Migrating users/licenses from BES 4.0.7 to 5.0
 

I am new to administering a BES and would like to know what the best way would be to migrate users and licenses in our setup.

Currently, we are running BES 4.0.7 on a virtual machine running off a local MSDE database. This server has 35 users with two 20 user CALS.

We have installed BES 5.0 on another non-virtual server that will be its permanent home using a trial SRP and CAL key. BES 5.0 is running off of its own local database in MS SQL Server 2005. Two users have been successfully migrated over using the Enterprise Transporter from the old server.

My question is, what would be the best way to migrate all 35 users from the old server over since the trial CAL is only for 20 users? Can we use one of our production CALs with the trial SRP? From what I understand, both servers have to be running to use the Enterprise Transporter in live mode. Bulk mode does not seem to be an option because I don't believe the serverconfig.servicename will match.

Also, how do I ensure that our production SRP on the old server does not become locked when I transfer it to our new one?

Thanks.

while I haven't done the switch personally, I am currenly researching the upgrade process for my environment. The short answer is that RIM has some pretty good documentation on different methods to upgrading, including how to do this with only one SRP ID (no temp SRP ID needed).

I can't post a link to the documentation location (haven't posted enough), maybe someone can post the link for me ?

Cals
 

You can add the CALS from the original server to the 5.0 server with no adverse effect.

Carl

Yes, you must move your CAL's from your old server to the new one. You can move the users by using the Blackberry Transporter Tool. You need to install the Admin Pack before installing that though. The user migration is seamless. I used it yesterday for the first time and it is a huge time saver.

The Transporter utility takes the CAL with the user, correct?

two things.

1) Is this a legal upgrade? Unless you have tsupport RIM charges for the upgrade. I cant tell by your comments.

2) If it is a legal upgrade, contract tsupport and they can advise you on the best upgrade path.

No, it does not.

Seriously??? That's what RIM TSupport told me. So how are you supposed to do a cutover? By more CAL's???

That's not cool...:x

... you put the CALs in the new database?

Same scenario here... thought of moving existing users with their licenses to the new systems with the Transporter Tool ^^
How can i put the existing CALs of 4.0.7 installation into the new database if the transporter isn`t doing that?

CALs
 

You manually add them to the new server. Copy the CALS from the running server to the new server.

Write down CAL in old database
Enter in CAL in new database

quite simple.

t-support can easily issue you an additional temp CAL as well to make the transporting pretty painless but like everyone else mentioned you will have to copy your CALs from the old to the new before trial expires.

Co-existing CALs...
 

I was informed by T-Support that it is OK to temporarily have the same CAL co-exist on your old and new server during the migration process. This was a big help for me since we had a single 320 user license. Moving the accounts with the Transporter made the process easy to complete in two to three working shifts. And, as soon as I was done, I just removed the CAL from the old server. I highly recommend the Transporter!

How long parallel CAL
 

I just migrated one user from BES 4.0.7 (25 User CAL) to a new BES 5.0 Server.
One of my three single User CALs on the BES 5.0 target is used and one of my 25 Users CAL on BES 4.0.7 gets free.

--> Before i can move all the rest of the BES 4.0.7 Users by using the transporter tool, i think i have to copy the 4.0.7 User CAL for the 25 users and add this one to the new BES 5.0 Installation.

Question: How long will the 25 User CAL work? That means how long can this CAL be used on two BES "parallel"?

T-Support explained that they take into consideration when migrations need to be done. They did not give an actual time frame on how long they allow duplicate CALs to co-exist, but they do monitor this scenario. I believe I was able to move the 320 users in 3 days, or less. You should be able to move 25 users in an hour or so...