Anybody run a Blackberry Enterprise Server?

AtomBomb

I just installed the latest version of BES Express on our Exchange 2003 server and it went surprisingly well. However, there is one little thing that I can't figure out. It's only syncing past calendar items going back a week or so. In the previous non-BES environment, it was really easy to specify what range of dates I wanted to sync. In the BES, I can find settings for everything else (email, tasks, memos), but not the calendar. What am I missing? My google-fu has totally failed me and even crackberry is a bust

I've got 1 free support call on this, and I'll use it if I have to, but I'd hate to waste it on something so simple if I can avoid it.

embrik

I can't be sure, as I don't have a BB on me right now, but I thought it would sync farther back.

Which version of Express are you on? Have you installed SP2 yet?

Is it syncing events in the future? Both ways (new entries created on the device and in Outlook)?

Edit - Disclosure - I don't administer an Express server, I run a full BES, so things might be a bit different.

Feral

As far as I know, there's no way to change this behavior in BES5. It should go back 30 days and no further.

In addition to the server setting, there is also a handheld setting to keep or delete old calendar items. So if the handhelds are set to keep old calendar items, then the handhelds will now start to keep a history of all calendar items from 30 days prior to the enterprise activation date and forward.

In other words, BES won't sync old items, but it won't delete them either. If you see items being deleted, that's a setting on the device.

So there are two possibilities here if you want old calendar items to be on the devices:

1) Run a wired sync once on each device using the desktop manager. This will push all old calendar items to each device. If the device is set to keep old calendar items, then these items will be retained once you go back to wireless synchronization through BES.

2) There may be a traittool command (but I doubt it). Open up a DOS prompt, CD to wherever you unzipped your BES installation files, and run the command TraitTool -global -list. This will show you all the settings for wireless calendar sync. There might be a setting in there that is relevant.

AtomBomb

I'm running version 5.0.2.29. I didn't install SP2, but I'm guessing I have it since I just downloaded the file last week? I'll look into that.

It is syncing in the future, and partially in the past, both ways. I just put an appointment on my phone for January 2011 and it showed up in Outlook. Did the same from Outlook and it's on my phone.

From what I understand, the only difference between a full BES and Express is that the full version has more security policies available. Express even supports up to 2,000 users. I think BB is hurting and they're trying to keep everyone from jumping to iphones and droids.

Feral

AtomBomb wrote: »

I think BB is hurting and they're trying to keep everyone from jumping to iphones and droids.

That's the writing on the wall. BES5 isn't going to help matters either. Going from a clean well-organized management application in BES4 to a clunky messy web-based interface in BES5 pissed a lot of administrators off.

AtomBomb

Yeah, I was surprised about that. I'm all for having an optional web interface when I don't want to remote to the server, but that shouldn't be the only option.

I don't see anything in TraitTool. There are about 40 traits I can set, but none of them seem to apply. I'll try the wired sync next.

Thanks for all the help guys

EDIT- I think the wired sync may be the ticket. I had to actually install the software, the web desktop didn't have any options. I turned off wireless sync on my phone, set the program to sync all appointments, made sure my phone was set to keep appointments forever, did the wired sync and then turned back on wireless. Did some tests on the wireless sync and it seems good. Only issue I think we'll have is that changes made to past items may not sync, but I'm just not going to say anything and I don't think anyone will notice.

I'll keep this open while I make sure I can duplicate my success. Thanks dudes!

IronKnuckle's Ghost

I think I'm the only person who actually likes BES5, but it's probably because the web interface allows me to use it whenever I wish instead of fighting with the other three admins on my team since only one person can RDP to the old BES4 box at a time.

It is a little clunky, sure, but after using it for awhile you get used to it.