Blackberry Desktop 4.2 Wired Sync - Possible?

[JasonChase]

Hello all,

I have a user (only one) that has a brand new blackberry that he is using for OTA email sync via IMAP. It works great. I made the assumption that wired (USB) synchronization between Blackberry Desktop Manager 4.2 and Microsoft Outlook 2003 would work for calendar and address book data only. Unfortunately, it doesn't appear to work.

Intellisync, which is included with Blackberry Desktop Manager 4.2, hangs when you select Microsoft Outlook from the "Choose Applications" dialog.

Should I expect this to work or should I send the blackberry back?

Is wired sync working for anyone else?

Versions:

ZCS NE 4.03GA 406 RHEL4
Blackberry Desktop Manager 4.2.10
MS Outlook 2003 (11.6568.6568) SP2

Thanks,

Jason

[JasonChase]

I logged this as support case 00006476. I'll post the outcome here.

Please reply to this message if you have had any success or failures with this product. I have search the forum for an answer and have found a lot of discussion about the OTA sync but nothing about wired sync.

Thanks,

Jason

[JasonChase]

Here is the reply from Zimbra support:

Jason, we don't test the Zimbra Connector for Outlook (ZCO) with other outlook plugins installed, so there's a possibility that the BB connector to outlook and the ZCO are conflicting with each other.

We do offer a solution for OTA sync with a blackberry, but it requires another component (analogous to the BES) which may not be feasible to support one user.

I would say that wired sync from Blackberry Desktop Manager 4.2 to Microsoft Outlook 2003 does not work. Does this mean Zimbra is storing the data in their own files and not letting MS Outlook manage its data?

[sam]

You should be able to use it and if you experience any problems, file a bug and let us know how to reproduce it.

What support is saying is that theoretically it should work (based on what we've implemented so far). Since we cannot certify outlook all plug-ins against our MAPI provider because of the huge test matrix it produces we are not certain that it is bug free.

[JasonChase]

Sam,

I have scheduled a time next week to work on the user's system where I will remove all MS Office, Zimbra, Palm and Blackberry software and reinstall MS Office, Zimbra connector and BBDM. We were using Chapura PilotMirror with a Palm. It may be causing problems. I'm not sure. There has been a lot of focus and waiting for the Blackberry OTA sync but none on wired sync for the blackberry. Given the popularity of the device and its placement with PalmOS and MS Mobile as competitors I would have expected you to test it.

I'll post my findings here and file a bug/support request if it doesn't work.

Thank you for your help,

Jason

[JasonChase]

Here is the final report.

Blackberry Desktop Manager 4.2 OTW (over the wire ) synchronization with Zimbra Outlook connector via Microsoft Outlook 2003 does work.

We had a configured laptop system using a Palm Tunsten for synchronization with Outlook. That setup was crashing the sync software every time the sync took place. I have a lengthly work log I can post if anyone is interested.

I guessed that the remaining configuration and driver changes could have been causing problems so I did the following:

• Removed Blackberry Desktop Manager
• Remove Zimbra Outlook Connector
• Removed MS Outlook 2003
• Reinstalled XP Service Pack 2
• Reapplied all MS XP SP2 updates
• Installed Microsoft Outlook 2003 (with the other office apps)
• Applied all MS Office updates
• Tested Office Apps
• Setup Outlook for IMAP connectivity to Zimbra (as a test)
• Created a couple of address book and calendar entries (testing)
• Installed Blackberry Desktop Manager 4.2
• Tested Basic Sync (works)
• Setup Outlook syncing to Blackberry (my test appointments and address enteries sync)

At this point Outlook 2003 and Blackberry Desktop Manager are syncing. BDM is getting its data from "Personal Folders\Calendar" and "Personal Folders\Contacts".

Next:

• Install Zimbra Outlook Connector.
• Configure and allow to sync all data.
• Go back into the synchronize configure tab in BDM 4.2.
• Select Calendar and configure.
• Select Outlook and then options.
• Change your profile from Outlook to Zimbra.
• Do the same for Address Book.

Its possible that I could have skipped the step of getting the BDM to synch with outlook before installing the connector. This process worked for me.

Jason

[rinho]

Originally Posted by JasonChase

.../...
Next:

• Install Zimbra Outlook Connector.
• Configure and allow to sync all data.
• Go back into the synchronize configure tab in BDM 4.2.
• Select Calendar and configure.
• Select Outlook and then options.
• Change your profile from Outlook to Zimbra.

.../...

Hi,
It's worth in my case... even doing this, the soft doesn't answer anymore when I select the Zimbra profile

I'll uninstall everything and try again !
I have to make 9 BB working !

[JasonChase]

Originally Posted by rinho

Hi,
It's worth in my case... even doing this, the soft doesn't answer anymore when I select the Zimbra profile

I'll uninstall everything and try again !
I have to make 9 BB working !

It sounds like we are experiencing the same issue. BDM hangs when you try to setup syncing with Outlook. The problem occurs when you select outlook in the configuration menu for calendar or contacts sync and BDM scans the drive looking for your Outlook profile. The work around is to not setup the Zimbra connector until you already have BDM Outlook syncing setup.

Make sure you have the newest Blackberry Desktop Manager software. It can be downloaded from their site. The latest version is 4.2.

The short version:

• Install Blackberry Desktop Manager
• Install Microsoft Outlook 2003
• Test sync between BDM and Outlook
• Install Zimbra Outlook Connector
• Reconfigure BDM to Sync Outlook with the Zimbra profile
• Sync Outlook with Zimbra via Zimbra Outlook Connector
• Sync Blackberry with Outlook via BDM

The BDM still crashes 80% of the time but has already completed the sync by the time it dies. It does not crash when syncing with the standard outlook profile.

Jason

[mdc]

Don't NotifyCorp over a hosted solution for Zimbra to allow wireless sync between BB and Zimbra ?

Surely this hosted solution is ideal for Soho/SME's that only need to enable a few devices.

[gmsmith]

Originally Posted by mdc

Don't NotifyCorp over a hosted solution for Zimbra to allow wireless sync between BB and Zimbra ?

Surely this hosted solution is ideal for Soho/SME's that only need to enable a few devices.

They do indeed...http://www.notifylink.com/nl_hosted/index.htm