From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES) is the name of the middleware software package that is part of the BlackBerry wireless platform from Research In Motion.

BES connects to messaging and collaboration software (Microsoft Exchange, Lotus Domino, Novell GroupWise) on enterprise networks to synchronize email and PIM information between desktop and mobile software.

Contents 1 BES Versions 2 BES Components 3 Managing BES 4 BES Express

• 2.2: BES for Domino
• 3.6: BES for Exchange
• 4.0: BES for Exchange, Domino, and GroupWise
• 4.1: BES for Exchange, Domino, and GroupWise

Previous to v4.0, BES was largely two separate codebases: the 2.2 version for Domino and the 3.6 version for Exchange. In version 4.0 and beyond, much of the code is integrated, but separate distributions still remain for each mail platform.

BES consists of a set of Windows services which carry out the basic operations of the system. These Windows Services include:

• BlackBerry Alert
• BlackBerry Attachment Service
• BlackBerry Controller
• BlackBerry Database Consistency Service
• BlackBerry Dispatcher
• BlackBerry Instant Messaging Connector
• BlackBerry MDS Connection Service
• BlackBerry MDS Services - Apache Tomcat Service
• BlackBerry Policy Service
• BlackBerry Router
• BlackBerry Synchronization Service
• BlackBerry User Admin Service (Only 3.6 and BlackBerry Resource Kit (BRK) in 4.0 and 4.1)

BES also produces a set of log files during operation, called the BES Event Log. The log files include (for a BES v4.0 and 4.1 system connecting to Microsoft Exchange):

• ALRT - BES Alert
• BBIM - BlackBerry Instant Messenger (4.1)
• CBCK - Backup Connector
• CEXC - Exchange PIM Connector
• CMNG - Management Connector
• CTRL - BlackBerry Controller
• DISP - BlackBerry Dispatcher
• MAGT - BlackBerry Mailbox Agent
• MDAT - Mobile Data Services
• MDSS - MDS Services (4.1)
• MDSS-DISCOVERY - MDS Services (4.1)
• POLC - Policy Service
• ROUT - Router
• SYNC - BlackBerry SyncServer
• PhoneCallLog (4.1)
• PINLog (4.1)
• SMSLog (4.1)

BES is typically deployed and managed within the enterprise by messaging administrators (for example, the individuals already responsible for managing Microsoft Exchange, Lotus Domino or Novell GroupWise) or sometimes a dedicated IT person, usually called the BlackBerry or BES Administrator.

There was a wiki specifically for IT professionals responsible for managing BES and other wireless systems, located here. However, the company hosting the wiki, Epoch Integration [1], has since been acquired by Research In Motion [2]and the wiki web address is no longer valid.

There is also an online forum for discussing BES management issues here.

For large organizations -- with BlackBerry users distributed across many geographic regions, BlackBerry Enterprise Servers, mail servers and wireless carriers -- third party monitoring & management software from providers like Zenprise and BoxTone may be worth investigating.

As of January 2007, RIM is offering a free version of BES called "BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express." BESE is designed for "...the company that wants to get up and running quickly with BlackBerry Enterprise Server". It comes with one CAL (Client Access License) - meaning 1 BlackBerry handheld can be activated on the Server, and you can add up to 14 additional CALs (for a total of 15) and/or upgrade to BlackBerry Enterprise Server at any time.