use the data and backup directory that is configured on that remote SQL Server.

Q21.  Can you view what changes the BES install makes to the Exchange org and or the AD domain?

A21.  As far as schema changes, the BES installer does not make changes. All permissions changes are made manually by the administrator. There is information written to a hidden portion in each BlackBerry user’s mailbox, you would need an additional piece of software such as MFCMAPI to view this information.

Q22.  We are going to move our server to a virtual machine. Is this a complete reinstall?

A22.  You can follow the “Knife – edge Cutover” procedure that is outlined in the BTSC.

Q23.  Can the Log location be changed post installation?

A23.  Yes, you can use the BlackBerry Server Configuration (which will be covered in a later chapter)

Q24.  Can you use 1 besadmin account for multiple servers or does it have to be a 1 - 1 ratio?

A24.  You can have 1 besadmin account for multiple servers, however if there is a large geographical separation between your BlackBerry Enterprise Servers, you will want to have a service account that is hosted on a Messaging Server that is in close proximity to each  BlackBerry Enterprise Server.

Q25.  Does our BES license include availability to set up a TEST Server?

A25.  Each SRP can only be used on ONE server at a time; however you can request a temporary SRP from your support vendor for testing purposes.

Q26.  With a Knife-Edge upgrade, if the db schema is updated is there a chance the old server will have problems with the database that uses the new schema or are we creating a brand new database as well?

A26.  The database will be upgraded, a new one will not be created, and any additional BlackBerry Enterprise Servers that share that database will function normally.

Q27. How do you backup the Blackberry Configuration Database?

A27. When you extract the install .exe, in the tools directory there is a BlackBerryDbBackup.exe. You can also use the backup functionality included with MSDE or SQL Server.

Q28.  Does the BES support running on MS Hyper-V?

A28.  No.

Q29.  What is the purpose of Apache software in this package?

A29.  The MDS Integration Service requires Apache to be installed.

Q30.  When installing separate BlackBerry Enterprise Server Components remotely, do you copy the setup.exe to the other machine or should you copy the whole folder?

A30.  The entire folder should be copied to the remote machine.

Q31.  Do you recommend using a test environment as we are moving from Novell Groupwise to Exchange on AD?

A31.  Yes.

Q32.  If an organization wants to perform a phased upgrade is there an option to “rent” an additional SRP or must an additional SRP be purchased?

A32.  There is no option to “rent” an SRP, but a migration kit is available for purchase.

Link for migrate kit:

Q33.  Doing a knife edge upgrade, is it possible to go from a Physical Server to a VMware based server?  Or are there issues which are known when this is done? 

A33.  It is possible to cut-over from a Physical machine to a VMware based server, only these versions are supported:

VMware

ESX 2.5.2:  4.1.2 – 4.1.6

VMware

Infrastructure 3.0.0: 4.1.2 – 4.1.6

VMware

Infrastructure 3.0.1: 4.1.3 – 4.1.6

VMware

Infrastructure 3.0.2: 4.1.5 – 4.1.6

VMware

Infrastructure 3.5.0: 4.1.6

Q34.  If you were to install the BlackBerry Enterprise Server on a server and use an SQL 2005 Server you already have, should this server be on the same link, or can it be remote?  Do the BES Services create a cached local DB of the settings?

A34.  It is recommended for best performance to have the BlackBerry Enterprise Server on the same network link as the SQL server.  The BlackBerry Enterprise Server does not create a cache local DB of the settings.

Q35.  If an organization wants to run multiple BES’s (using the same SRP), is there another sort of license that must be purchased for each additional server?

A35.  There is no such license.  If the same SRP is used on multiple BlackBerry Enterprise Servers the SRP will get disabled.

Q36.  Do the BlackBerry Enterprise Server components have to be installed on a separate server?

A36.  No, you can install the BlackBerry Enterprise Server software and all components on one server

Q37.  Will each week's lesson be available for review afterwards (POD cast etc?)

A37.  Yes, you will have access to recordings and all questions will be posted in the support forums.

Q38.  Is there a way we can get a copy of the slides?

A38.  The slides will be available only with the recordings.

Q39.  During the install if you are going to use wireless activation you would check the box for that correct?  You skipped over it and wasn't sure if that was for something different.

A39.  That section of the slide is for wireless activation using WLAN.

Q40.  Are the contents you covered included in the Self-Study guide?

A40.  Yes

Q41.  When I receive the manual will it be more in depth detail regarding what services/ components can be remotely installed and the benefits of each?

A41.  Yes

Q42.  What would happen if we upgrade JRE 1.5 to the latest version of JRE (1.6.0.11)?

A42.  We recommend only the supported version be installed. If you do require a later version for another application we recommend installing both as that JRE does not overwrite the existing installation, but installed another instance.

Q43.  What is the most common problem you encounter during installations besides system requirements?

A43.  Wrong service account used, or not created, or permissions configured incorrectly.

Q44.  Does BES server support a MS clustered SQL server?

A44.  All DR information can be found in the Disaster Recovery guide on the BTSC.

Q45.  Please confirm that all BlackBerry services should be running with the BES service account. Can any of them, BB Attachment Service for example, run with the local system credentials?

A45.  The majority of BlackBerry services run as the service account. However, there are some that run as local system, this is expected.

Q46.  Is it required to have more than one BES server for 400 plus users?  What are the advantages or disadvantages?

A46.  It all depends on your hardware. The capacity calculator and performance benchmarking guide should be used to confirm if one BES can handle your required load.

Q46.  What is the recommended # of users per BES?

A46.  It is hardware dependant.

Q47.  This question might be for a little later, but are there any issues with Domain Migrations and the BES, and by migration I meant name change?

A47.  The BES will not function correctly if the domain information is changed/migrated. Just renaming the domain should function but a new service account may be required.

Q48.  In knife-edge cutover: what does it mean "you do not move the bb smartphone users to a new bb server as long as the same instance name is used? Please clarify.

A48.  The destination BES must have been installed using the same BES name and the database restored on the new box.

Q49. During a knife edge cutover, are there any changes made to the database itself?

A49.  There are no changes made to the database. If the DB was remote there is no change required. However, if it was local you would be required to backup the local copy, and restore the DB on the destination server as per KB03112

Q50.  Any major changes with exchange 2007?

A50.  There are no changes while running setup to install or upgrade BES. The only changes would be the prerequisites. The changes required are listed in the installation and upgrade guides and in your self-study guides.

Q51.  Can BES be installed on a Microsoft W2K3 VM?

A51.  As long as it is a supported version of VMWare and BES.

Q52.  BES 4.1 supports 64-bit?

A52.  BlackBerry Enterprise Server 4.1.5 and higher support 64 bit OS.

Q53.  Does it matter which exchange version you are using to choose the correct Mapi?

A53.  The version of MAPI should be greater than or equal to the highest version of Exchange in your environment.

Q54.  Will MDAC be installed by the wizard if not found, or do we have to install on our own?

A54.  MDAC does not get installed automatically.  The administrator will have to download the proper version from the Microsoft support website.

Q55.  Regarding .NET, the study guide indicates that if you have .NET v2.0 you have to uninstall first before installing v1.1. True?

A55.  Yes.

Q57.  Please name again the BlackBerry Enterprise Server components that cannot be installed remotely.

A57.  BlackBerry Dispatcher Service, BlackBerry Synchronization Service, BlackBerry Policy Service, BlackBerry Messaging Agent.

Q58.  The book only mentions MDAC 2.8 as compatible. Did you mention several other MDAC versions that are compatible, and if so, could you list them again?

A58.  There are 2 versions of 2.8 that can be used: Version 2.8 Service Pack 2, or Version 2.8 with Security Patch MS04-003 installed.

Q59.  What is the procedure for changing the password on the besadmin account? Only changing it on the BES and in Active Directory does not seem to work, there must be another step somewhere.

A59.  The BlackBerry Services must be check to see if they are using the logon credentials of the besadmin account, and if the password has been changed, these services must be updated as well.

Q60.  Does having an additional Blackberry Manager installed on a different workstation add any load to the BES?

A60.  Installing a remote BlackBerry Manager does not increase load on the BES itself, it does however query the BESMgmt SQL Database.

Q61.  Does the Blackberry Handheld use the Blackberry messenger application to connect to the Instant messaging service, if one is selected at the beginning of the installation?

A61.  The BlackBerry Messenger does not connect to the Collaboration Service on the BES. The BlackBerry Collaboration Service is used to support the BlackBerry Clients for Office Communications Server, Lotus Sametime, and GroupWise Instant Messenger

Q62.  Can we use a Websense content manager server as proxy?

A62.  Yes.

Q63.  Can you change the name of the BlackBerry Enterprise Server specified during install at a later time?

A63.  The name of the BlackBerry Enterprise Server should not be changed after the installation because entry gets written in the registry and in the configuration database with the name.

Q64.  Who provides the SRP info?

A64.  SRP can be purchased from either your carrier or Research in Motion.

Q65.  What is the name of the "watchdog" component that will always be installed on machines where you install remote components?

A65.  BlackBerry Controller.

Q66.  Will SRP info change if carrier is changed?

A66.  No.

Q67.  In a virtual environment, is it okay to take snapshots of the VM before an upgrade? Is it detrimental to the devices if a server is reverted back after the upgrade?

A67.  We do not recommend using VM Snapshots as a disaster recovery exercise, we recommend maintaining regular backups of the BESMgmt database to retain BES Settings.

Q68.  What are the differences (if any) in the upgrade process from BES Express to BES (full) version?

A68.  The process for upgrading is the same.  If you want to upgrade from Express to the full version of BES an unlock key must be purchased.

Q69.  Where would I find the BlackBerry Handheld Cleanup Tool?

A69.  When you extract the install .exe, in the tools directory there is a handheldCleanup.exe.

Q70.  Where can one change the location of the log files *after* installation?

A70.  Open up the BlackBerry Server Configuration Panel, under the Logging tab there is an option to change the directory where the log files are stored.  The change will take effect after the server is restarted.

Q71.  Is it necessary to keep the database name as BESMgmt?

A71.  The BlackBerry Configuration database does not need to be named BESMgmt, this is the default name.

Q72.  If we are installing Office Communicator Server after we've already installed SP6, would we re-run the install to tie the Communications server to BES?

A72.  If during the initial setup an Enterprise Messaging Server was not selected, a repair install will need to be done in order to connect to Messaging Server after.  It is recommended to select an Enterprise Messaging Server during the first installation, this way a server can be added without a repair install.

Q73.  I am searching the BTSC for the BlackBerry Enterprise Server Performance Benchmarking Guide, but I'm unable to find it. Please provide a url.

A73.  Please see the Performance Benchmarking guide for the BlackBerry Enterprise Server Microsoft Exchange version 4.1:

Performance Benchmarking Guide for the BlackBerry Enterprise Server Microsoft Exchange version 4.1

Q74.  In determining whether to put the database on the Blackberry server or use a SQL instance, what is a base size of info stored per user?

A74.  Please see the link for estimated database growth size:

Estimated Database Growth Size

Q75.  What is the difference between MDS integration service and MDS service?

A75.  The BlackBerry MDS Integration Service provides application-level integration for BlackBerry MDS Runtime Applications on BlackBerry devices. You can use the BlackBerry MDS Integration Service to install BlackBerry MDS Runtime Applications that are stored in the BlackBerry MDS Application Repository on BlackBerry devices. You can also use it to manage, update, and remove BlackBerry MDS Runtime Applications.

The BlackBerry MDS Service is comprised of the both the BlackBerry MDS Integration Service (MDS-IS) and BlackBerry MDS Connection Service (MDS-CS).

Q76.  Does RIM provide any level of support for the BES? If something goes wrong with a planned BES upgrade, it would be nice to know if someone would be available to assist with troubleshooting, etc.

A76.  Yes, Research In Motion provides BlackBerry Technical Support Services for any hardware- or software-related issues for the BlackBerry Smartphone’s, BlackBerry Desktop Manager software, and BlackBerry Enterprise Server to customers who subscribe to an annual support Program.  For those customers who are not currently enrolled to an annual support program, Research In Motion offers BlackBerry Incident Based Support.

BlackBerry Incident Based Support

Q77.  How will I practice for every session we do? Do you providing us VMware based access?

A77.  VMware based access to a BlackBerry Enterprise Server session is not provided by Research In Motion.

Q78.  Are Windows 2008 and SQL 2008 supported?

A78.  Microsoft Windows Server 2008 and Microsoft SQL Server 2008 are currently not supported by the BlackBerry Enterprise Server software. Please refer to the "System requirements: BlackBerry Enterprise Server" section from the installation guide for the

BlackBerry Enterprise Server for Microsoft Exchange for the supported software versions.

http://na.blackberry.com/eng/deliverables/2751/BESX_Install_Guide_427146_11.pdf

Q79.  If you decide to remotely install components on separate computers, are there any recommendations on network speed based on number of users?

A79.  Please refer to the BlackBerry Enterprise Server for Microsoft Exchange Version 4.1Performance Benchmarking.

http://na.blackberry.com/eng/deliverables/3532/Performance_Benchmarking_Guide.pdf

Message Edited by Beholder on 04-13-2009 04:04 PM

Message Edited by Beholder on 04-23-2009 09:46 AM