BES Basics

Owned by Molly.Clark
Last updated: Jun 28, 2012 by Kevin MurphyVersion comment

UIT will no longer create new BES accounts after June 30, 2012. The BES Service will be retired as of June 30, 2013

What is BES?

The Blackberry Enterprise Server (BES) is a service offered by Tufts that allows your Blackberry to communicate over the air with the Exchange 2003 server.

Users can be directed to public information about BES found here

Before Signing Up for BES

  1. The Blackberry's OS must be at least version 4.4
    1. OS version can be found by going to Options > About on the mobile device
  2. The phone's data plan will need to be upgraded (over the monthly unlimited data plan)
    1. See Modifying your Blackberry Data plan for BES for more information
  3. Pricing and additional BES information can be found here.

Request a BES Account

  • For non-UIT employees:
  1. Send an IDR to UIT Finance, Tab 211 with the following information
    1. Full Name and UTLN of person requesting licenses
    2. School/Department Name
    3. PIN of Blackberry
    4. Dept. ID/account information
  2. Send an email Request to UITSC (within UITSC, send to LAN) that includes that same information.
  3. Finance will notify LAN-Systems of received IDR, at which point LAN-Systems will be able to enter the Device into the BES within 4 business hours.
  4. Once entered into the BES, Exchange will send an email directly to the user with their Activation Code. Activation code will expire in 48 hours.
  • For UIT employees:
  1. An IDR is not required
  2. Send an email to UITSC with a manager CCed for approval that includes the following information:
    1. Full Name and UTLN of person requesting licenses
    2. School/Department Name
    3. PIN of Blackberry
    4. Dept. ID/account information
  3. UITSC will send the request directly to LAN
    1. LAN-Systems will be able to enter the Device into the BES within 4 business hours.
  4. Once entered into the BES, Exchange will send an email directly to the user with their Activation Code. Activation code will expire in 48 hours.

Tips for Migration

  • IDRs through inter-campus mail can take 2-3 days. Make sure you send it early enough before the BES account is needed.
  • The BES account cannot be created if the Exchange user is hidden in the GAL.
  • If mail forwarding has not been changed from utln@trumpeter-store.tufts.edu to utln@exchange.tufts.edu the activation code will not make it to the Exchange Mailbox, and activation will fail.

Information on the Tufts IT Knowledgebase is intended for IT Professionals at Tufts.
If you have a question about a Tufts IT service or computer/account support, please contact your IT support group.