Screenshots: BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5.0
Upgrading from BES 4.x to BES 5.0 entails upgrading your databases. The installer will make a backup, so you can roll back if necessary.
Getting the BES system account permissions right is important — make one mistake and your users won't get their mail. The BES 5.0 installer checks that everything is correct, and recommends remedies if necessary.
BES 5.0 will check for pre-requisite software before installing. It'll install most of the software you need — although you'll need to download and install the Exchange API components yourself.
BlackBerry OS 5.0's flags can be given due dates, along with different colour codes, request messages and task status settings.
You can see flagged messages in your BlackBerry's message list, and their status is synchronised with Exchange and Outlook.
The combination of BES 5.0 and BlackBerry OS 5.0 means you can now set follow-up flags on your email, letting you use messages as a task manager.
Use BES 5.0's VPN-less server access to get files from your network, wherever you are. All you need is the server name (and appropriate access credentials). Everything is routed over the secure Blackberry network.
When you connect to the BES web console you'll need to download and install an ActiveX control. This handles connections to devices.
BES 5.0's application manager lets you control the applications that users install, setting properties for listed applications and controlling just how much access unlisted downloads get to users' devices.
BES 5.0's application management tools can be used to control the applications on users' devices. You can lock down specific versions or publishers.
The BES 5.0 policy management screen is more than a little cluttered — but you can drill down into nearly every aspect of a BlackBerry handset, ensuring that the devices connected to your BES operate just the way you want.
Use the BES 5.0 web console to add new users, and manage existing users. You can assign a device to a user, or issue them with an activation password ready for a new device connection.
There are also tools to manage the various components of the BES system. Use these tools to control how messages are sent, including setting default encryption rules and defining the maximum size of attachments that are delivered to devices.
BES 5.0 comes with a set of predefined policies that can help get you started. These include policies that control passwords, or block users from accessing third-party applications.
As well as using BES to control messaging settings globally, you can define and manage message settings for each user. If different users need different capabilities, you can ensure that they're delivered correctly.
Your users don't need a desktop client — they can manage their accounts and their devices through their web browser. All they need is the web desktop URL and a USB cable.
The BES web desktop can be used to backup connections to a local hard drive. All you need to do is choose the databases that backup, and let the application do the rest…