Microsoft Exchange

Connect a BlackBerry to UVa's Exchange Service

To connect a BlackBerry device to the UVa Exchange Service via the BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES):

  1. Before you start, know what will happen to existing information on your BlackBerry, and switch from BIS to BES, if needed.
  2. Verify that your provider has enabled BES for your account.
  3. Enable BES service on the UVA Exchange Service. Note that this is a for-fee service.
  4. Configure your BlackBerry to connect to the UVa Exchange Service.
  5. Make the recommended configuration changes you feel are appropriate for you.
  6. Optional: Connect to UVa's unencrypted wahoo wireless network, where it is available.

1. Know What Will Happen to Your Existing Information.

Before you begin this process, be sure that you understand your existing email, calendar, and address book/contact information on your BlackBerry will be replaced with email, calendar, and contact information from your UVa centralized Exchange account.

Switch from BIS to BES, If Needed

If you have previously used your BlackBerry in BIS mode, it may be necessary to wipe your BlackBerry when you switch to BES mode, destroying all data on it. This process may vary a bit among BlackBerry models, but the general process to wipe a BlackBerry:

  1. Press the Menu key, then select Options.
  2. Select Security Options.
  3. Select General Settings.
  4. Press the Menu key.
  5. Select Wipe Handheld.
  6. Follow the prompts to confirm this action.

2. Verify Your Provider Enabled BES for Your Account.

Verify that the mobile account on which BlackBerry receives service is provisioned for Enterprise service, not just Internet service. Your provider may charge a fee for this service.

If you are uncertain whether or not your BlackBerry is provisioned for Enterprise service, call the service provider (e.g., Alltel, T-Mobile, etc.) to verify you have Enterprise service enabled. If you do not, request your account be provisioned for Enterprise service. It may take your provider a day or two to enable this for your account.

3. Enable BES Service on the UVA Exchange Service.

To link your BlackBerry to the UVa centralized BES:

  1. Send an email to ITC-Microsystems@virginia.edu to request BES access. As the BES service requires an additional license, there is a fee—both a one-time licensing fee and a recurring monthly usage fee—for BES access. In your email, include:
    • Your UVa computing ID (e.g., mst3k), and
    • A departmental PTAO for billing.
  2. Receive an email message in response, indicating that your BES account has been established and providing you with your BES password.

4. Configure Your BlackBerry to Connect to the UVa Exchange Service.

Before you continue: The remaining steps may take a few minutes, so allocate sufficient time for the process to complete. Also, ensure your BlackBerry has two or more "bars" of coverage, indicating a good signal in your current location. Then:

  1. On the BlackBerry, find the Enterprise Activation option.
    • Click the Menu key, then Options, then Advanced Options, then click Enterprise Activation.
    • If the above does not work for your BlackBerry, please use an Internet search to find the location of the Enterprise Activation option on your phone. Be sure to include your BlackBerry's model information in the search terms, as in: blackberry curve enterprise activation location.
  2. Enter your Exchange email account address (example: mst3k@eservices.virginia.edu) and the BES password provided in the email message you received.
  3. Wait about five minutes, during which time activation will begin. After activation has begun, it may take several minutes for activation to complete.

5. Make the Recommended Configuration Changes.

ITC suggests you make the following recommended configuration changes on the BlackBerry:

  1. Select Messages on the BlackBerry.
  2. Open the menu and select Options.
  3. Select Email Reconciliation.
  4. Then, make any recommended settings you feel are appropriate:
    • Recommended setting: Verify that Delete on: is set to Prompt.
      • This setting forces the BlackBerry to confirm with you before it makes a deletion.
    • Recommended setting: Verify that Wireless reconcile is set to On.
      • This setting allows reconciliation/synchronization via a wireless connection.
    • Recommended setting: Verify that On Conflicts is set to Mailbox wins.
      • This setting gives information on the Server priority over information stored locally on the BlackBerry.

6. Optional: Connect to UVa's Unencrypted wahoo Wireless Network.

To connect to UVa's unencrypted wahoo wireless network, where it is available, your BlackBerry must have a wireless card. (Most do.) Then:

  1. Find your BlackBerry's MAC address, so you can register its network card. The MAC (Media Access Control) address, also known as a "network card address" or "physical address," uniquely identifies your device to the UVa network.

    Note that the Network Card Address/Physical Address/MAC Address is an alphanumeric value, which is listed in six groups of two hexadecimal digits, separated by hyphens (-). For example: 01-2B-C5-67-89-ab.

    To find your BlackBerry's Network Card Address/Physical Address/MAC Address:

    1. Click the Menu key, then select Options, then Status.
    2. Find WLAN MAC and make a note of the address, which will appear without hyphens.

      If the above does not work for you, please use an Internet search to find instructions on locating the MAC address of your BlackBerry. Be sure to include your BlackBerry's model information in the search terms, as in: locate blackberry 7210 mac address.

  2. Register your device's wireless card for use on the UVa network. On your computer, go to the UVa Network Registration website. Then:
    1. Click the Already Registered link.
    2. Under Faculty, Staff, and Students, click the Enter button. If needed, log into NetBadge.
    3. Click the Register a device for network access link.
    4. In the Physical/Hardware Address field, type the Network Card Address/Physical Address/MAC Address (i.e., WLAN MAC) for your BlackBerry's wireless card, which you just looked up.
    5. From the This is a wireless device dropdown menu, select Yes.
    6. From the Contact Group dropdown menu, select No Group.
    7. Leave the Asset Tag (optional) field blank.
    8. Leave the Serial Number (optional) field blank.
    9. To differentiate this device from your other registered devices, in the Identifying Notes (e.g. Make/Model, Location) field, type some identifying information such as your UVa computing ID (example: mst3k) and the type of BlackBerry device you have (BlackBerry Pearl, BlackBerry Curve, BlackBerry 8320, etc. ).
    10. Click the Submit Registration button.
  3. Add the unencrypted wahoo wireless network, where available.

    After you have configured your device to use UVa's unencrypted wahoo wireless network (where it is available), your BlackBerry will autodetect the network from then on, and you will be able to send and receive email or access the Internet using it. Should your device fail to autodetect the network when you are within range, you will need to manually select the UVa unencrypted wahoo wireless network.

    Note that the wahoo network is unencrypted, and at this time at UVa, it is not possible to connect any smartphone to UVa's more secure, encrypted cavalier wireless network.

    1. In an area where UVa's unencrypted wahoo network is available, click the Menu key on your BlackBerry.
    2. Select Set Up Wi-Fi.
    3. Select Scan for Networks.
    4. Follow the prompts to add the unencrypted wahoo network.
      • To test your configuration, make sure you are in an area where UVa's unencrypted wahoo network is available (you will see the secure network, cavalier, listed anytime you are in range of wahoo, even though wahoo may not display), and then attempt to connect to the UVa Exchange Service.

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