Upgrade to Professional from Express problems
 

After the upgrade the blackberrys stop talking to the server, I get lots of error 20000 in the event viewer ([BIPP] Connection failed), BIPPeClient::Connect: Error calling host "localhost" [127.0.0.1] (10061) etc..). When I reinstall the express version everything works fine.

Any ideas?

Did you change the server name during the upgrade? Do you have any special characters in the server name field?

no, my server name is BES

Does it matter that our BES server is also a backup domain controller?

Theoretically, no. But practically, I believe a production BES should be on its own box/virtual server.

The upgrade should only consist of entering the unlock key. Unless, you bought a whole new BES software and not an unlock key... I would go back to RIM and see if I could trade for an unlock key. that would make your life a lot simpler.

Blackberry sent me a link to download the Professional version, we have Small Business Express right now.

Small business and Express are two different types. SBE costs a couple grand and Express is the Free version. The "Versions" of BES are all technically the same. the only differences are the number of CALs allowed. SBE allows up to 15, Enterprise is unlimited. To upgrade from SBE to Enterprise, you only need to buy an unlock key. That way you aren only paying the difference in prices and you don't need to re-install anything. you add the unlock key as though it were another CAL.

If you re-install the software, you are going to have to re-activate your BB's and your old CAL's won't work.

We have express (15 user limit), here is the email I was sent:

Hello Mr. xxxxx,

Thank you for your inquiry.

As your organization already uses BlackBerry Enterprise Server - Small Business Edition, you can upgrade for free to BlackBerry Professional Software. The process is the same as adding a service pack. Whereas the Small Business BES caps the users at 15 users, BES Professional Software doesn't cap the users until 30 users are active.

Please visit the following link to begin your upgrade.

https://www.blackberry.com/Downloads...153CD9CE663043

With Best Regards,

They also said that my current CAL's will work fine in Professional version. If all I need to do is reactivate the Blackberry's then that is no problem.

I see. that option wasn't an option when I upgraded. I thought you were upgrading to "Enterprise" (unlimited CALs). sorry. What process are you following? Did you stop all of the blackberry services first before applying the update?

Are you using remote SQL or MSDE?

I used all default settings for everything, no remote sql.

Did you stop the services first, before applying the upgrade?

Yes, ive tried that.

and the upgrade completes successfully? You are logged in with the BES admin account, correct? The server should reboot and restart the services after the install. Does that all happen properly?

Yes, everything looks like it works just fine, but the blackberrys stop communicating with the server, and the event viewer gets filled with errors every few seconds with event id 20000.

All services are started, I have triple checked all the exchange and besadmin account settings, and keep in mind it works fine when I install express back.

you should get a free call to RIM when you upgrade if you don't have t-support. I know they allow you a free call when you install the Express edition. i would try calling. Without looking at the server, I am not sure where it is going wrong other than it obviously can't connect to RIM. P.S don't tell them its on a DC. They get cranky about stuff like that.

Thats what im waiting on right now, ive signed up for my one free call.

Thanks for the advice.

problem solved:

BlackBerry Search Results