Blackberry BES Server

Creamy Goodness

the company i'm working for are looking to get blackberries so they can access their company email on the go.

at the moment they have one server that is running microsoft exchange 2003 (i think) that collects all their mail and stores it.

now vodafone have sent them a techincal survey saying they need a second server separate to the email server to run what they call "blackberry enterprise server (BES) software".

they sent over the spec of the server which is pretty basic...

Server requirments for server running Microsoft Exchange 2000/2003

• PC with an Intel Pentium IV processor or compatible (2Ghz or higher)
• 1.5GB RAM
• 60GB of free Hard disk space
• Windows 2000 Server (SP 2 or higher) or 2003 SP1

i can spec a server no problems whatsoever i'm going with dell as the company will not allow me to source elsewhere and which is fine with me as come september 15th i'm finishing here (only in for the summer holidays )

but my question is why on earth is there a second server needed, can the server already in place not preform all the actions of a second server?

or is it a case that a second physical server is needed?


anyone that has any infomation on this would be great.

Thanks!

irlrobins

BES acts as middleware to connect to Microsoft Exchange to synchronize email and PIM information between desktop and mobile software. A BB wouldn't be able to connect to exchange server directly.

Presumably a separate server is needed as the BES requires a decent amount of resources. (Espec looking at that req spec).

Creamy Goodness

well now that you actually put it that way, the second server does seem necessary.

i was just trying to get my head around why on earth you'd need a second server.

irlrobins

Also it prevents the BES screwing up your exchange server. If BES server goes tits up, your whole email system doesn't go as well.

Stephen

Yeah, Exchange would be considered a mission critical application, and thus you shouldn't be shoehorning other applications onto your exchange boxes. We use a BES where I work, although our situation is a bit more complex with a load of exchange boxes widely dispersed across a WAN.

Most of our Blackberry users love the service. Can't say I'm too fond of the handsets though.

WizZard

Are they really that good? (BBs) We were thinking of getting them where I work but I'm undecided on the benefits...

irlrobins

If your staff are away from their desks alot and keeping touch with clients/collegues via mail is important then yes. Otherwise no.

Not too bad to run. O2 have a data package. 20e a month for all the data you want. No voice or texts included, but that's not a bad price I think. Although if you're running on a large scale then the investment costs rise (server, software etc).

Stephen

Having a large blackberry/mobile phone userbase can enable your company to negotiate some decent deals with the mobile networks though

Creamy Goodness

well there will only be three blackberry users in the company.

they are fairly technophobia as they all have laptops and i had suggested that they get them vodafone data cards and remote access the server as they would from home/hotels/etc. but they seem set on blackberry's.

i know one of them would use the option of having the data card but the other two wouldn't so blackberry's seem ideal.

irlrobins

Seems a lot of expense for just three users. Could you not just get them to access via POP or imap instead of have to use an exchange server?

Also if they only using laptop for email then BB is much handier. easier to carry around and no need to switch on, login, etc.

aFlabbyPanda

just buy some windows mobile 5 devices and set up Push Mail (free with Exchange SP2) it does the same thing really. Its basically MS version of BES.

We have BES at work but I've rolled out Push Mail for a few clients. I prefer the Push Mail/Windows Mobile intergration then BES but in saying that then BES can be setup without a client (wireless activation).

calex71

I found the windows mobile devices had more usefull features, blackberry devices work well at what they do , but the models we use 8700's are relitively low on memory when u compare it with 2gb sd cards some people stuff into the windows devices i also like the pda feel to them