So how do you move from MSDE to SQL on you BES server? If you didn’t know already MSDE can only handle about 200-250 users with Blackberry Server Enterprise. Though officially from Microsoft on paper it says 500, but according to blackberry support personnel it’s only 200-250 before you start expercining delays with email from you blackberry server or handheld. So what’s the process and how complicated is it was my question? Now that I’ve done it, I can tell you it’s pretty easy. Here’s the link to the KB 12247 that fully describes the process, but below I’ll give you a brief overview.

1. Create the BES admin user on you sql server

2. Run the createdb.exe tool, so it creates the sql database (you’ll need this from the orginial installation cd of you BES server, or you can download it from the internet).

3. Give the BES admin user dbo and public rights to the datbase

4. Stop the services on the BES server

5. Backup the database using OSQL -E at the command line.

6. Restore the database to the SQL database that was created by the createdb tool.

7. Change the database on the Blackberry server configuration.

8. Restart all the services.

9. Change the database on the ODBC system dsn if you are 3.0 or 4.0.

10. Don’t forget to change the database in the Blackberry manager (or domain), by right clicking and choosing properties, then choose database, and make sure that information is correct.

That’s it, very simple and easy not as hard as I thought it was initially.