Originally Posted by gjigelco (Post 1745600)

I have searched quite a bit for an answer to this, but I can't seem to find anyone in the exact same situation as I am, and therefore I haven't been able to get a definitive answer.

Currently, we are running BES 4.1.6 against a single Exchange 2003 SP2 server in our domain. Management wants to eventually get rid of Blackberries and give users the option to use either an Android phone or an iPhone via ActiveSync, although there is no established time table on this. Lately, I have been looking into upgrading to Exchange 2010 for a variety of reasons, including its additional features when using ActiveSync. I am well aware that I would have to move to BES 5.0 in order for the BES server to work with Exchange 2010, however I have a few questions.

The first option I am considering is setting up both Exchange servers in coexistence, and when I move a users mailbox from Exchange 2003 to Exchange 2010, deleting them from BES and issuing them an Android or iPhone instead.

1. If I pursue this (above) option, will BES break for all users the second I introduce Exchange 2010 into the environment and make it the SMTP server, or will all continue to work as long as the Blackberry users mailbox is on the Exchange 2003 server? If on 2003 you will be ok for those users on 2003

The second option I am considering is upgrading our BES to v5.0 first, then introducing Exchange 2010 and moving users over, maintaining their Blackberries for the time being and eventually moving them to different phones.

2. If I pursue this (above) option, how do I go about upgrading my BES 4.1 license to 5.0? Do I have to purchase it as a product, or purchase support?
you can purchase it or get T support to get it

3. If I do upgrade to BES 5.0, will I have to pay to upgrade my CALs also, or are the CALs version agnostic? Agnostic unless you have some free ones of SBS ones installed.
4. If I did this, would I move the BESAdmin user first and immediately update my MAPI/CDO package before moving any more mailboxes from Exchange 2003 to Exchange 2010? Yes
5. Would there be anything that wouldn't work for my Blackberry users during the time that both Exchange 2003 and Exchange 2010 were in coexistence, regardless of which server their mailbox was on? it can work but there might be issues that can be worked out after install

Sorry for so many questions, but I want to fully understand my options before deciding how to go forward. Thanks for any help that anyone can provide.

Originally Posted by knottyrope (Post 1745639)

Exchange 2010 will send info to the 2003 server if the mail box resides there based on AD.

So really you are not changing the 2003 exchange server from doing what is normal

Originally Posted by gjigelco (Post 1745600)

I have searched quite a bit for an answer to this, but I can't seem to find anyone in the exact same situation as I am, and therefore I haven't been able to get a definitive answer.

Currently, we are running BES 4.1.6 against a single Exchange 2003 SP2 server in our domain. Management wants to eventually get rid of Blackberries and give users the option to use either an Android phone or an iPhone via ActiveSync, although there is no established time table on this. Lately, I have been looking into upgrading to Exchange 2010 for a variety of reasons, including its additional features when using ActiveSync. I am well aware that I would have to move to BES 5.0 in order for the BES server to work with Exchange 2010, however I have a few questions.

The first option I am considering is setting up both Exchange servers in coexistence, and when I move a users mailbox from Exchange 2003 to Exchange 2010, deleting them from BES and issuing them an Android or iPhone instead.

1. If I pursue this (above) option, will BES break for all users the second I introduce Exchange 2010 into the environment and make it the SMTP server, or will all continue to work as long as the Blackberry users mailbox is on the Exchange 2003 server?

The second option I am considering is upgrading our BES to v5.0 first, then introducing Exchange 2010 and moving users over, maintaining their Blackberries for the time being and eventually moving them to different phones.

2. If I pursue this (above) option, how do I go about upgrading my BES 4.1 license to 5.0? Do I have to purchase it as a product, or purchase support?
3. If I do upgrade to BES 5.0, will I have to pay to upgrade my CALs also, or are the CALs version agnostic?
4. If I did this, would I move the BESAdmin user first and immediately update my MAPI/CDO package before moving any more mailboxes from Exchange 2003 to Exchange 2010?
5. Would there be anything that wouldn't work for my Blackberry users during the time that both Exchange 2003 and Exchange 2010 were in coexistence, regardless of which server their mailbox was on?

Sorry for so many questions, but I want to fully understand my options before deciding how to go forward. Thanks for any help that anyone can provide.