Hi all
I am in the process of upgrading two BES 4.0 (4.0.4.9 ( 4.0.4 Hotfix 3 Bundle 11) and version 4.0.3.17 (4.0.3 Hotfix 4 Bundle 17) ) servers to the latest version of BES (4.1 SP5).
they currently run MSDE locally and I am curious of the impact an inplace upgrade will have on the existing databases if any as I would like as little downtime as possible.
I am planning to move it from MSDE to SQL but I feel an initial upgrade would suffice until I can get my head round the SQL requirements.

any thoughts, pointers or general advice on this subject welcome

#1 point. Have a good SQL backup BEFORE you start any of the ugprade. Also have a good backup of the server registry and BlackBerry Enterprise Server directory too (don't want to potentially lose any log files)

#2 would be know what components you're installing ... Are you installing MDS-IS? or do you just need MDS-CS? Do you know the difference between the two? Have you read the installation and upgrade guides for 4.1 SP5?

#3 HAVE A GOOD BACKUP. Yes, its that important

#4 Give this a read: KB04882 - Best practices for installing a BlackBerry Enterprise Server service pack. Sure, you're installing a major version, but it covers some best practices in general.

Thanks Hdawg,
foolishly I have left the important bits out yes they are old 2000 and 2003 boxes backing on to exchange 2003 sp2

in answer to point one) I was going to put off the MSDE to SQL migration till I got these beasts in to a more stable environment
so I may seek later advice after reading various RIM KB articles on that one

Point 2) Just the MDS connection service as they currently do not require encryption or access to server-side apps (AFAIK)
as far as other components they currently have the browsing coming back through their in house proxy. so mail and and internet services as a starter

Point 3) I am going use VM Ware PtoV grab as a back up along with others too but thanks for the tip

Point 4) will have a read

just testing the waters if anyone had stumbled across any database probs during the upgrade or if the database needed special treatment during the upgrade

With MSDE the upgrades are usually pretty easy as long as you do the ugprade with the BESAdmin account. The reason it works out easy is because the account already has the sysadmin SQL role, so you dont need to worry about fumbling around with sql permissions. Lots of times with remote databases permissions aren't always set correctly and when an upgrade occurs part of it fails ... Well, RIM hasn't figured out a way to implement this so that the changes roll back and you effectively end up with an un-upgradable database. You get to restore from backup, fix permissions, and try again. WEE

In you're case, you're good to go

I figured I would stumble on the MSDE to SQL so I wanted that to be done last as then I would have working fall-back. I will running any upgrades via the BESAdmin account purely because of its account permissions but thanks for clarifying it.

Keep this article handy too: KB12247 - How to move from an MSDE database to a Microsoft SQL Server database

Thanks Hdawg, I have already got this in treeware version

Not sure if I'm quite right here but are you running 2 BES on seperate MSDE databases?

Hdawg - am I correct in saying once you have migrated to SQL you can merge the 2 databases in to 1 and have a single BlackBerry domain using DBMerge tool?

Hi Kerseyr yeah I have 2 independant BES boxes (dont ask why I am just picking up the pieces here :( ) each has their own MSDE databases.

I read about the DBMerge tool but am going to look more in to that post-upgrade, unless you think I should do the hit all in one....

DO NOT USE THE DBMERGE TOOL.

AS OF THIS POSTING RIM IS NOT ADVOCATING ITS USE AND RECOMMENDS NOT USING IT.

I discussed this with several people at WES this year; steer clear of it.

WHY: Problems have come up with merges

I don't have any details, only that they have seen problems.

That said, I've done it and it has worked (last one I did was last year).