Updating BES from 4.1.5 to 4.1.6

[itgroup]

Can you give me some best practices for installing the lastest Service Pack 6 for BES? We of course know to make sure we have a backup in place in case of problems, but maybe their are other things we should be doing as well.
Also can you answer for me if each of the devices have to be updated as well and if so does this update push out automatically? And will our users have to do anything relating to this update or is it transparent to them? thanks...

[GaryCutri]

Hi,

Prior to installing any service pack you should always take a backup of the BlackBerry Configuration database. If you are using full SQL just right mouse click the BESMgmt database and select Tasks > Backup and then follow the prompts. If you are using MSDE follow these steps below to backup the database via command line (Note: you can install the free SQL 2005 Manager on any version of MSDE to allow GUI control):

1. osql -E
2. backup database BESMgmt to disk = "C:\BBbackup.bak"
3. go
4. quit


Once the database has been backed up all you need to do is logon using the BlackBerry Service Account (e.g BESadmin) and the run the SP installer. During the install don't change any options except for selecting "I Agree" as it will detect all the previous settings automatically. Once the installer get half way it will ask you to restart so logon as BESadmin again after the restart and the installer will continue, once again leave all settings default and just select Next, Next, Next etc.

This process normally takes 10 minutes depending on the time taken for the server to restart but it is very smooth if everything is left default. If you get database update errors it can be caused by the transaction logs in MSDE\SQL being full or some has remove the Sysadmin\dbcreator permissions.

Thanks,

Gary

[itgroup]

Is there any update that the users will see on their Blackberry relating to the server update to Service Pack 6? Any they will need to do on their end or is it completely transparent? thanks...

[GaryCutri]

Originally Posted by itgroup

Is there any update that the users will see on their Blackberry relating to the server update to Service Pack 6? Any they will need to do on their end or is it completely transparent? thanks...

The upgrade will be transparent to the end users. The only impact on users will be the fact that the BES will be offline for 15 minutes during the upgrade.

[Twister]

If the upgrade didn't install properly or BES doesn't work after the upgrade, what is the recovery process? I am thinking.....

1. Remove BES from the server
2. Restore the backup configuration database in SQL
3. Reinstall BES 4.1.5 with a blank database and then change to the restored database
4. Hope everything will work as previously?!

Thanks.

[GaryCutri]

Originally Posted by Twister

If the upgrade didn't install properly or BES doesn't work after the upgrade, what is the recovery process? I am thinking.....

1. Remove BES from the server
2. Restore the backup configuration database in SQL
3. Reinstall BES 4.1.5 with a blank database and then change to the restored database
4. Hope everything will work as previously?!

Thanks.

Hi,

Before starting the BES upgrade you should confirm the following:

1. You need to ensure the upgrade is installed logged on with your BlackBerry Service Account (e.g. BESadmin)
2. If you have full SQL you need to ensure you Blackberry service Account has sysadmin & dbcreator permissions.
3. If you have MSDE or the database is on a full SQL server that you don't backup you need to ensure that transaction log isn't full. On MSDE you can just install the free SQL 2005 Express Manager to expand the log size (default is 50mb).
4. Take a backup of your BlackBerry database. In full SQL just right click the database and select Task > Backup. In MSDE you need to enter the following from the command prompt:

1. osql -E
2. backup database BESMgmt to disk = "C:\BBbackup.bak"
3. go
4. quit

In the event your install fails and your BES stops functioning you can perform the following tasks:

1. Stop all the BlackBerry services
2. Restore that backup you took before the upgrade
3. Uninstall BlackBerry Enterprise Server and restart
4. Reinstall your previous BES version and point it to the restored database

It is very uncommon for the upgrade to fail if you follow my pre-install checks above. Please post back if you have any further questions.

Thanks,

Gary