New BES Server from Existing Server

[Hypervisor]

We're building a new Blackberry server in a VMWare ESX environment. We intend to decommission the existing once we've successfully migrated everyone over to the new server.

We've already installed a Windows 2003 server along with BES 4.0.7. The server was configured with a different name to the current BES server and obviously has a different network address. The BES services have been set to manual so that they don't start and cause a lockout of the SRP.

Both the current and new BES servers have been configured to use MSDE for their database. The new BES server database has been given a different name.

We regularly backup the existing database and we know that this can be restored on the new BES server, but my question is how do we restore the database into the new database? If we simply perform a restore, this simply restores the existing BES servers database / configuration and subsequently attaches to that database over the network.

After we perform a backup of the current BES server, do we have to shut this server down, rename the new BES server to be the same name as the current BES server and then perform a restore? Did we need to create a database of the same name on the new BES server?

Are we overcomplicating things because there's an easier way? Essentially all we want to do is to create a new Blackberry server and get all existing users on that with minimal disruption to the users.

[BESadmin]

How to perform a knife-edge cutover for BlackBerry Enterprise Server software versions 4.0 and 4.1


Doc ID : KB10278
Last Modified : 2007-09-13
Document Type : How To

Environment

• BlackBerry® Enterprise Server software versions 4.0 and 4.1 for Microsoft® Exchange

Procedure

To perform a knife-edge cutover of the BlackBerry Enterprise Server to another computer, complete the following tasks:

1. Record the appropriate BlackBerry Enterprise Server information.
2. Set the local permissions on the new BlackBerry Enterprise Server computer.
3. Move the BlackBerry Configuration Database to the new BlackBerry Enterprise Server.
4. Stop the BlackBerry services on the existing BlackBerry Enterprise Server computer.
5. Ensure that the prerequisites are met.
6. Install the BlackBerry Enterprise Server software on the new computer.

Task 1

Record the appropriate BlackBerry Enterprise Server information.

1. Open BlackBerry Manager.
2. Record the name of the BlackBerry Enterprise Server that is being moved, and then close BlackBerry Manager.
3. In the Microsoft® Windows® Control Panel, go to Administrative Tools > Services.
4. Right-click BlackBerry Dispatcher, and then click Properties.
5. Record the user name that is specified in the This account field on the Log On tab.
6. Close the Control Panel.

Task 2

Set the local permissions on the new BlackBerry Enterprise Server computer. For instructions, see KB02276.

Task 3

Move the BlackBerry Configuration Database to the new BlackBerry Enterprise Server.

Note: If you are running a remote Microsoft® SQL Server™ and you want to continue using it, skip this step. If you are running a local installation of Microsoft® SQL Server™ Desktop Engine (MSDE), download and install MSDE 2000a from the Microsoft Download Center before proceeding with the backup and restore procedure.

Back up the BlackBerry Configuration Database, and then restore it on the new BlackBerry Enterprise Server. For instructions, see KB03112.

Task 4

Stop the BlackBerry Enterprise Server services on the existing BlackBerry Enterprise Server.

1. On the existing BlackBerry Enterprise Server, in the Control Panel, go to Administrative Tools > Services.
2. Right-click each BlackBerry Enterprise Server service, and then click Stop.
3. Once the services are stopped, right-click each service again and set the Startup type to Manual or Disabled. If the original BlackBerry Enterprise Server restarts and the services are still set to Automatic, the Server Routing Protocol (SRP) Authentication Key and SRP Identifier (ID) may be disabled on the new BlackBerry Enterprise Server.
4. Close the Services window and the Control Panel.

Task 5

Verify that you have the met the prerequisites for installing the BlackBerry Enterprise Server software. For information, see the BlackBerry Enterprise Server for Microsoft Exchange: Installation Guide for the appropriate BlackBerry Enterprise Server software version.

Task 6

Install the BlackBerry Enterprise Server software on the new computer.
Log in to the new computer using the BlackBerry Enterprise Server administration account, and then install the BlackBerry Enterprise Server software version that is running on the existing computer. For example, if the existing computer is running BlackBerry Enterprise Server software version 4.1 Service Pack 1, install BlackBerry Enterprise Server software version 4.1 Service Pack 1 on the new computer. For instructions, see the BlackBerry Enterprise Server for Microsoft Exchange: Installation Guide for the appropriate BlackBerry Enterprise Server software version.

Note: During the installation procedure, make sure to remember the following points:

• When prompted for a BlackBerry Enterprise Server name, use the same name as the existing BlackBerry Enterprise Server name. This information was recorded in Task 1.
• If the BlackBerry Configuration Database has been moved (as in Task 2), use the path to the new Microsoft SQL Server as the location of the BlackBerry Configuration Database. If a local installation of MSDE is used on the new BlackBerry Enterprise Server computer, select Local.
• Do not start the BlackBerry Enterprise Server services for the new BlackBerry Enterprise Server until they are stopped on the existing BlackBerry Enterprise Server computer. Important: Restarting certain BlackBerry Enterprise Server services will delay email message delivery to BlackBerry smartphones. For more information, see KB04789.

Additional Info

When using BlackBerry® Mobile Data System (BlackBerry MDS) Services, you must create a new mdss and mdss_dis database. A knife-edge cutover of the BlackBerry MDS Services is not supported.

Note: MDSS is supported only if the BlackBerry Enterprise Server name is not changed.

If the existing BlackBerry Enterprise Server is removed from the environment, make sure that all software configuration files that are stored on it are moved to either the new BlackBerry Enterprise Server, or to a different location in the environment. Software configuration settings should be modified accordingly.

[GaryCutri]

As an extra note RIM only officially support VMWare ESX with BES 4.1.2 or higher depending on the ESX version.