Migrating Blackberry Enterprise Server (BES) to a VM in parallel

So, the BES I inherited was running on an old server that was ready for a new purpose. I had a nice new Hyper-V based VM ready to host BES services, but there were a couple steps I had to take to get the services there. I was not wanting to make a knife-edge switch, as I wanted to do this a few users at a time. I only have one SRP Identifier, and my support is currently through Sprint, not RIM. Here is the solution I came up with that worked out quite well.

1. Move the database (optional)
The BES was using MSDE on the local server. Since I was decommissioning the local server, this had to move. I migrated from MSDE to an existing SQL 2005 DB. Here is an article for reference: KB12247 on http://www.blackberry.com/btsc/microsites/microsite.do

2. Register with Blackberry/RIM for a trial BES license
You have to sign up and give them a valid email address, but once approved, you get a trial SRP ID. This is required if you want to run your new BES in parallel with the existing BES. As of the time of this posting, you can request a trial here: http://na.blackberry.com/eng/services/server/offers.jsp

3. Load your new BES, use the production DB and Trial SRP
Build the new BES (it should be in the ballpark of your production version). You should be able to point the new BES to your shared DB and manage it alongside your existing BES. Make sure you use the new SRP-ID so that you don't lock your existing SRP. Having these in parallel allows for a much easier migration.

4. Move users
Right-click, move user (you can highlight multiple users if you want to do batches). This will do a seamless OTA migration of the user. You should look at the last contact on the device though, because if it can't find them, your new BES will log an error quite frequently as it attempts to contact and migrate the device.

5. Decommission old BES
Uninstall/Disable services. Remove from Management GUI.

6. Replace temporary SRP with production SRP using Management GUI.
Now you can go back to your original SRP. You are now running on the new server.

This process worked for me. Let me know your experiences.

What a year!

So, I haven't blogged much. It's strange because if you know me, you know I talk a LOT. I've seen a lot this year, as leaving Cheniere proved more difficult that I could have imagined. After a couple brief stops I think I have a home again for a while. That said, I am starting my New Years resolution early. I promise to blog more. I'm in an interesting position (again) at a company that has a lot of opportunity for me. We need an upgrade on storage, networking, management tools, etc. I will recount some of my adventures here in the hopes that others will stumble upon my ramblings and find help or at least consolation that they are not alone!

Here's to 2008, a year that we would all like to forget!
Good bye Ike, Foreclosures, Bailouts, $144 Oil, $40 Oil, Writer's Strikes..

Bring on 2009!

South Park Studios

You can now see many episodes with only brief commercial interruptions free on the web.

Real guitars are for old people:
http://www.southparkstudios.com/

Rock On!

New PC Continues

If technology did exactly what we expected, my career would be limited..

So as it turns out, the Crucial Ballistix PC2-1066 memory is causing issues for lots of people on the net. I am going to RMA it, but it may end up on eBay. I went to Gigabyte's website and found a compatibility matrix for my board. I ordered some OCZ memory from that matrix:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227181

So far, so good! It is running at 1170mhz and stable. We'll see how it runs for a few days.

The New PC

Well, I built my last PC in December of 2004, so it was more than time for a new one. I decided it was time after I read an article about the 45nm Intel Wolfdale: http://www.tomshardware.com/2008/02/13/wolfdale_shrinks_transistors/

After I read this, I knew it was time to move on. Here is what I ended up with:
Intel Core 2 Duo E8400
Gigabyte EP35C-DS3R
(2) 2GB Kits of Crucial PC2-8500 1066mhz DDR2
Antec P182 Case
A 550W Corsair PSU
MSI Nvidia 8800GT
WD 500gb Sata HDD
Ninja mini CPU Heatsink/fan

I even went out and got a Samsung 245BW to replace my old NEC 19".


Yes, I spent a bit, but I have a nice setup now. It was not without heartache and sacrifice though. I did have to RMA my motherboard and it wasn't until my second that I realized I would have to deal with a limitation. The motherboard does not support my RAM in the first memory bank unless it is running under 1066Mhz. I don't know if I should blame Crucial or Gigabyte here, so I won't pass judgement. I'm still running ok. I ended up losing 66mhz on the ram, but I added 600mhz on the CPU and I got the FSB up from 1333 to 1600mhz and it runs stable.

2008? What's next?

So it's 2008.. Big deal, right? What in the world will happen this year? It's hard to tell. Technology is getting faster, and smaller. Same could be said in 1998, so what else is there? Maybe someone will release a Blackberry that acts like an iPhone.. That would be news. Windows Server 2008 releases this year, I read that it could be as soon as Q2.. Not many are excited, but I bet it gets deployed faster than Vista has been on the desktop side.

I bet Microsoft misses Bill Gates more than you think they will. I liked the video form CES of him trying to find new things to do with his time. Google/YouTube it, it's funny.

Well, my good friend Ethan is half way up a Mt Kilimanjaro (spelling!). At least he can say he has accomplished something this year.

More to come.