[artvarck]

In our environment we have a single BES on 4.1.0 hotfix 1, about 30 users, SQLExpress 2005, and Exchange 2003 SP2 on W2K3SP2, and we want to go to 4.1.6 (no support contract to go to 5). We have extra hardware to install onto, and we *may* have a extra unused SRP as well (still learning about this facility).

I've read the documentation, and it leaves some questions. Posts to this forum have been helpful, but I'm still left with the feeling that I don't have all the necessary information.

When doing a "cutover" upgrade to new hardware, am I correct in saying that you cannot have both BES servers running at the same time? The proper way to do this appears to be to install the old version of BES on the new hardware, restore the database from backup to the new server (this moves the users, correct) and then perform the upgrade to 4.1.6.

What seems more promising is to use the Enterprise Transporter in Live Mode so that we can migrate users on the fly, kind of like an Exchange Swing Migration. I don't yet understand what Blackberry domains are, but if we have the SRP IDs for this, it seems like a good way to go, since we can migrate users at our leisure as we learn the benefits of the upgraded BES.
This also seems to mitigate risk, as we have the old server continually running, able to process mail while the new one is as well.

There there is the besmigration.exe command line tool, whose use I am not clear on. When would I decide to use it?

We have many users traveling across the world right now, so minimizing down time is critical.

The corporate culture here favors the later method, but again, I am not clear enough on the benefits of either to yet offer a recommendation.

Your thoughts are appreciated.

[knottyrope]

If you want to go to new hard ware the the knife edge is the way to go.
Here are my notes when I did it.
http://www.blackberryforums.com/bes-...e-cutover.html

After prepping the new server I was able to install BES and have it running in 20 minutes.
Yours might take a lil longer if you are restoring SQL express. which should only be a few minutes. (I made a practice run moving my DB and connecting Remote blackberry manager to the new SQL server.)

[artvarck]

That's a nice walk through on doing a cutover, and if that's the way we go, then I will definitely use your guide. Thanks for posting.

We have a unique SRP ID that I can use to set up a parallel BES to use for an upgrade. In this instance, should I bring the new BES installation to the desired version, install a new config database, and migrate users using the Enterprise Transporter in Live Mode?

Thx

[knottyrope]

Transporter is for BES 5.0.

with 4.0 and 4.1
If you have a SQL database then you can run both BES with same database and move users between them. If DB is seperate you have to wipe and EA again.

[artvarck]

Ah, I see that now in the documentation - thanks for the heads-up!

So, as I see it then, I would use this process (from the Enterprise Administrator's Guide):

Move a user account from one BlackBerry Enterprise Server to another
1. In the BlackBerry® Manager, in the left pane, click a BlackBerry® Enterprise Server.
2. On the Users tab, click a user account.
3. In the lower pane, click Account.
4. Click Move User.
5. Click the destination BlackBerry Enterprise Server.
6. Click OK.

To do this, do both servers need to be on the same version? Can each server be running its own database?

Thx

[knottyrope]

Both have to be same version, SP and MR. They both have to be on the same SQL database.

[artvarck]

Ok, thanks for the reply.

The Blackberry "Phased" upgrade process should be appropriate for our needs then.

"The phased upgrade process maintains earlier versions of the BlackBerry® Enterprise Server software so that you can gradually create new BlackBerry Enterprise Server instances and move user accounts to them."

Since I'm on 4.1.0 I don't think I have to upgrade the old configuration database during the 2nd server's installation process (that should only apply to 4.0.3 or earlier installations).

I'll report back here to let you know what I learned.

[knottyrope]

Phased also means two SRP's or purchasing a migration kit for BES 4.1.

[artvarck]

Thanks knottyrope for the info - we've got extra SRPs for this.

I am confused about something else now though. I just read this from the online documentation:

# To upgrade an existing BlackBerry Configuration Database, move user accounts using the BlackBerry Administration Service.
# To create a new BlackBerry Configuration Database, move user accounts using the BlackBerry Enterprise Transporter.

Our goal is NOT to upgrade the db on the old server but instead to use a new db, so the second method would apply. But then, it requires the use of the Transporter, which is only for v5. So, what would we do when we're moving to 4.1.6?

This thing just keeps getting messier.

[knottyrope]

check PM

[artvarck]

Everything is fully functional, thanks to the great people on this forum! Couldn't have done it [so easily] without you.

Thanks

artvarck

[knottyrope]

Wirelessly posted

Glad to hear it all worked out for you