BlackBerry Forums Support Community

Vertigo1 · 07-09-2007, 10:37 AM

Hi,

Know next to nothing about Blackberry units and am trying to gen up on BES prior to doing a first install for a friend on his Exchange box.

One thing that's puzzling me is how exactly BES communicates with the devices. Sorry if this is a very basic question but I don't know how this works.

Does all communication from BES go via some central Blackberry servers which handle communication with the devices themselves or does BES talk directly to the device? Do the devices maintain some kind of open IP connection at all times and the server talks directly to them via their IP address?

This is obviously such a basic question that none of the documentation I have actually explains how this works.

penguin3107 · 07-09-2007, 10:41 AM

Exchange <--> BES <--> RIM Network/Servers (via Wireless Carrier) <--> Device

BES sits between Exchange server and the RIM network. It doesn't talk directly to the device.

AlanM · 07-09-2007, 10:54 AM

Try this link:
http://www.myitforum.com/articles/14/view.asp?id=7752

BES Server keeps port 3101 open to blackberry (srp.na.blackberry.net), wireless carriers basically have vpn tunnel to blackberry.

Alan

Vertigo1 · 07-09-2007, 11:13 AM

Right, thanks

So all communication with devices is via srp.na.blackberry.net - is a specific device identified simply by its PIN, so the BES server just tells the Blackberry servers the PIN of the device it wants to communicate with and the Blackberry system then takes care of finding and connecting to the unit?

Two questions:

What configuration is required on BES, if any? Does it install pre-configured to talk to the Blackberry system and it's just a case of opening the correct port (3101) on the firewall? (is this required outbound only or inbound too?)

Once BES is installed, how would I go about "associating" or "pairing" it with a device for the first time? Surely I can't just enter the PIN of the device into BES and get it to initiate the connection as I could put anyone's PIN in. Does the device user have to initiate this pairing with the BES server somehow?

This is with Orange in the UK btw, if that makes a difference.

hdawg · 07-09-2007, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vertigo1

Right, thanks

So all communication with devices is via srp.na.blackberry.net - is a specific device identified simply by its PIN, so the BES server just tells the Blackberry servers the PIN of the device it wants to communicate with and the Blackberry system then takes care of finding and connecting to the unit?

Two questions:

What configuration is required on BES, if any? Does it install pre-configured to talk to the Blackberry system and it's just a case of opening the correct port (3101) on the firewall? (is this required outbound only or inbound too?)

Once BES is installed, how would I go about "associating" or "pairing" it with a device for the first time? Surely I can't just enter the PIN of the device into BES and get it to initiate the connection as I could put anyone's PIN in. Does the device user have to initiate this pairing with the BES server somehow?

This is with Orange in the UK btw, if that makes a difference.

Configuration needed: Port 3101 outbound initiated from the BES. The BES needs to be able to communicate with a Global Catalog server, the Exchange servers, and SQL server.

To "associate" a device ... you open the BES Manager, select the Add User option ... pick a user from the drop down list ... set an activation password and then activate the handheld with the email address and activation password. This is of course after you've set proper permissions in AD & Exchange.

Vertigo1 · 07-10-2007, 03:48 AM

Cool, so the user gets an activation email with a password in their regular desktop mail and have to enter this into the BB device? Whereabout exactly is this entered on the unit?

penguin3107 · 07-10-2007, 05:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vertigo1

Whereabout exactly is this entered on the unit?

The Enterprise Activation icon on the home screen, or in 'Options > Advanced Options > Enterprise Activation'

Vertigo1 · 07-10-2007, 06:59 AM

Thanks. Should that literally be all that's required to get things up and running? Once the activation password is entered on the mobile it'll hook up to the BES and start synchronising?

penguin3107 · 07-10-2007, 07:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vertigo1

Should that literally be all that's required to get things up and running? Once the activation password is entered on the mobile it'll hook up to the BES and start synchronising?

In a nutshell, yes.

Wireless Enterprise activations typically take about 10-15 minutes to complete once initiated. YMMV.

Make sure the BlackBerry has a BES-capable BlackBerry Data Plan provisioned on it. Some carriers offer a "personal" BlackBerry data plan, which is for BIS only. If you use BES, you need an "enterprise" BlackBerry Data Plan.

Make sure there are no e-mail/spam/anti-virus filters in place which might prevent the blackberry.net etp control messages from reaching the end user's mailbox. (Best to simply whitelist the blackberry.net domain if need be.)

Vertigo1 · 07-10-2007, 08:16 AM

Arg, didn't realise there might be different data plans involved. If the friend in question only has a personal one is there no way it will work with BES then?

Will have to ask him what he has but I'd be surprised if he's signed up for an enterprise one if there was a choice.

penguin3107 · 07-10-2007, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vertigo1

If the friend in question only has a personal one is there no way it will work with BES then?

That's correct. A "personal" BlackBerry Data Plan cannot attach to a BES.
It can only use BIS, or Desktop Redirector.

hdawg · 07-10-2007, 08:47 AM

The whole personal / enterprise BB plans are a mystery to me. Does Verizon even offer a personal BB plan?

penguin3107 · 07-10-2007, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hdawg

The whole personal / enterprise BB plans are a mystery to me. Does Verizon even offer a personal BB plan?

I don't think Verizon differentiates between "personal" and "enterprise" any more. I think they just offer a 'Blackberry Data Plan' now.

Other carriers do have separate plans for sure.
For example, the AT&T BIS plan is about $30 a month and the BES plan is $45.
T-Mobile behaves in a similar fashion.

hdawg · 07-10-2007, 09:59 AM

I guess it works out in the end for people that know the difference in the plans and choose the personal plan as they won't use a BES. For those that have no clue its utter confusion; sigh.

Vertigo1 · 07-10-2007, 12:00 PM

Anyone know what the deal is with Orange in the UK?

hdawg · 07-10-2007, 12:44 PM

huh? like personal vs enterprise plans?

jwcanada · 07-10-2007, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by penguin3107

Make sure there are no e-mail/spam/anti-virus filters in place which might prevent the blackberry.net etp control messages from reaching the end user's mailbox. (Best to simply whitelist the blackberry.net domain if need be.)

Just to reiterate, make sure to check the spam filtering...this was a big problem for us when we first got our first BES server up and running 4 years ago.

Vertigo1 · 07-10-2007, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hdawg

huh? like personal vs enterprise plans?

Yeah

Vertigo1 · 07-10-2007, 04:53 PM

Ok well I've gone and done it - all installed and working and have set the activation password. Two questions...

1. It says Initializing next to the user name, is this supposed to be like that until the mobile connects up?

2. What email address do they use? The AD domain is set as domain.local whereas their public domain is domain.co.uk - the relevant contacts do have aliases configured for both [email address]