Carl’s Blog

Blackberry Professional Server for Exchange quick setup.

by Carl Farrington on Dec.10, 2008, under Computer Stuff, Tips & Tricks

If the machine already has SQL Server or SQL Express on there, the BPS installer will not automatically create an SQL instance. You can either use an existing instance (i.e. tell the installer to create the Blackberry database on the SERVER\SHAREPOINT instance), which may confuse other sysadmins later and result in accidental removal of the Blackberry database, or you can install SQL 2005 Express yourself manually, which is what I do. It’s in the tools folder after you have extracted the BPS archive. Deselect “Hide Advanced Configuration Options” during the SQLEXPR install, and name the instance something useful like “BLACKBERRY”. You do not need User-Instances enabled.

Here’s the quick setup guide that I wrote after watching the videos. The written install guide is rotten. It makes a simple process look so tough:

Add user BPSAdmin, create Exchange mailbox.
Add to group Administrators (if you forget this you’ll know about it later when you’re unable to logon to the server locally as BPSAdmin).

Active Directory Users & Computers -> View -> Advanced Features
Domain Properties -> Security -> Advanced -> Add BPSAdmin -> Apply onto: User Objects -> Send As

Regedit: HKCU->Software->microsoft->Exchange->ExAdmin-> New DWORD ShowSecurityPage=1
Exchange System Manager -> Right-click Org -> Delegate Control -> Next -> Add BPSAdmin -> Exchange View Only Administrator
Right-click Org -> Properties -> Security -> BPSADmin -> Allow Administer IS, Receive As, Send As.

Log off.

Log on as BPSAdmin

Start BPS setup, accept all defaults, enter the BPSAdmin password.

Set up device as usual – Options -> Advanced Options -> Enterprise Activation.
When entering the email address, use space bar instead of @ and dot.


9 Comments for this entry

  • TSK

    You might want to publish some sort of glossary for your abbreviations.

  • Carl Farrington

    I think I might have been confusing matters by saying “the BES database”, “BES installer” etc. when what I meant to say was BPS or just Blackberry. Up until fairly recently, BPS (Blackberry Professional Software) was known as Blackberry Enterprise Server Express (BES Express). I’ve fixed the article. Other than that I don’t think there are any abbreviations that would be unknown to somebody installing a Blackberry Enterprise/Professional server.

  • Ronwell

    Great instructions. Was getting more furious by the second poring over blackberry blatherings and instructional pitfalls.

    Those BB videos were so ridiculous. They should have a button for “Do you have ANY admin knowledge whatsoever?” And just link to this page.

    Hats off bud.

  • Jared

    Nice job here. The blackberry docs are pretty bad. I’m going to have to look over your site to see if you’ve done the same thing with Postini- what is with the Over Documentation these days?

  • Carl Farrington

    LOL thanks guys :-)
    I haven’t looked at Postini Jared, sorry !

  • Johannes

    When I try to run setup it asked me to enter license as on cd. I am not sure what to enter as I only downloade the software and would like to run it on demo basis only. Will only purchase license once I am convinced that it is capable to link up and download e-mails from our exchange server. Please kindly assist how I can make use of the demo version of BPS.

    Thanks
    Johannes

  • Carl Farrington

    You should have been emailed a license code. This is a single user license code which is free of charge.
    So, there is no demo, just 1 full free user. If you want to add more users later, you need to buy licenses for those users.

    IF you didn’t download BPS from Blackberry themselves, you need to go back there and complete the process that way.

  • Johannes

    Hi Carl, Thank you for this blog. The information here has been very helpful. Just one more thing I was ask Carl is that when one is activating the device i.e. Options -> Advanced Options ->Enterprise Activation, you are prompted to enter the e-mail, password and actiovation server Address.
    I am not sure what activation server address is required? Is it for the exchange server or the on running the BPS? Please assist as I need to attach the devices to the users now after this stage.

  • Carl Farrington

    Hi Johannes. You don’t need to fill in anything for the activation server address.

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