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Hi everyone,

I just wanted to know if anyone was aware of any known issues upgrading BlackBerry Enterprise Server Managament 3.6.6 to 4.1.4?

Many thanks
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[gibson_hg]

There are no real know issues. If something were to screw up it would usually be the database upgrade. The upgrade is usually smooth if the steps are followed.

How many users do you have? If you have over 200 you will need to do a phased upgrade. That is a process where you upgrade the database and migrate the users from the BESAdmin mailbox to the database before upgrading the software.

Here is a KB for it:

BlackBerry Search Results

If you have less than 200 you can just run the install in place without any extra steps.

My only advice is BACKUP THE DATABASE! Also, make sure you are running MSDE/SQL 2000 SP4 or higher. BES 4.x will not upgrade on anything lower.

Feel free to ask any questions.

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Thank you for your quick response. Our BES server is windows 2000 SP4 and running SQL server 7.0. As far as BlackBerry users go we have around 20 - 30 users so hopefully from what you have said, it should just be a straight forward upgrade remembering to take a copy of the database 1st.

Many thanks
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[gibson_hg]

The upgrade will be a simple one, but you did say that you have SQL Server 7.0. That won't work, the SQL version has to be 2000 SP4 or higher. If you try to upgrade you will get a message saying that the database engine is the wrong version.

Are you running SQL or MSDE? If you have SQL Server you will have Enterprise Manager in the All Programs list. Is the SQL/MSDE local?

Upgrading MSDE from 7 to 2000 SP4 is pretty simple as well. I would recommend the following process:

1. Backup the database and move the BESmgmt.mdf and the BESmgmt_log.ldf(this file might be BESmgmt.ldf) to a safe directory

2. Uninstall MSDE 7.0

3. Download MSDE 2000A from Microsoft

4. Once downloaded run the exe to extract the files

5. Do not run the extracted setup.exe, instead you will install from the command line

6. Open a command prompt and navigate to the extracted directory

7. Run "setup SAPWD="astrongpassword" SECURITYMODE=SQL"

8. This will install the default instance of MSDE

9. Now you will place the mdf and ldf files into the proper directory. It should be c:\Program Files\Microsoft SQl Server\MSSQL\Data

10. Start MSSQLSERVER service in Windows Services

11. Now you will attach the database, run the following commands in the comamnd prompt:

osql -E

1> exec sp_attach_db @dbname = 'BESMgmt',

2> @filename1 = 'C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL\Data\BESMgmt.mdf',

3> @filename2 = 'C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL\Data\BESMgmt.ldf'

Test your BES and then upgrade to 4.x.

Sorry if that seems like a lot but you need to upgrade MSDE first and those are the steps. Just read them over and ask any questions if you are unsure about any part of the instructions.