[BBCrackhead]

I am looking to upgrade our BES server and would like to see if anyone could offer their experience in this department so that I get it right the first time around.

I currently have a BES 3.6.7 server running on Windows 2003 with sql 2000. I want to upgrade to BES 4.1.4 MR4 and sql 2005.

Has anyone had any experience with this type of upgrade. The upgrade seems pretty straight forward but is there anything I should look out for, not do, or do?

Should I upgrade the BES first and then upgrade sql?

Will my end users notice any difference? How long does the upgrade take on average? What type of downtime will I be looking at? On previous upgrades, I noticed that sometimes the BES server would no longer allow users to send email through it for a short period of time after the upgrade was completed.

I appreciate any and all advice. Thanks

[Jadey]

Is this an Exchange BES?

[BBCrackhead]

Yes, I apologize. This if for BES for Microsoft Exchange and our Exchange version is 2003 SP2

[gibson_hg]

You can do an inplace upgrade to 4.1.4 on your current BES version. Make sure to backup your database first. Depending on how many users you have, you may want to do this in the off hours as to not cause noticeable downtime for the users. Typically the upgrade takes 15-20 minutes if you take your time, and again the amount of users can make a difference as well.

If you have more than 200 users use the following guide:

BlackBerry Search Results

If not just backup the database and run the installer, it should be pretty straight forward.

The only thing that might throw you for a loop is the upgrade options. You have BlackBerry Enterprise Server and Components and BlackBerry Enterprise Server with MDS Services and Components.

MDS Services(MDSS) is a way for you publish your own custom developed BlackBerry applications that your users can browse on their handheld and download. If you don't think you will ever use that option just select BlackBerry Enterprise Server and Components and ther est will be pretty much click Next til it's finished.

Let us know if you have any more questions.

[BBCrackhead]

Originally Posted by gibson_hg

You can do an inplace upgrade to 4.1.4 on your current BES version. Make sure to backup your database first. Depending on how many users you have, you may want to do this in the off hours as to not cause noticeable downtime for the users. Typically the upgrade takes 15-20 minutes if you take your time, and again the amount of users can make a difference as well.

If you have more than 200 users use the following guide:

BlackBerry Search Results

If not just backup the database and run the installer, it should be pretty straight forward.

The only thing that might throw you for a loop is the upgrade options. You have BlackBerry Enterprise Server and Components and BlackBerry Enterprise Server with MDS Services and Components.

MDS Services(MDSS) is a way for you publish your own custom developed BlackBerry applications that your users can browse on their handheld and download. If you don't think you will ever use that option just select BlackBerry Enterprise Server and Components and ther est will be pretty much click Next til it's finished.

Let us know if you have any more questions.

Thanks for the advice. Any advice about the upgrading of sql 2000 to 2005? Just making sure there was no issues with BES before doing the upgrade. There was non that I can see, but just being caucious because our blackberry users use their blackberry's for pacemakers or something. You think they would die if they could not use their blackberry for 30 minutes.

[gibson_hg]

Hahahaha, it's always funny when users depend on their BB so much. In regards to the SQL question:

If you are installing a fresh SQL 2005 Server on a new machine, use the following article:

BlackBerry Search Results

If you are planning to upgrade your SQL 2000 server to 2005 I would backup the database first and then move the backup somewhere safe. There shouldn't be any issue with the upgrade itself.

Just remember, if the upgrade does not work you can always install MSDE locally or remote to get the BES running while you work out the kinks. As long as you have the database backed up you're fine.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.