Adding new users to BES 5 is now even easier than in previous versions. Once the user has been added to the BES server by the administrator and assigned an activation password, the user will then be able to activate their handheld in a number of ways:

• Over the cellular network using the Enterprise Activation feature on the handheld device
• Over a local WiFi network using the Enterprise Activation feature on the handheld device by specifying the IP address of the activation server
• Via the BlackBerry Web Desktop by connecting the handheld to their local PC via USB

This article assumes that the BES server has been installed correctly already. For detailed instructions on how to prepare the Microsoft Exchange environment for a BES deployment read these articles:

Exchange 2003
Exchange 2007 / 2010

For instructions on how to install the BES 5 software itself view this post:

http://blog.brightpointuk.co.uk/installing-blackberry-enterprise-server-...

Activating over the cellular network

Once an enterprise activation password has been assigned to the user, the Enterprise Activation feature on the handheld can be located under Options --> Advanced Options --> Enterprise Activation.
In here the user simply need enter their full email address, including domain, and the activation password assigned by the administrator.

For detailed information on how the Activation Process works, read this article:

http://blog.brightpointuk.co.uk/how-does-bes-wireless-activation-process...

Activating over the WiFi network

For those devices that have WiFi capability, provided that the local wireless network can route to the BES server, devices can be activated by completing the Enterprise Activation wizard as above, but with the additional step of completing the Activation Server Address, which needs to contain the IP address of the BES server.

NOTE - this feature needs to be enabled on the BES manually as it is not enabled by default. If the BES server has been deployed in a multiple-box deployment, it is the IP address of the BES Router component that needs to be entered on the handheld device, and the Router needs to be configured to be able to relay SMTP traffic to the Exchange Server. To do this, on the BES server open the BlackBerry Server Configuration utility from the Start Menu. Click on the WiFi OTA Activation tab:

Complete the details of the Exchange server as required.

Also note, to accept activation requests on Server 2008, the built-in firewall will need to be configured to accept incoming requests on TCP port 4101.

Activating via the BlackBerry Web Desktop

Users can browse to the Web Desktop URL (https://(bes_server)/webdesktop) from their Windows PC running IE6 or later:

When logging in for the first time they will be prompted to install the "RIMWebComponents", this will install the required USB drivers and device manager software onto the PC. Administrative rights will be required for this.

Once installed, the user will be able to login using the domain credentials:

The user can now connect their handheld device to the PC via the USB connection. The device manager software will detect the device automatically. The user will be prompted to enter their activation password within the browser.
If the feature has been enabled on the BES by the administrator, users can even set their own activation passwords and enable their own devices, without the IT department getting involved at all (provided that their user account has been added to the BES):

Once activated, the device will be listed in the properties of the user account:

Clicking on the device entry will display detailed information about that device:

and provide a list of tasks that can be performed on that device, including the ability to perform a 'remote kill':