[loweredxtreme]

Seeking some advise from other BES admins/experts

Currently Running:
BES v5 with SQL Express running in Windows Server 2003 R2 with activated fail-over

Our organization is wanting to implement SQL 2008 Std R2 so we can take advantage of the databases mirroring as Blackberries are very important to our organization.

My superiors are very concerned about downtime and want to make it as minimal or none if possible.

Their solution is to deactivate the fail-over server and start from scratch, rebuild BES with SQL 2008 R2 and create a new database and then use the user transfer tool to switch users over, essentially turning the fail-over to production.

I personally DO NOT want to start over. I understand that the services must stop to mirror the database, but if I activate the fail-over server does that allow me safely to upgrade the SQL server on the production, point it to the established database without any downtime during the upgrade? Or must the I stop the services before the SQL upgrade?

Also, has anyone ever done this and run into any problems that cause damaging results?

I thank everyone in advance. Sorry so long.

[knottyrope]

Originally Posted by loweredxtreme

Seeking some advise from other BES admins/experts

Currently Running:
BES v5 with SQL Express running in Windows Server 2003 R2 with activated fail-over

Our organization is wanting to implement SQL 2008 Std R2 so we can take advantage of the databases mirroring as Blackberries are very important to our organization.

My superiors are very concerned about downtime and want to make it as minimal or none if possible.

Their solution is to deactivate the fail-over server and start from scratch, rebuild BES with SQL 2008 R2 and create a new database and then use the user transfer tool to switch users over, essentially turning the fail-over to production.

I personally DO NOT want to start over. I understand that the services must stop to mirror the database, but if I activate the fail-over server does that allow me safely to upgrade the SQL server on the production, point it to the established database without any downtime during the upgrade? Or must the I stop the services before the SQL upgrade?

Also, has anyone ever done this and run into any problems that cause damaging results?

I thank everyone in advance. Sorry so long.

thats a lot of work, why not just move the database over?

You know you cant run both BES with same SRP, only a HA failover not a running BES with same SRP.

I have seen a few posts about reg edit that you can do so you wont have to reinstall BES at all here. I have to go now, will see if I can find that post tomorrow.

[loweredxtreme]

We have two SRP's which is nice from an older server, but I am trying to do this most efficiently.

I appreciate your help.

I look forward to your suggestions.

Thanks.

[loweredxtreme]

Knottyrope,

Were you referring to this post:

Move BES 5 from one server to another - BlackBerry Support Community Forums

[knottyrope]

nope, one that is on this forum

[SoUnCool]

only BES 5 SP2 is supported for SQL 2008 R2, make sure you are at this level

also check this article on how to move from SQL Express to SQL server

KB12247-How to move from a Microsoft SQL Server Desktop Engine (MSDE) database to a Microsoft SQL Server database

if you are not comfirtable with above, uninstall BES from your standby server, then install new BES 5.0 SP2 with db on a sql server, and use migrator tool with BES resource kit to move users over to new BES. minimum down time for users since each migration will take only couple of minutes

[knottyrope]

these are the keys to change if you want to give it a shot with out re installing BES
Change BES 5.0 Configuration Database

[loweredxtreme]

Is it feasible to have SQL 2008 running on my production server and have SQL 2005 Express on the failover with database mirroring?

Or to support the mirroring, do both server have to have SQL 2008? Trying to be efficient and save cost if possible

Thanks!

[loweredxtreme]

I am currently running BES v5.0.1 MR3 (Bundle 139)

[loweredxtreme]

Originally Posted by SoUnCool

only BES 5 SP2 is supported for SQL 2008 R2, make sure you are at this level

also check this article on how to move from SQL Express to SQL server

KB12247-How to move from a Microsoft SQL Server Desktop Engine (MSDE) database to a Microsoft SQL Server database

if you are not comfirtable with above, uninstall BES from your standby server, then install new BES 5.0 SP2 with db on a sql server, and use migrator tool with BES resource kit to move users over to new BES. minimum down time for users since each migration will take only couple of minutes

This is the solution that has been mentioned. Definently the safer way but would need a secondary SRP. If I could locate the one from our older BES 4 server, that would be okay. I was hoping for a quick fix but it does not seem like it.