[jamex]

Hello.

I've done as much research as I can without creating a thread, but I seem to either get conflicting opinions, or different scenarios not exactly like mine.

Basically there is a 3.6 BES server with approx 90 users on it that is being decommisioned. I have a new server I would like to move them onto, and get up to 4.1 BES at the same time.

Is there any reason we can't keep the same SRP in this situation? I don't understand why I keep reading about different SRPs during migration.

Assuming I can use the same SRP, what would my migration strategy be? One solution stated I should install 3.6 on the new hardware, and migrate over, then install\upgrade 4.1 . In this case I would think I could just copy over the DB and point the new BES 3.6 to it, then upgrade. Correct?

Is there any way to just install 4.1 on the new server, and import the userlist from the old server? Using the same SRP just disable the services on the old 3.6, start them on the new 4.1 and be done?

Also I've considered since its only 90 users, and 2 very simple IT policies, I could build the new server, and add the users and IT policies from scratch, and then just stop the 3.6 server, start the new 4.1 server. Would this also work, and would there be any wipe\activation issues on the handhelds?

Also, what are the handheld impacts in each case? I was under the impression that using the same SRP no handhelds would need to be wiped or activated again. We're not concerned about new features at this time...only keeping the email redirection in place.

I appreciate any insight and advice. Thank you very much in advance.

[x14]

You can't just cutover to new hardware running 4.1 because the db is not compatible between the 2 version.s You need to upgrade the existing server to BES 4.1 first then migrate to new hardware.

[jamex]

Ok, thanks. In the event I would need to roll back, just backup the old database, and then I could reinstall 3.6 again and point it back if anything went wrong?

Are there any other alternative strategies like I've mentioned above? Now that I think about it, adding the 90 users isn't a big task really. Will it work seamlessly if I add the users into the new server from scratch?

Thanks.

[gibson_hg]

When ugrading the software and moving to new hardware you have 2 options:

1. Upgrade the 3.6 BES to 4.1 on the old hardware and then cutover to the new hardware

2. Cutover the 3.6 BES to new hardware then upgrade to 4.1

Either way a backup of the DB is the most important thing. There is a roll back procedure to put the users back in the mailbox but I forget what it is. Roll backs don't usually occur anyways. It's a straightforward process of just running the exe and completing the screens, not a whole lot to it really.

Normally I would move the 3.6 BES to the new hardware and then upgrade, just my personal preference. I find working with a pre 4.1 database easier.

[jamex]

Thank you everyone. Sounds like cutting over to 3.6 on the new hardware and then upgrading is the way to go.

Just to confirm, following this path, no activation\wipes will be necessary, and the only outtage should be while services are turned off during cutover, and upgrade, correct?

[gibson_hg]

Correct, the only downtime is when you perform the cutover then the upgrade. Shouldn't take to long to complete if you plan it out step by step as well.

The users will go through a wireless "activation" after the 4.1 upgrade due to new service books being pushed but they will work while the device is doing it's thing.

[jamex]

Thanks gibson_hg.

I dont think I have a copy of 3.6 around anymore. I checked RIMs software downloads but they only seem to have service packs.

The current version is 3.6.2.14. What SP level is that at? And is there a place to download 3.6 thats public or do I need to contact RIM or my service provider?

[gibson_hg]

The actual BES software is not a free download unless you are a TSupport subscriber. The 3rd number is your service pack and you have to be at SP3 or higher before upgrading to 4.x.

If you are missing the 3.6 software you can always upgrade athen cutover as well, you're not stuck.

I don't think the carrier can provide the software and RIM usually don't provide it to non-TSupport subscribers.

You could always call RIM and say that you need to re-install or cut the BES over to new hardware but you lost your software. I've gotten software for customers before when they didn't have a contract but it's got to be a good reason.

If I had the software I'd gladly send ya a copy.

[hdawg]

Upgrade to at least 3.6 SP3 before you attempt any upgrade (you're at SP2).

Personally I'd upgrade to 4.1 on the current server and then knife edge it to the new hardware. If you want to make it easy on yourself keep the COMPUTERNAME the same on both machines. Yes this means you can't have them both up at the same time, but it'll help stop any problems you'll get from MDS when you cut from server A to server B as the 4.1 DB will point to a non-existent hostname

[jamex]

I found 3.6.1 on CD Just going to grab SP2 and SP3 from RIM's site. I'm assuming its best practice to knife-edge SP2 -> SP2 and not SP2 -> SP3, correct?

Thanks for the help everyone. I'll check back once i'm done and let everyone know how it went.

[hdawg]

I would do in place upgrade to 3.6 SP3 or > (I think SP7 is most recent) and then upgrade to 4.1.4 MR4 and then cut over to new hardware.

Regardless service packs are cumulative so you don't need to install SP2 to install SP3; SP3 includes everything in SP2

[x14]

Originally Posted by hdawg

I would do in place upgrade to 3.6 SP3 or > (I think SP7 is most recent) and then upgrade to 4.1.4 MR4 and then cut over to new hardware.

What he said..

[jamex]

Update:

Decided on 3.6 -> 3.6 so I could have the old server to fall back on if there was any unforseeable problems. Only snag I hit was when I opened the MMC, it would error out, and I'd have a blank Server icon, and NO bes info populated, yet redirection was working fine. After searching my butt off in here, and on google, turns out the besadmin account had been moved to another server and I had to run handheldcleanup.exe -m to pickup the changes. Looks good now. Will be upgrading to 4.1 tommorow.

Thanks everyone. Its good to have a repository to search through when things go sideways

[dwk]

so i'm kind of in the same boat as the original poster. need to go from 3.6.4 to 4.1.4 on a different server. i currently have 3.6.4 on both the old and new servers. how do i move my 9 users from the old server to the new one? i saw that besmigration is only for 200+ users so i know that's not the way to go. any help would be appreciated. fyi, when i try to launch BES management on the new server, it errors out with "unable to initialize MAPI profile BESAdmin". i named both the bb servers the same name and am using the same BESAdmin profile. also, i am able to start all the blackberry services on the new server (after stopping them all on the old server) except for the blackberry server blackberry service. thoughts?

david