So maybe today's the day you want to perform what is called a "knife-edge cutover" of BlackBerry Enterprise Server 4.0 or 4.1 from one computer to another.

"Oh, joy," you say to yourself.

But you're in luck, because the BlackBerry Technical Knowledge Center has just posted a How-To document that walks you through the process. I've linked to this document below this post.

Because this is fairly detailed stuff I will refer you to the Document for the detailed, well, deets.

But if you want a top-level view of the procedure involved, I'll tell you there are five general steps involved.

These are:

1. Gather BlackBerry Enterprise Server Information.
2. Ensure permissions are correctly configured.
3. Move the BlackBerry Configuration Database.
4. Stop the BlackBerry services.
5. Install the new BlackBerry Enterprise Server.

On the BlackBerry section of Experts-Exchange, one of the most-read thread these days is "BlackBerry Enterprise Server-Email Not Synching Properly In Inbox." Link below.

Started by NTJOCK, the thread involves two issues. One, that synchro happens too quickly, causing spam to replicate to the BlackBerry which requires a "synch now" to clear it.

The second issue is way more complicated, I promise you that.

"I have many rules running on my mailbox at the client and server level," NTJOCK writes. "They process a variety of email that we get from vendors and systems. I probably get 200 emails a day and only 40 of them require me to read them. The other 160 are some combination of status updates for orders, confirmations, faxes, system messages, etc. I have rules setup to move these to the right folders, forward them when appropriate, or just flat delete them."

Would this be so easy.

"The problem is that they get replicated out to my blackberry before the rule on the client 'gets'them," NTJOCK explains. "They do get moved to the right folder (usually), but after they are moved they "stay" on the BB. This is really frustrating because I have 160 msgs/day of clutter on my PDA."

Ace Experts-Exchange expert garycutri to the rescue.

"If an email is moved from the inbox to a public folder the BE will not be able to track that email hence (hey Gary is from Australia where they say "hence") the changes aren't applied to the device," he writes. "As another example if you delete an email and empty the recycle bin before the device has a change to reconcile the BES will loose track of that email and it won't be removed from the device.

"With all the spam filter I use on Exchange they prevent the spam email from hitting the exchange server so there is never an issue with the device receiving filter spam," Gary points out. "You can add a blacklist to exchange so you ensure the spam never reaches the server. I normally use the free list from www.spamhaus.org."

Then Gary adds this important piece of advice: "When you set rules to automatically move email ensure that the folder you are moving them too is a sub folder of the inbox otherwise the BES can't track the email and hence can't reconcile the changes to the handheld."

UK-based, iQlink says that it is now offering SAP integration within the BlackBerry Enterprise Server.

The company says this integration is accomplished with the Sky Technologies Innerware solution. Innerware, in turn, is built on a SAP-certified platform which lives and runs within SAP.

According to iQlink, Innerware is designed for installation within a corporate network and then to be connected to the SAP enterprise system by means of BlackBerry Enterprise Server.

Innerware is a full-Java client, which enables both online and offline functionality. If a user finds that wireless service or signals is unavailable, the user can continue working. When a wireless connection is obtained, the application will synch automatically with the backend SAP system.

The Innerware solution is designed to be installed within a corporate network and connect to the SAP backend system via the BlackBerry Enterprise Server software. On a BlackBerry device, users simply navigate to an icon on the main menu to access a particular application. The application is a full Java client, which allows offline and online functionality. If the user is out-of-range or a wireless carrier network signal is unavailable, the user can continue working, and once the connection is restored, the application will automatically synchronise with the backend SAP system.

While the instructions I cited for removing the "Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless Handheld" tagline does not work on the Pearl, BBHub reader and ardent ham radio guy David Kozinn provides this solution for performing that action on the BlackBerry Pearl.

"On the Pearl, go into the messages list, and press the menu key (the one to the left of the trackball)," David advises. "Scroll down to and select "Options," then "Email Settings" and make sure that "Use Auto Signature" is set to "Yes." You'll then be able to change your signature.

But then David adds an important point.

"Note that this procedure applies if you are using a corporate BES server," he writes. "If you\'re using a BIS server (i.e., you have an email address like someone@carrier.blackberry.net), you have to change the setting on their website."

In a popular Experts-Exchange BlackBerry article entitled BlackBerry wireless backup restore (link below), MisUszatek asks if this is possible via BlackBerry Enterprise Server.

We have a running BES 4.1 with wireless backup enabled for all the users," MisUszatek writes. "Where and how can I manage it? I want to see what is being backed up, when and where. How do I do the partial restore on the same handheld or a full restore on the replacement phone? "

Well, hate to break this to you on the cusp of New Year's Eve, but what you are asking for isn't the easiest.

In fact, you have to stick to a BlackBerryForums thread on this very subject.

Entitled Workflow: Activate a BlackBerry device wirelessly, the thread advises you to do so by performing the following steps:

1. The user receives or purchases a new BlackBerry device. The user receives or purchases a new BlackBerry device and contacts the IT department to activate it.

2. The administrator creates a password. The administrator uses the BlackBerry Manager to create a temporary wireless enterprise activation password for the user account and communicates that password to the user. The password applies to the user account only. The password is no longer valid if any of the following events occur:

o. the BlackBerry Enterprise Server successfully activates a BlackBerry device on the account using the password
o. five consecutive unsuccessful activation attempts are made on the account
o. user fails to activate a BlackBerry device within the expiry window

3. The user initiates a wireless enterprise activation. The user opens the enterprise activation application on the BlackBerry device and types the appropriate corporate email address and wireless enterprise activation password.

4. The BlackBerry device sends an activation request. The BlackBerry device sends an activation request message to the corporate email account. The message contains information about the BlackBerry device, such as routing information and the BlackBerry device activation public keys.
Wireless Enterprise Activation Technical White Paper
5. The BlackBerry Enterprise Server sends an activation response. The BlackBerry Enterprise Server sends the BlackBerry device an activation response that contains routing information about the BlackBerry Enterprise Server and the public keys for the BlackBerry Enterprise Server.

6. The BlackBerry Enterprise Server and BlackBerry device establish and confirm encryption keys. The BlackBerry Enterprise Server and the BlackBerry device establish a master encryption key. The BlackBerry Enterprise Server and the BlackBerry device confirm their knowledge of the master key to one another. If key confirmation succeeds, the activation proceeds and further communication is encrypted.

7. The BlackBerry Enterprise Server sends the IT policy. The BlackBerry Enterprise Server sends the IT policy. If the BlackBerry device cannot accept the IT policy, as a security measure, the activation does not complete.

8. The BlackBerry Enterprise Server sends service books. The BlackBerry Enterprise Server sends the appropriate service books (for example, messaging service book, wireless calendar service book, browser service book, and other service books) to the BlackBerry device. The user can now send messages from and receive messages on the BlackBerry device.

9. The BlackBerry Enterprise Server sends data. If the user is configured for wireless PIM synchronization and wireless backup and wireless calendar synchronization is enabled, the BlackBerry Enterprise Server sends data to the BlackBerry device, including the following information:

o. calendar entries
o. address book entries
o. tasks
o. memos
o. messages
o. existing BlackBerry device options (if applicable) that were backed up using automatic wireless backup

If the user is at the desktop computer, you can use the device manager to load the data using a connection to the BlackBerry Router. This option enables you to avoid sending large quantities of data over the wireless network. You can also enforce this option through an IT policy rule.

In the BlackBerry section of Experts Exchange, the fifth-most read newer thread is entitled "Upgrade BES From 3.6 to 4.1.2."

"If I run an upgrade of my BES from 3.6 to 4.1.2 do I need to get new SRP info from the network?," asks thread-starter stagetech.

Not to make matters easier, he tells us that he gas the download but cannot find the SRP code other than the one he had with his Blackberry Enterprise Server 3.6.

Top-ranked Blackberry expert garycutri has the answer.

"You don't need a new SRP, Auth CAL or user CALs," garycutriwrites. " If you do an upgrade the install process will automatically detect your licensing info from the current install."

Gary advises that before upgrading ensure your system meets the minimum requirement for software and hardware. I alway upgrade to 3.6 Service Pack 7 before updating this BES version.

"Also do a backup of you BES database, if you use SQL do a backup with the system manager or You don't need a new SRP, Auth CAL or user CALs," adds Gary. "If you do an upgrade the install process will automatically detect your licensing info from the current install. "

Then comes the needed minimum requirements admonition.

"Before upgrading ensure your system meets the minimum requirement for software and hardware. I alway upgrade to 3.6 Service Pack 7 before updating this BES version," Gary advises. Also do a backup of you rBES database, if you use SQL do a backup with the system manager or if you use MSDE just copy the BES files from \Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL\Data."

In the third-most read newer thread on the BlackBerry section of Experts-Exchange, member sarniscool admits that his first ever BlackBerry Enterprise Server installation attempt is giving him fits.

"How do I set this user up so that they can receive emails from the BES server,?" sarniscool asks. He writes that he already has downloaded the Desktop Manager, gone into the server and created a profile and generated and sent a password to use to activate the BlackBerry

"I typed that password in and activated from the BlackBerry, he writes."I've waited for about 30 minutes and nothing is happening. The server shows that it is initializing under status, but nothing else is changing."

His real wish in this regard is for step-by-step instructions.

These are, in fact provided by garicutri, the top-ranked BlackBerry expert on Experts Exchange.

"OK, when you install Desktop Manager ensure you select the "BlackBerry EnterpriseSever" option during the install," garycutri writes. " If these emails above continue to be blocked by your SPAM filter you won't be able to activate the users.

Then Garry advises:

1. Enter a rule into your SPAM filter to ensure the Blackberry emails aren't blocked.
2. Open BlackBerry Manager on the server just right mouse click in the users area and select "Add User".
3. Double click on the user and in Properties, choose "Set Activation Password".
4. Set a password and click Apply. the settings.
5. From the device go to the Enterprise Activation icon and enter the users email address and the password you just set.
6. Click the trackwheel and select activate.
   
   

Finally, garicutri mentions If you don't have an Enterprise Activation icon go into Options & Security (then General Settings on new devices), from security click the trackwheel and select Wipe Handheld. This will format the device and return it to factory settings.

• IT policy support for camera features, VMWare support, .wav file attachment and playback support
• Role and group based administration features that make it easier to delegate and align tasks while ensuring strict access control
• Wireless instant messaging with support for Microsoft Live Communications Server 2005 and Office Communicator
• Enhanced support for PowerPoint and document viewing and more

• When trying to download any kind of application, by default the BlackBerry device first downloads a small portion of the application to determine the hash and verify whether the application is permitted on the BlackBerry device.
• BlackBerry Enterprise Server administrators can set IT policies and application control policies in the BlackBerry Manager to control the manual or automatic installation of third-party applications on BlackBerry devices and third-party application access to their organization's BlackBerry device resources and applications.
• IT or BlackBerry Enterprise Server administrators can also place the BlackBerry Enterprise Solution in multiple network segments by installing each component on a remote computer and then placing each component in its own network segment.

On the BlackBerry section of Experts-Exchange, user akaSurreal (cool user name BTW) writes that when his BlackBerry Desktop Redirector semds messages to his company's Exchange Server, they keep on getting marked as junk mail.

As a result, the messages wind up in the junk folder and are never delivered. As a result, akaSurreal says, he's had to mark more than a dozen such messages as "not junk."

Well, that's a pain in the you know where. But one with an easy solution.

Comes from garicutri, who by votes of individual BlackBerry users on Experts-Exchange is rated this year's top BlackBerry expert.

Set your spam filter to low.

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• Daylight Saving Time
• Improved MAPI address resolution (SDR 105438)
• Improved MAPIEncoding registry key (SDR 98957)
• Improved service book delivery (SDR 98227)
• Set RPC timeout value for the BlackBerry Dispatcher (SDR 97876)
• New confirmation prompt when you delete a BlackBerry Enterprise Server (SDR 94879)

• Daylight Saving Time
• Improved service book delivery (SDR 98227)
  
• Set RPC timeout value for the BlackBerry Dispatcher (SDR 97876)
  
• New confirmation prompt when you delete a BlackBerry Enterprise Server (SDR 94879)
  
• Improvements to the BlackBerry Enterprise Server Alert tool (SDR 93880)

• Call someone by simply clicking an entry from their corporate directory, buddy list, recent calls, or group calls list
• See how many voice mails are on their office desk phone waiting for them and with one click, retrieve those messages
• Check the presence and availability of co-workers
• Sort through the corporate directory
• Perform instant messaging
• Enable group calls and IM multicast
• Sort through call logs of their desktop phone
• Deliver calls to a temporary number

Third-party BlackBerry software developer GPXS has just released Condor Mobile Productivity Options for BlackBerry Enterprise Users (an earlier version for smal to medium size businesses was released earlier)

Casting aside the realization that these folks don't do snappy title branding all that well, it might be more relevant to list what's in Condor Mobile for BES.

Condor File Explorer gives users secure access to their corporate file server from their BlackBerry.

Condor Print enables the transmission of printable files or emails from a BlackBerry to a network printer, Bluetooth printer or fax machine.

Condo SpellChecker looks over your outgoing email, and contains legal and medical terminology spellcheck capability as well.