Mobility in SMB Networks

MOBILITY IN SMB NETWORKS

BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express and Small Business Server 2008

Contact Information

Jason Miller• Microsoft MVP (SBS) since 2007• https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/profile/miller• jason@jasonmiller.ca

Work: • Systems Engineer at Epic Information Solutions• www.epic.ca

What we’ll cover• Mobility in SMB – competitive landscape

• Handsets, servers, functionality

• Options – OWA, Forwarding, Desktop Redirection• Ingredients – BES components, requirements• Installation – demo• Operation – what can you expect?

Landscape• No shortage of options:

• BlackBerry• iPhone, Android, Symbian (?)• Windows: WM5, WM6, WP7• Palm?

• You’re not making all the decisions!• Users are picking their own devices

• Trend: work/life, < mixing personal &work

ActiveSync

BES, OWA, Redirector

ActiveSync?

The Big Question: BB vs. ActiveSync

Blackberry Enterprise Server

• $$ - not free. $ in thousands

• Tight integration• Bolt-on to existing

Exchange• Additional efforts. Support.• Requires BES Data Plan. $

+• Refined management• Reliable tools, devices

ActiveSync

• $0.00. Free is in the budget• Tight integration• Built into Exchange• Simple to implement (SBS)• Generally, any data plan• Arguably, poor mgmt• Developing tools, devices

BES Express• It’s a free product. No maintenance fees.• Installs on the SBS (Exchange) Server• Installs on separate Member Server (option)• Experience tight server/device integration• Does not require BES data plan on handset• Benefits in refined device management

Before we get too far…

Other Options, besides BESx

• Desktop Redirector• OWA Connection Method

• Forwarding to Exchange Contact

The pain points:

• Desktop based. Unreliable.• Quick/Easy, but limitations:

• Inbox Only• Poor sync (read/unread)• Resets after server restart

• Least reliable. No sync.

• If it’s not BES Integrated, there is a limitation, probably not your best investment.

BESx Pre-Requisites, Requirements

On Exchange Server (or SBS)

• Up to 75 users• Add 1.5 GB Ram• Existing disk• Existing procs (2)

On Member Server

• Up to 200 Users (2,000 max)• 2 GB Ram• RAID 1 minimum• 1 or 2 Xeon 2 Ghz+ procs

• Server 2003 SP2 (x86/x64)• Server 2003 R2 SP2 (x86/x64)• Server 2008 SP2 (x86/x64)• SBS 2003 or SBS 2008• Exchange 2003 SP2 System Manager

orMAPI Client and CDO 1.2.1

• Individual components have independent requirements.

Installation Guide• Precursor to Demo session (soon, we’re almost there!)

• Use this guide. It works.• By Mariette Knap (SBS MVP), published on the

SmallBizServer.net SBS support articles forum: • http://

www.smallbizserver.net/Articles/tabid/266/Id/343/How-to-install-BlackBerry-Enterprise-Server-Express-on-a-SBS-2008.aspx

• End to end guidance for installation.

Steps to do BEFORE installation• Improve your odds of success!

• DL or Install Service Pack 2 (or 3) for Exchange• Add your BESadmin user account to network• Provision Admin rights, logon as service…• Download the BES Express installer• Register your customer’s account with RIM (for serial numbers

and identifier info)• Perform preliminary restart, schedule your outage window for the

installation (restart IS needed)

Demo Setup• Virtual SBS 2008. Standard. Exchange 2007 SP3.• I’ve installed or performed the following:

• Downloaded software, extracted setup files.• Messaging API & CDO 1.2.1 installed

• Elevated domain and forest functional levels (2008)• Created a Windows Account, Mailbox, for BESadmin• Configured Exchange 2007 permissions for BESadmin• Configured the SBS Server (log on locally, logon as

service)• We will install on the SBS server itself• I’ll be logging in as BESadmin

• We’re at page 30 of 55 of the install guide

During Installation• We’ll review my own BES Express installation• Demo of web interface, management features

• I may get to performing a device wipe so we can later connect as a new device

Post Installation• Operationally, most elements of the handset can be policy

controlled.

• Activation is performed either OTA (for BES Plan enabled devices) or direct attached (USB)

• Time permitting, we’ll activate a handset

Resources• BES Express: http

://na.blackberry.com/eng/services/business/server/express/

• MAPI and CDO: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/confirmation.aspx?familyId=e17e7f31-079a-43a9-bff2-0a110307611e&displayLang=en

• M&M's Installation Guide: http://www.smallbizserver.net/Articles/tabid/266/Id/343/How-to-install-BlackBerry-Enterprise-Server-Express-on-a-SBS-2008.aspx

• Default BES Express Policies: http://www.blackberry.com/btsc/search.do?cmd=displayKC&docType=kc&externalId=KB21123

QUESTIONS?