Hack 79. Move the Attachment Service


Because the Attachment Service is so resource intensive, it's a good idea to run it on dedicated hardware.

The BlackBerry Attachment Service runs on each BlackBerry Enterprise Server you install. Most of the time it does a nice job of converting a variety of attachments into a format that is readable on your device. However, every so often you'll find a certain type of strange attachment sends the service to its knees. When this happens, it can impact the entire BlackBerry server, tying up resources and preventing other services from running optimally. In fact, there are instances when the Attachment Service has prevented any communications to or from handhelds while it chugs along consuming all the server's CPU time.

The BlackBerry Enterprise Server provides a way to point a BlackBerry Enterprise Server to another machine for attachment services. By moving the Attachment Service to another machine with either a smaller number of users or none at all, you isolate it from the rest of your BlackBerry platform. When a strangely formatted attachment is read that causes the resources to spike in the arrangement, your BlackBerry users won't even notice (unless, of course, they try to read an attachment while the remote Attachment Service is already pegged!).

The nice thing about moving the Attachment Service is that although a full BlackBerry Enterprise Server installation is required on the remote machine, the actual BlackBerry Service doesn't need to be running. Because of this, you won't need to purchase another SRP from Research In Motion to run the Attachment Service on dedicated hardware.

7.9.1. Set Up the Remote Attachment Service

On the remote machine, install the BlackBerry Enterprise Server as you normally would. When you are finished, simply set all the BlackBerry services except for the BlackBerry Attachment Service to Disabled so they won't start automatically. Figure 7-10 shows setting the service to the Disabled state. Repeat this process for each of the BlackBerry services except for the BlackBerry Attachment Service.

Figure 7-10. Disabling BlackBerry services on the remote machine


7.9.2. Point to the Remote Service in 3.6

On each machine with users on it, you'll need to tell the local BlackBerry Enterprise Server where to look for attachment processing. In BlackBerry Enterprise Server 3.6 and earlier, there is a tool for configuring the Attachment Service on the BES server. Go to Start Program Files BlackBerry Enterprise Server Attachment Configuration Tool. Enter the new attachment connector settings for your environment as shown in Figure 7-11.

Figure 7-11. Changing connector settings in 3.6


After you click Apply to save your changes to the configuration, you are prompted to stop and restart the server, as shown in Figure 7-12.

Figure 7-12. Restart the BlackBerry Server service in 3.6 for your changes to take effect


Although this warning gives the impression that the entire computer must be restarted, in fact, only the BlackBerry Server service actually needs to be restarted for the settings to take effect. You'll need to do this manually after clicking OK.

7.9.3. Point to the Remote Service in 4.0

In BlackBerry Enterprise Server 4.0, go to Start Program Files BlackBerry Enterprise Server BlackBerry Server Configuration. Click the Attachment Server tab and make sure the Connector Configuration option is selected. By default, the server is set to localhost. Change the Server field under the Connector Configuration section to the hostname of the computer to which youd like this BES to point for attachment processing, as Figure 7-13

Figure 7-13. Changing the attachment server in BES 4.0


Although changing the settings in 4.0 does not prompt you to restart services as it does in 3.6, you still have to restart the BlackBerry Dispatcher service for these changes to take effect.




BlackBerry Hacks
Blackberry Hacks: Tips & Tools for Your Mobile Office
ISBN: 0596101155
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2006
Pages: 164
Authors: Dave Mabe

flylib.com © 2008-2017.
If you may any questions please contact us: flylib@qtcs.net