BlackBerry Enterprise Server

BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES) is the name of the middleware software package that is part of the BlackBerry wireless platform from Research In Motion.

BES connects to messaging and collaboration software (Microsoft Exchange, Lotus Domino, Novell GroupWise) on enterprise networks to synchronize email and PIM information between desktop and mobile software.

Coincidentially, "bes" also happens to be the dutch word for "berry".

BES Versions

* 2.2: BES for Domino
* 3.6: BES for Exchange
* 4.0: BES for Exchange, Domino, and GroupWise
* 4.1: BES for Exchange, Domino, and GroupWise

Previous to v4.0, BES was largely two separate codebases: the 2.2 version for Domino and the 3.6 version for Exchange. In version 4.0 and beyond, much of the code is integrated, but separate distributions still remain for each mail platform.

Version 4.1.2 introduced a new type of BES, BlackBerry Enterprise Server for Applications. This provides a secure wireless gateway for BlackBerry devices without requiring the device owner to possess an email account.

BES Components

BES consists of a set of Windows services that carry out the basic operations of the system. These Windows Services can include (additional services may be installed depending on configuration):

* BlackBerry Alert
* BlackBerry Attachment Service
** Retrieves and converts attachments to a format specific for BlackBerry device
*** For documents with file extensions .doc, .xls, .ppt, .pdf, .wpd, and .txt, the Attachment Service renders the content into the Universal Content Stream format for viewing on the device. [ [http://www.blackberry.com/btsc/search.do?cmd=displayKC&docType=kc&externalId=KB03018&sliceId=SAL_Public&dialogID=126468112&stateId=0%200%2055829151 Attachment service for BlackBerry Enterprise Server] ]
* BlackBerry Collaboration Service
** Provides IM services
* BlackBerry Controller
** Monitors the status of the BlackBerry services. Services are started if failed or stopped up to ten times in a row.
* BlackBerry Database Consistency Service
* BlackBerry Dispatcher
** All communication between the BlackBerry components passes through this service
* BlackBerry Instant Messaging Connector
* BlackBerry Messaging Agent
** Performs wireless calendar synchronization
** Generates initial encryption key
** Provides email and lookup services
* BlackBerry MDS Connection Service
** Services push requests from intranet applications
* BlackBerry MDS Services - Apache Tomcat Service
** Sends and receives internet/intranet web browsing to device through BlackBerry Dispatcher service
** Used for data flow with 3rd party Java applications on device
* BlackBerry Policy Service
** Pushes wireless IT policies to devices
** Performs new Encryption Key Generation
** Sets command for device locks and remote wipe
* BlackBerry Router
** Routes all data to wireless device
** Link between BES (can be installed on same server) and SRP host
* BlackBerry Synchronization Service
** Performs OTA backup and synchronization of all PIM data (contacts, tasks and notes) except calendar.
* BlackBerry User Administration Service (Only 3.6 and BlackBerry Resource Kit (BRK) in 4.0 and 4.1)

BES also produces a set of log files during operation, called the BES Event Log. The log files include (for a BES v4.0 and 4.1 system connecting to Microsoft Exchange):

* ALRT - BES Alert
* BBIM - BlackBerry Instant Messenger (4.1)
* BBUA - BlackBerry User Administration Service (BRK)
* CBCK - Backup Connector
* CEXC - Exchange PIM Connector
* CMNG - Management Connector
* CTRL - BlackBerry Controller
* DISP - BlackBerry Dispatcher
* MAGT - BlackBerry Mailbox Agent (aka BlackBerry Messaging Agent)
* MDAT - Mobile Data Services
* MDSS - MDS Services (4.1)
* MDSS-DISCOVERY - MDS Services (4.1)
* POLC - Policy Service
* ROUT - Router
* SYNC - BlackBerry SyncServer
* PhoneCallLog (4.1)
* PINLog (4.1)
* SMSLog (4.1)

Managing BES

BES is typically deployed and managed within the enterprise by messaging administrators (for example, the individuals already responsible for managing Microsoft Exchange, Lotus Domino, or Novell GroupWise) or sometimes a dedicated IT person, usually called the BlackBerry or BES Administrator.

BES Express

As of January 2007, RIM is offering a free version of BES called BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express, which is a free download from the BlackBerry website. BESE is designed for "...the company that wants to get up and running quickly with BlackBerry Enterprise Server". It comes with one CAL (Client Access License) - meaning 1 BlackBerry handheld can be activated on the Server, and you can add up to 29 additional CALs (for a total of 30) or upgrade to BlackBerry Enterprise Server at any time.

BlackBerry Professional Software Express has replaced BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express. [ [http://na.blackberry.com/eng/services/server/offers/professional_express.jsp BlackBerry - BlackBerry Professional Software Express ] ]

BlackBerry Enterprise Server Resource Kit

The [http://na.blackberry.com/eng/support/server_resourcekit.jsp BlackBerry Enterprise Server Resource Kit] (BRK) is a collection of useful tools and other resources released to expand the manageability of the BlackBerry Enterprise Server. These tools are available free for download. Each BRK release is developed and certified compatible for each BES service pack release version.

The BRK includes tools such as:

* BlackBerry User Administration Service (BESUserAdmin) — Allows administrators to perform user and smartphone administration on the command line level
* NoResponseCheck Tool — Analyzes the logs for threads reporting as non-responsive to differentiate between non-responsive and slow threads
* MessageFlow Tool — Tracks the flow of mail from the mail server through the BlackBerry Enterprise Server to the BlackBerry smartphone and provides statistics in a .csv file
* AvailIndex Tool — Analyzes log files and produces a snapshot report of user activity for a certain time in a .csv file
* HistoricalStats Tool — Checks usage patterns of individual users and provides statistics on a per-day, per-user basis
* OutOfCoverage Tool — Checks for users who have not sent/received in a specified period of time
* Pending Tool — Tracks messages pending delivery in BlackBerry Enterprise Server
* DelayedNotifications Tool — Allows administrators to detect when BlackBerry Enterprise Server is no longer receiving notifications for new email in a timely fashion
* MapiCdoErrors Tool — Allows administrators to scan the logs for common MAPI/CDO errors and custom events they wish to choose
* MDSPushvsPull Tool — Enables Administrators to monitor whether the BlackBerry Mobile Data Service is processing more data by push or by pull
* BlackBerry SysLog Service — Provides Administrators with real-time monitoring of BlackBerry Enterprise Server log events
* BlackBerry Domain Administration History Tool – Audits configuration changes to the BlackBerry Enterprise Server environment and outputs to a .csv file
* LogMonitor Tool — Monitors a text file for one or more events and allows Administrators to specify actions that they want the tool to perform after it finds a value that meets the set criteria
* Message Receipt Confirmation Tool — Provides Administrators with real-time verification that the BlackBerry Enterprise Server is sending messages to BlackBerry devices
* Enterprise Activation Status Tool — Provides the ability to monitor the changing activation status of a BlackBerry smartphone and to troubleshoot activation issues.
* Upgrade IT Policy Template Tool — Allows administrators to upgrade the IT policy template for the BlackBerry Configuration Database with new BlackBerry smartphone policy rules without upgrading the BlackBerry Enterprise Server software.

There are also special support tools available to those who contact the support group.

References