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rpfeffer · 12-12-2006, 03:22 PM

Any last minute tips or pitfalls I should look out for? I am going through the docs now, hoping to upgrade sometime next week.

edit: Nevermind about upgrading the database from SQL 2000 to 2005. We are going to do that at a later date.

Crimesy · 12-12-2006, 04:19 PM

One thing I'd recommend is making sure your CALs are up-to-date. Version 4.1.2 will start warning you if you are over your allotted limit (the users will still get their email though).

rpfeffer · 12-12-2006, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crimesy

One thing I'd recommend is making sure your CALs are up-to-date. Version 4.1.2 will start warning you if you are over your allotted limit (the users will still get their email though).

That should be no problem. Thanks though!

rpfeffer · 12-12-2006, 04:46 PM

Ok, here is a good question. I assumed there was a download for upgrading directly to 4.1.2, but apparently it is not. I guess my best bet here would be to install 4.1.0, verify that everything is working, and then install SP2? Would that include all previous Hot fixes, as well as SP1?

Crimesy · 12-12-2006, 04:54 PM

As far as I'm aware the latest SP's will contain all the previous SP's and Hotfixes so SP2 would contain SP1 and all the hotfixes prior to it's release.

One other thing, I'm sure I've picked up on it somewhere that it's recommended you should upgrade to SP5 on 4.0 first then go to the latest version of 4.1

acnst · 12-12-2006, 06:21 PM

To get a full installer version of BES 4.1.2 you need to contact RIM. Else you will first need to install 4.1.0 and then do the upgrade to SP2. The last step would be the installation of hotfix 1.

bertiebassett · 12-13-2006, 05:25 AM

4.1 was a chargeable upgrade, you can go directly from 4.0.3 (IIRC) and above to 4.1.2 in one swoop, but you need the right version from your vendor. If you don't have the right (paid for) version then the installer will fail with an 'incompatible version detected on the system error'. I also echo the previous sentiments of being on 4.0 SP5 prior to going to 4.1.2
Took me about 45 minutes on an MSDE instance from start to finish. Obviously this included the time take to back up the db, reg keys etc.

Logvin · 12-13-2006, 09:30 AM

I would *highly* recommend you go straight to 4.1.2. I went the 4.1 then 4.1.2 route and the 4.1.1 --> 4.1.2 upgrade package STINKS... yah you want to use SSL? Ooops, they messed up the option buttons. I didnt, but somehow its all turned on by default. Little things like that suck. Also, make sure you download the 4.1.2 full install package for your admin consoles on your own boxes... the 4.1.1 console wont touch the 4.1.2 database, so it cant finish... and you cant upgrade the console until the install finishes. the only way to run the console is by install the full install of 4.1.2.

rpfeffer · 12-13-2006, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Logvin

I would *highly* recommend you go straight to 4.1.2. I went the 4.1 then 4.1.2 route and the 4.1.1 --> 4.1.2 upgrade package STINKS... yah you want to use SSL? Ooops, they messed up the option buttons. I didnt, but somehow its all turned on by default. Little things like that suck. Also, make sure you download the 4.1.2 full install package for your admin consoles on your own boxes... the 4.1.1 console wont touch the 4.1.2 database, so it cant finish... and you cant upgrade the console until the install finishes. the only way to run the console is by install the full install of 4.1.2.

What's the administration learning curve for 4.1? I'm pretty much just getting thrown right into it and am slightly concerned about the new interface. I am sure I will be able to figure it out, just curious as to what others think.

Logvin · 12-13-2006, 10:19 AM

Eh, its not that horrible... just pretend you are on a mac and you cant right-click anymore ;)

I honestly like that there is just 1 tool rather than 2... however there are about 5-6 different places where the data is eitehr just blank or just plain wrong in some of the views.

And trying to find where to set up your IT Policy? Dang it took a bit to find... some things can be *very* hidden. Setting up your proxy server is a huge pain also :(

I do like it if you have multiple BES's more though. It took me about a week to fully catch on.

jibi · 12-13-2006, 11:52 AM

one other note - if you don't need MDS Services, don't install them. this is the appdev-to-go interface and deployment mechanism (amongst other things). some companies will use it, others won't. but i have heard so many horror stories with people upgrading from 4.1 to 4.1.1 or 4.1.2 that it's really making me wonder exactly what kind of QA went on with this particular structure.

as mentioned, a lot of options that used to be easy to find are hidden. skip looking at 4.1 and move straight on to 4.1.2 when it comes to the interface (a lot was changed between 4.1.0/4.1.1 and 4.1.2). i find the inability to right-click, as mentioned, QUITE annoying. also, there's no copy/paste mechanism for data (annoying). and there's no means of seeing real-time updates on the individual users (formerly right-click > user stats).

Logvin · 12-13-2006, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jibi

one other note - if you don't need MDS Services, don't install them. this is the appdev-to-go interface and deployment mechanism (amongst other things). some companies will use it, others won't. but i have heard so many horror stories with people upgrading from 4.1 to 4.1.1 or 4.1.2 that it's really making me wonder exactly what kind of QA went on with this particular structure.

as mentioned, a lot of options that used to be easy to find are hidden. skip looking at 4.1 and move straight on to 4.1.2 when it comes to the interface (a lot was changed between 4.1.0/4.1.1 and 4.1.2). i find the inability to right-click, as mentioned, QUITE annoying. also, there's no copy/paste mechanism for data (annoying). and there's no means of seeing real-time updates on the individual users (formerly right-click > user stats).

As jibi notes... it seems this "feature service pack" took away more things than it gave us. My company is planning on deploying MDS services, so we installed it, and yes it was not pretty.

As for the QA... the problem with the MDS QA was that the MDS services did not work at all until about 2 weeks before the service pack was released. They had time for 1 week of feedback from their beta testers before it was launched... it was rushed to the table.

rpfeffer · 12-13-2006, 03:47 PM

I do not think we will deploy MDS services at this point. If down the road we would like to, we will worry about it then.

Also, overall, is it worth it to upgrade to 4.1 from 4.0? Aside from user admin and a different GUI, if we aren't using the MDS services, is it really worth it to upgrade? I am always hesitant to fix something that isn't broken.

bertiebassett · 12-14-2006, 06:36 AM

well 4.1 is more than just the front end....for example Groups admin is quite useful for large companies...slot your users into groups e.g. Sales, VIPs, and then apply permissions on the group rather than individual users...

I like as well being able to give one of my staff the front end so she can then have permission to view/add/change users but wihtout needing to be logged onto the BES or do major stuff like changing IT policies. I tihnk RIM call this "Role Based Admin"

theres a bunch of other stuff in 4.1 including improved attachment handling (e.g. powerpoints) I suggest you read the release notes and decide whether these features are important to you...

Logvin · 12-14-2006, 07:39 AM

I have found it to be a bit more stable than my 4.0 server. It also seems to handle calendar syncing a bit better (even though there is nothing officially wrong with calendar syncing) and it syncs "Hard Deletes", where as 4.0 doesnt. The message pre-population works much better for new users also.

And remember, each new version of BES backs up more stuff wirelessly... and thats more settings your users will lose if they move to a different device (and you dont manual backup).

jibi · 12-14-2006, 05:47 PM

...it takes up more resources, though. add on MDS Connection Services and Collaboration Services and you can easily max out a 2GB RAM Xeon server. add on a local database and it is maxed out with 50-100 users. also, it appears that BlackBerry Controller may have a memory leak in 4.1.2.. just FYI. it may be me, but i'm now getting virtual memory errors - stopping the Controller frees it from about 1.7GB of physical memory used to about 400MB.

Logvin · 12-14-2006, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jibi

...it takes up more resources, though. add on MDS Connection Services and Collaboration Services and you can easily max out a 2GB RAM Xeon server. add on a local database and it is maxed out with 50-100 users. also, it appears that BlackBerry Controller may have a memory leak in 4.1.2.. just FYI. it may be me, but i'm now getting virtual memory errors - stopping the Controller frees it from about 1.7GB of physical memory used to about 400MB.

Ooo.... a bit off topic, but you might want to look into that. I only have a bit over 200 users on my 4.1.2 at this time, but my controller isnt even at 4MB of Mem Usage.

rpfeffer · 12-15-2006, 09:58 AM

Luckily we only have 40 users...hopefully should be ok.

rpfeffer · 12-20-2006, 09:09 AM

Thanks for the advice everyone. The upgrade went off without a hitch. Now I am just getting used to the new interface. I do miss the ability to right click already though! Anyway, thanks again!

Logvin · 12-20-2006, 11:05 AM

w00t, glad to hear rpfeffer! Yes, the new interface makes me feel like a Mac user... i miss rightclicking still.

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