BES Express

[jangi]

Apparently Blackberry is bring back the express edition... for free... and it somehow won't require the BES data plan (BIS will work), at least for some functionality.

Has Scalix had the opportunity to test with this package at all?

Code: Select all

http://na.blackberry.com/eng/services/business/server/express/

[billb3]

The release notes don't mention this edition, but maybe Scalix will see it as BES 5? Have you tried setting up?

[jangi]

No, I don't have a spare server setup... maybe I'll give it a try when I have time.

[cdonovan]

I built a BES Express Server on Windows Server 2003 yesterday in a test environment and it 'seems' to be operational. That is, it sees my Scalix server and I can add Scalix users to the BES. I wil test with a couple of Blackberrys that I have at a clients' site later today and hopefully report success.

I can't say that building the BES Express was an 'easy' process. It DID NOT like me keeping the Exchange server section BLANK and actually aborted the install a couple of times. I think it was because I did not setup AD before I started with the BES install. The install did pickup where it left each time and persistence seem to pay off...

[cdonovan]

Update: My BB's would NOT activate... Since I am new to this, perhaps someone can answer this: How does the Activation know where my BES is?? You only supply email address and password during the Authentication process... Does my scalix server know where my BES is ??

Thanks...

[jangi]

The activation process is kinda cool actually...

The BB generates a message that is sent to your email address (the one you typed in on the BB for activation). It arrives in your inbox, which is being watched by the BES server. It processes (and deletes) that email from your Inbox, which contains all the info it needs to communicate and activate your BB. This has always required a BES data plan with the carrier, though the marketing info for BES Express indicated it would work with the less expensive BIS plan. I'm not sure how that's possible, or if the functionality is reduced.

[cdonovan]

Thanks for that info... The BB plan is most likely my issue. I dropped my BB plan and went to HTC with Activesync about 6 months ago... I was just putting my SIM card back in my old BB to test my BES.

My BES by the way is in my home (my test lab) and my Scalix server at another location. I've NATed port 3101 through to my BES... Should that be it for port issues ??

[cdonovan]

Thanks again for the tip. Maybe an update will help you steer me in the right direction. Yes, as per above, when I tried to Activate my BB, there was NO email generated to my account... Probably the BES plan issue.
The BB I tested from my clients' place yesterday DID generate an email to the scalix server (found it in Deleted Items). Therefore, in case number 2, it appears to be between my Scalix server (behind IPtables port 3101 directed to it) and my BES Express (in another location behind IPtables also port 3101 directed to it).
Any ideas?
Sorry, I really wanted to be a contributor here, not a 'helpless BES newbie'.

[cdonovan]

I'm giving up for now! I tried a FULL reinstall... ie. Windows 2003 Server, AD and BES Express. I could NOT get by the BES install asking for an Exchange Server. I finally put in an Exchange server that I maintain and got it installed but it doesn't work with that fakeout...
I'll wait for someone smarter that I (most on this forum) to post. Sorry, I was hoping to contribute!!

[cdonovan]

WOW... IT DOES WORK!! After taking a break, I started over again and have successfully installed BES Express! I was using the instructions for 1.0.0 as opposed to 1.0.1. The order of install is very picky and they are different.
I followed these (link below) to a tee and its works perfectly!! Be careful with the BES licensing information... The wording is a bit messy! Use the 'Test' to verify!!

http://downloads.scalix.com/rn/scalix-besconnect-1.0.1-GA-releasenotes.html

[jangi]

Can you confirm whether or not you can activate a BB that only has the BIS data plan? On verizon BIS=29.99/mo, BES=49.99/mo. Is there any loss in functionality?

[cdonovan]

I have only tested with the BES plan... And yes, my Rogers plan is similar... BIS plan $25 per month, BES plan $40 per month... I am going to downgrade to BIS and see if it works! I'll post results. BTW, on the BES plan it works well, however for almost $200 per year more, it kinda looses its' lustre...

[cdonovan]

I switched to BIS and I have the SAME result, HOWEVER, I have just realized that it is only working ONE way... That is, an appointment in Outlook syncs with BB but appointment in BB does NOT sync back to Outlook. It appears that this has been happpening from the outset. The mboxadmin is set to YES for the besadmin user!!

Can anyone help or tell me where to look in the BES logs for info!!!

Thanks...

[cdonovan]

I don't know if anyone out there is trying BES Express, but here goes... I think that I have located the problem area BUT no solution..

When I put an appointment in Blackberry, here's what I get out of the BES_MAGT log. The first error talks about IPv6 which is NOT enable on my adapter! and yes, I went into the Registry and set the 'Closest GC' to 1...

[40000] (04/22 07:18:05.609):{0x16FC} CDO helper 0107B140 is not in memory
[40000] (04/22 07:18:05.609):{0x16FC} Starting new CDO helper 0107B140
[40574] (04/22 07:18:05.906):{0x1214} CDO helper 0107B140 started, PID 7576
[20717] (04/22 07:18:27.156):{0x16FC} MailboxManager::CreateProfile (BES_CDO_4456_4) - ConfigureMsgService (80040115) - Ensure that IPv6 is disabled on the Exchange Server or configure the BES to use the closest global catalog server
[40000] (04/22 07:18:27.156):{0x16FC} {cdonovan@vpnetworks.ca} StartCalHelper - CreateCDOProfile failed, retry...
[20717] (04/22 07:18:48.265):{0x16FC} MailboxManager::CreateProfile (BES_CDO_4456_4) - ConfigureMsgService (80040115) - Ensure that IPv6 is disabled on the Exchange Server or configure the BES to use the closest global catalog server
[40000] (04/22 07:18:48.281):{0x16FC} {cdonovan@vpnetworks.ca} StartCalHelper - CreateCDOProfile retry failed
[40000] (04/22 07:18:58.593):{0x1704} [BIPP] Ping 3 sent
[40000] (04/22 07:18:58.593):{0x1700} [BIPP] Ping Response 3 received
[30002] (04/22 07:19:10.281):{0x1214} Server = , Mailbox = Description = Your profile is not configured. [Microsoft Exchange Information Store - [MAPI_E_UNCONFIGURED(8004011C)]]
[30180] (04/22 07:19:10.281):{0x1214} {Chris\ Donovan} CDOCalendar::Initialize - Error in call m_spCalendarFolder = m_spCDOSession->GetDefaultFolder
[40000] (04/22 07:19:10.281):{0x1214} CDO initializing failure in CDO helper 0107B140 (1)
[30002] (04/22 07:19:12.703):{0x1214} Server = scalix.vpnetworks.ca, Mailbox = Chris T. Donovan /scalix/cn=Chris\ Donovan Description = [Collaboration Data Objects - [MAPI_E_USER_CANCEL(80040113)]]
[30180] (04/22 07:19:12.703):{0x1214} {Chris\ Donovan} CDOCalendar::Initialize - Error in call m_spCDOSession->Logon
[40000] (04/22 07:19:12.703):{0x1214} CDO initializing failure in CDO helper 0107B140 (2)
[30002] (04/22 07:19:14.718):{0x1214} Server = scalix.vpnetworks.ca, Mailbox = Chris T. Donovan /scalix/cn=Chris\ Donovan Description = [Collaboration Data Objects - [MAPI_E_USER_CANCEL(80040113)]]
[30180] (04/22 07:19:14.718):{0x1214} {Chris\ Donovan} CDOCalendar::Initialize - Error in call m_spCDOSession->Logon
[40000] (04/22 07:19:14.718):{0x1214} CDO initializing failure in CDO helper 0107B140 (3)
[30002] (04/22 07:19:16.718):{0x1214} Server = scalix.vpnetworks.ca, Mailbox = Chris T. Donovan /scalix/cn=Chris\ Donovan Description = [Collaboration Data Objects - [MAPI_E_USER_CANCEL(80040113)]]
[30180] (04/22 07:19:16.718):{0x1214} {Chris\ Donovan} CDOCalendar::Initialize - Error in call m_spCDOSession->Logon
[40000] (04/22 07:19:16.718):{0x1214} CDO initializing failure in CDO helper 0107B140 (4)
[30002] (04/22 07:19:18.937):{0x1214} Server = scalix.vpnetworks.ca, Mailbox = Chris T. Donovan /scalix/cn=Chris\ Donovan Description = [Collaboration Data Objects - [MAPI_E_USER_CANCEL(80040113)]]
[30180] (04/22 07:19:18.937):{0x1214} {Chris\ Donovan} CDOCalendar::Initialize - Error in call m_spCDOSession->Logon
[40000] (04/22 07:19:18.937):{0x1214} CDO initializing failure in CDO helper 0107B140 (5)
[40000] (04/22 07:19:19.906):{0x16FC} {cdonovan@vpnetworks.ca} CDO helper 0107B140 returned error 'CAL_CDO_INIT_FAILED' failed for LongTermEntryId=0 in LaunchCalHelper
[40000] (04/22 07:19:19.906):{0x16FC} {cdonovan@vpnetworks.ca} Unable to launch CDO helper in SynchronizeHelper
[40000] (04/22 07:19:19.906):{0x16FC} {cdonovan@vpnetworks.ca} Unable to process message with LongTermEntryId=0 in SynchronizeHelper
[30520] (04/22 07:19:19.906):{0x1730} Sending REPORT_HEALTH_SCORE command to Dispatcher, Health=0x000000000200140F, Mask=0x000000000200150F, Users=0, Servers=0
[20216] (04/22 07:19:19.906):{0x16FC} {cdonovan@vpnetworks.ca} Synchronize() failed: ERR_FAIL, Tag=565
[40000] (04/22 07:19:19.906):{0x16FC} {cdonovan@vpnetworks.ca}-HandleAppointmentToSynchronize-Exit-rc=Error
[40279] (04/22 07:19:19.906):{0x16FC} {cdonovan@vpnetworks.ca} SubmitToRelaySendQ, Tag=565
[40000] (04/22 07:19:19.906):{0x1704} [BIPP] Send status DATA_ACCEPTED, Tag=565
[40580] (04/22 07:19:19.937):{0x1214} CDO helper 0107B140 closing after CDO initialize failure
[40000] (04/22 07:19:20.046):{0x1214} CalHelper failed 0107B140, ErrorCode = -11, Thread activity was Checking CDO object list
[40000] (04/22 07:19:20.140):{0x16F4} {cdonovan@vpnetworks.ca} Processed MULTI_STATS from Dispatcher, Tag=566
[40577] (04/22 07:19:21.046):{0x1214} CDO helper 0107B140 stopped

Can anyone shed some light on this??? Have the Scalix folks setup a BES yet ???

[jangi]

Did you follow the installation notes for the Scalix Connect for BES? Specifically regarding the order, and the installation of a certain version of the CDO library?