As I write this entry, I am on the phone with RIM technical support.  Let me tell you the story of upgrading my BES server to version 5.0.

*NOTE: The second time for this issue, the issue was DNS related insofar, the entry had gotten changed with the wrong server name through replication.
I have been working with BES for a long time (since version 2) and my current environment is 4.6.  I downloaded the 5.0 upgrade media and kicked off the install.  I was pleased with the progress and the install seemed to be moving right along with no major issues.  Every other time I have upgraded my BES servers, something always went crazy mid install, be it my fault or not.

The first option which I am still regretting is the option to select windows authentication for the Blackberry Administration Service.  I had thought, why would I need another hardset password, my organization would just use the besadmin account anyways!  As you will see, this is a huge mistake.

The install finishes without any noticeable problems and the first thing I realized was that the Blackberry manager snapin no longer works.  I read up on the features that version 5.0 brings, but for some reason, I never knew that it would take it to a webdav.  Regardless, I launch the shortcut and it brings me to a pretty login page where I enter the besadmin creds.  It then provides the error message:

“The username, password, or domain is not correct.  Please correct the entry”

The first thing I do is enter it again, and again, and again.  Next, I check to make sure that the time is correct on the bes server and the LDAP domain controller.  It is.  This rules out TIME KB.  I then verify that my reverse DNS and proper ldap settings are correct.  They are.  This rules out the LDAP kb.

After further reading, I see that the test LDAP settings button may be corrupted.  I did hit the test LDAP button (who wouldn’t????) and thought, HA that MUST be my problem.  I followed the following steps in option 1, and rebooted the BES, but the error still occurred.

Option 1

1. On the server where the BlackBerry Administration Service is installed, navigate to this directory:<drive>:\Program Files\Research In Motion\BlackBerry Enterprise Server\BAS\bin
2. Run the following command:basUtility “C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_15″ “C:\Program Files\Research In Motion\BlackBerry Enterprise Server\BAS” encode “<LDAP Password>” > C:\Output.txt
3. Open the text file created in Step 2.
4. Copy the hashed version of the password to your Microsoft SQL Server.
5. Run the following SQL Query against the BlackBerry Configuration Database:update BASAuthenticationCredentials set password = ‘<contents of output.txt>’ where AuthenticationType LIKE ‘1′
6. Restart the BlackBerry Administration Service services.
7. Log in to the BlackBerry Administration Service using Microsoft Active Directory.

Option 2

Install the BlackBerry Administration Service again.
I then went down the path of option 2, but this also did not fix my issue.  At this point, I was at wits end, and decided to give RIM tech support a call.  Applying the latest SPs actually allowed me to login, and I was happy.  This worked until my VM got rebooted, and now today, the problem is still occuring.  Once the BES tech gets back on the phone, (I have been on hold for 40 minutes now, while he “reviews” my case, I will paste the resolve)

So, when you have tried everything else, here is something that you can try.  Ultimately, this resolved the issue that I was having with a excvhange 2007 server.  Good luck and happy reading!

Overview

One way calendar synchronization is not working from the BlackBerry smartphone to Microsoft® Outlook®

The following log lines are displayed:

[30001] (08/14 13:58:46.822):{0×164C} CDOCalendar::Initialize – Code = 80040705, WCode = 0505, Code meaning = IDispatch error #1285,

[30002] (08/14 13:58:46.822):{0×164C} Server = exchange, Mailbox = /o=My Organization/ou=First Administrative Group/cn=Recipients/cn=user Description = The attempt to log on to the Microsoft Exchange Server computer has failed. [Microsoft Exchange Server Information Store - [MAPI_E_FAILONEPROVIDER(8004011D)]]

[30180] (08/14 13:58:46.822):{0×164C} {user} CDOCalendar::Initialize – Error in call m_spCalendarFolder = m_spCDOSession->GetDefaultFolder

[40000] (08/14 13:58:51.028):{0×164C} CDO initializing failure in CDO helper 00f31e78 (5)

[40580] (08/14 13:58:52.029):{0×164C} CDO helper 00f31e78 closing after CDO initialize failure

[40000] (08/14 13:58:52.129):{0×164C} CalHelper failed 00f31e78, ErrorCode = -11, Thread activity was Checking CDO object list

The following error message is displayed when you attempt to connect to the affected BlackBerry smartphone user’s Microsoft Outlook mailbox using a profile that does not have cached Exchange mode turned on:

The Microsoft Exchange Server computer is not available. Either there are network problems or the Microsoft Exchange Server computer is down for maintenance.

Cause

This issue has multiple causes.

1. The public folder store is not loaded.
2. The BlackBerry Enterprise Server service account does not have the appropriate permissions.
3. The protocol settings in Microsoft® Active Directory® have been set to deny MAPI connections.

Resolution

Complete the appropriate resolution for the cause of the issue.

Cause 1

The public folder store is not loaded.

Resolution

Load the public folder store.

The BlackBerry Enterprise Server service account does not have the appropriate permissions.

Resolution

Verify that the BlackBerry Enterprise Server service account has the same permissions as the mailbox store.

The protocolSettings in Active Directory have been set to deny MAPI connections.

Resolution

Microsoft Exchange 2003 SP2 and Microsoft Exchange 2007 SP1

Complete the following steps:

1. Install the Windows 2003 Support Tools if they are not currently installed.
2. Open adsiedit.msc.
3. Expand Domain [servername.domain.com] then the respective container holding the user object that you want to check the protocolSettings of.
4. Right-click a user and select Properties on the context menu.
5. Select protocolSettings from the list of properties and click Edit.
6. If you see a value of MAPI§0§0§§§§§§ or MAPI§1§1§§§§§§ then MAPI access has been turned off for this user. Remove the value.Note: It can take anywhere from 15 minutes to 2 hours for this change to take effect.

   Note: By default the Multi-valued string is blank which means that no value is defined and MAPI access is allowed.

HMC 4.0 and later

If the MPS was used to create the user accounts and mailboxes in a hosted environment then the configuration settings of the front-end application that was used to create the accounts must be changed. The change to the configuration settings makes the required changes to all user accounts that were created using MPS.

http://www.blackberry.com/btsc/search.do?cmd=displayKC&docType=kc&externalId=KB14075

To migrate the BlackBerry Enterprise Server from Microsoft Exchange Server 2000 or 2003 to Microsoft Exchange Server 2007, complete the following steps

1. Stop all BlackBerry Enterprise Server services.Important: Restarting certain BlackBerry Enterprise Server services will delay email message delivery to BlackBerry smartphones. For more information, see KB04789.
2. Move the BlackBerry Enterprise Server service account mailbox. The default name for this account is BESAdmin.
3. After migrating Microsoft Exchange Server 2000 or 2003, verify the Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 permissions for the BlackBerry Enterprise Server.
4. Set the required permissions for the BlackBerry Enterprise Server in Microsoft Exchange 2007. For more information, see KB12483.
5. Remove Microsoft Exchange System Manager 2000 or 2003. (Exchange installation cd will be required to complete this step)
6. Perform a search for MAPI32.dll and cdo.dll.
7. Rename any cdo.dll and MAPI32.dll files from the system32 folder and the program files\exchsrvr\bin folder to a .bak file extension.
8. Download and install the latest Messaging Application Programming Interface (MAPI) and Collaboration Data Object (CDO) clients. For more information, see KB12697.
9. Resolve the MAPI profile for the BESAdmin mailbox on the Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 by going to Start > Programs > BlackBerry Enterprise Server > Edit MAPI Profile.
10. Restart the BlackBerry Enterprise Server.Important: Restarting the BlackBerry Enterprise Server will delay email message delivery to BlackBerry smartphones. For more information, see KB04789.

View the reference link for further details:

http://www.blackberry.com/btsc/search.do?cmd=displayKC&docType=kc&externalId=KB14502

Ok – first, I need to figure out why localhost is blocking port 10054 and this should clear up the issue.  The strange thing though when I put this error message in google is here is one of the hits.

broadsword calling danny boy wav naked lesbian teenager cheap calling cards india srpclient error calling host …

Really?  REALLY?  I got a porn hit on a blackberry issue.  What is the world coming to today?!?!?!  If I figure out why I’m getting this error, I’ll be sure to post it..

Navigate to the following:

Options
Advanced Options
Enterprise Activation

In Enterprise activation, perform the following:
Press and HOLD ALT and type “CNFG”
This will provide the configuration for the enterprise activation. Scroll down to Wireless Sync and select no.
Repeat the steps and change it back to yes. The soft enterprise activation will now perform.

I stumbled upon this when researching another issue on my BES.  I tried it out and works like a charm!

There is nothing that pisses me off in the BES World like error messages that does not mean much to me!  This is one of them…

Event Type:      Warning
Event Source:      BlackBerry Policy Service
Event Category:      None
Event ID:      20000
Date:            7/03/2008
Time:            4:24:11 PM
User:            N/A
Computer:     BES
Description:
{email@email.com, PIN=XXXXXXX, UserId=12}RequestHandler::HandleSERVICE_BOOKDataCommand - IncompleteACK data for SERVICE_BOOK request

This error occured after I added a new person and the contacts did not port over.  For giggles, I did the following:

On the blackberry go to options, advanced options, host routing table, then click the button on the blackberry and choose register with network.  Sometimes if the blackberry does not register right the first time it corrupts the service book.

I then resent the service books from the BES server and waited.  After about 20 minutes, the guy’s contacts started to sync!

The latest and greatest project is to get our blackberry devices to work with this website that my development team is creating.  Since I am the blackberry admin, it has fallen into my lap to get the blackberries to conform to standards.  One of the things that RIM has suggested is to turn on internet explorer emulation.

Open the browser on the BlackBerry device.

Click on the menu button and go to options Select Browser Configuration For Emulation Mode, select Microsoft IE.

Save and close.

This did not resolve the issue, but it was worth a shot!

Open BlackBerry manager.

Click on the mds-cs connection and select edit properties.

On the Logs tab, set both the HTTP Logging Enabled and the Verbose HTTP Logging Enabled drop-down lists to True.

Click Apply, then click OK.

So, my company is now doing a little bit of mobile development.  They had read that MDS on the BES server should be able to handle authenication.  How it works, (or at least how I understand it) is that it uses the MDS as a proxy of sorts to use the internal BES to browse webpages instead of going straight out on the internet?  The benefit?  For most people, none.  For those that want to access intranet sites on their BB, the world.  Here is how you do it.  First have MDS installed.  This was already done for me.  Next, configure it to allow authentication.

1. In BlackBerry Manager, select <BlackBerry_Enterprise_Server_name>_MDS-CS_1.
2. Click Edit Properties.
3. In the Properties window, click HTTP.
4. Set Support HTTP Authentication to True, then click OK.
5. Restart the BlackBerry MDS Connection Service.

The end!  It worked like a charm!

I recently had someone who wanted to do this but I had no idea how to go about it.  After a few minutes searching on this, I found the following directions.

You have to install the AOL Sync program. There are two ways to install the AOL Sync program: with the BlackBerry® Desktop Manager or via a wireless connection.

This document explains how to install the software using the BlackBerry Desktop Manager.
To install AOL Sync using the BlackBerry Desktop Manager:
1. Go to the AOL Sync for Blackberry Web site (http://bbsync.aol.com/), then click the Download Now button.
2. Unzip the downloaded bbaolsync.zip file. Make note of the directory you have unzipped this file to as you will need it again later.
3. Plug in the BlackBerry handheld device.
4. Start up the Desktop Manager.
5. Double-click the Application Loader icon.
6. Click the Next > button.
7. Click the Add… button.
8. Click the aolsync.alx file in the directory noted while completing step 2 above, then click the Open button.
9. Ensure that AOL Sync is checked and the Action: listed is “Install.” Click the Next > button.
10. Click the Finish button. Four modules will load onto the handheld: com_aol_aolsync.cod, com_aol_aolsync_client.cod, com_aol_carriers.cod, and com_asoft_midp_zlib.cod.
11. Close the Application Loader Wizard window.
12. Close the Desktop Manager.

This document explains how to install the software using your wireless connection.
To install Sync using your wireless connection:
1. Confirm that your wireless connection is on. If not, select the Radio Tower icon on the main ribbon screen, press the track wheel, select Turn Wireless On, then press the track wheel again.
2. Open the Internet browser. This may be labeled as Internet Browser or Browser; often the label will include the name of your carrier. Once the browser page opens, it should bring up a default page. Select Home Page, then press the track wheel. A menu will then pop up.
3. Select Go To…, then press the track wheel. A window will pop up where you can enter a URL. Type bbsync.aol.com, then select OK and press the track wheel.
4. After the Web page loads, select Full Installation, then tap the Enter key. The download screen appears. Tap the Enter key to start downloading.
5. Once the program has been downloaded and installed (this may take a while), you should see a window pop up that says, “Application was installed. Device must be rebooted to complete the installation.” Simply select Reboot, then press the track wheel.

Once AOL Sync has been installed, it must also be configured.
To configure AOL Sync for BlackBerry:
1. From the main BlackBerry menu, select the AOL Sync program, then press the track wheel.
2. Enter your screen name and password.
Note: If you are using AOL® Passcode, you should enter the passcode number on the main AOL® Sync screen after your password, using the following format: password/passcode.
3. Please select the applications you wish to sync. By default both Address Book and Calendar are selected.
Note: Select Settings to change your synchronization settings on the Settings screen.
Address Book: A checkmark indicates that you want to synchronize with your AOL® Address Book information. Tap the space bar to uncheck this box if you do not want to synchronize your address book.
Calendar: A checkmark indicates that you want to synchronize with your AOL® Calendar information. Tap the space bar to uncheck this box if you do not want to synchronize your calendar.
Auto-Sync Every: Select the time interval in minutes, indicating how often you want to check the AOL® service for changes. If you select 0 minutes, this feature will be disabled.
Service Provider: Tap the space bar to select your service provider. If your service provider is not listed, you will need to select User Defined and enter in the appropriate information from your service provider.
4. You will receive a message stating that, “The application aolsync has requested a https connection to bbsync.aol.com:80.” Select the Don’t ask this again for: https connections to bbsync.aol.com:80 box, then tap the space bar to place a check in it.
5. Select Allow this connection, then press the track wheel.

AOL HELP PAGE FOR MORE INFORMATION