I have moved! Go to updated version of this article.
Sometime you need to know exactly what the database in the device is used for. This KB03974 BlackBerry device databases definition functions table comes particularly handy if you need to restore particular functions or device settings such as speed dials, ring profile, calendar options, certain phones behaviour. By referring to the table you will have some idea of how to please the most demanding boss / fussy clients / executives by restoring the brand new or a replacement unit back to how it was customized in the old BB.
Another good example would be Phone Call Logs, instead of doing over-the-air (OTA) sync and restore, which might take long time, you can restore it from your backup. (For instructions and guide how to do this refer to my previous post titled: BlackBerry Device Advanced Selective Restore Backup)
Often times, we tend to restore everything and overwrite destination device databases with the one from backup. Be cautious! I would not do that, you will get warning dialog box confirming your action. Why?
- Depending on the user manipulation on BES. If user was removed (deleted) from BES and later added into BES and then activated with new device, you probably might run into synching issues because you just restored and overwritten the new security key pair with the old one between BES and the device.
- If the user was never deleted and you later restored and overwrote all databases from that device, you might get away with it.
Still, I would pay attention to system realted databases such as Handheld Key Store, Policy, Random Pool, Service Book and not too mess around with. Afterall, those are not user friendly configurable options anyways.
Useful Link
(Note: If link is broken, let me know or Google for KB number.)
Chee
Customer often asked if it is possible to log all BlackBerry PIN and SMS messages. Yes, it is possible. If you are the BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES) Administrator or experienced vendor who actually went through the BlackBerry Partner exams common sense tell us that PIN messages and SMS are not part of BES. Hence, we naturally thought it is NOT possible to log or audit it. As the matter of fact, these logging/ audit features are an exception.
It turned out that BES 4.1 support this. KB05024 explains the steps required to perform just that. Audit log location will be populated daily with folder named after yyyymmdd format.
The log covers some pretty serious and wealthy of information such as “Name.ID”,”Email Address”,”Type of Message”,”To”,”From”,”Callback Phone Number”,”Body”,”Send/Received Date”,”Server Log Date”,”Overall Message Status”,”Command”,”UID”.
As you can see it raises some privacy concern and whether is a good thing to do that. It may subject to abuse and believe me not, I’m sure some corporate executives may think that PIN and SMS are safer than corporate email. Not with BlackBerry! On the other hand this feature is good and excellent feature to log all communication and for compliancy purpose such as for the government and military, where transmission of data is viewed as serious threat. So be sure to table out with your corporate executives and make it an IT policy whether or not to include this feature, protect the audit directory with NTFS security and assigned only designated user account to it.
To organize, retrieve and make the raw/ logged data from the BES useful, readable and presentable for compliance purpose, check out this product from RETAIN.
There is also a blog comment about the product written by Robb Dunewood.
Chee
In BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES) environment, one of the things I notice is when you try to selectively restore BlackBerry device database into new device, most of the databases in the device databases box is greyed out. As you notice further it also states that “Databases that are unavailable in the list have been configured for wireless synchronization or wireless backup and are read-only. You cannot restore or clear them.” Right… so what’s the point of selective restore when you are not allowed to?
In turns out that as mentioned at the bottom of the dialog box it is already wirelessly backed up by BES. This gives us (BES Administrator) a very convenient way to restore everything back to, say, a replacement unit of a lost device. However, what if I wanted to override certain database with different one? What if I wanted to transfer my ringtones that I once deleted sometime ago.
Here is the workaround, locate the BlackBerry user under BlackBerry Manager, right click user and select Edit Properties, click on PIM Sync and set Automatic Wireless Backup Enabled to False. Hit Apply and OK.
Depending on your network, almost instanteneously you will notice there is an hour glass on the BlackBerry device and voila! Those databases are no longer greyed out and you should be able to selectively restore database that you once not able to.
If it is still greyed out, remember to close the Advance Backup / Restore dialog box and re-firing up the Desktop Manager will usually do the trick.
Alternatively, there is another way if you do not have access to BES directly. This is typically useful when asking for help from your company IT is almost impossible or it just too much of a hassle. Here’s what you can do:
- On you BlackBerry device, go to Options > Advance Options > Service Book > Desktop [SYNC]
- Bring up the context menu (depending on model, by clicking the BlackBerry logo button) and click Delete.
- Connect your BlackBerry device back to computer and restore using Advanced Backup / Restore from Desktop Manager.
- Once done, disconnect the device from computer and go back to Service Book screen.
- Bring up the context menu and click Undelete.
Useful Links
- KB11101: The BlackBerry device databases that are not wirelessly backed up by the BlackBerry Enterprise Server
- KB03974: Databases functions and descriptions on the BlackBerry wireless device
Note: If link is broken, let me know or Google for KB number.
Chee
