A: Mobile FTP is the old name for the application that is now Mobile File Manager. We added so many new features to Mobile FTP that the application simply outgrew the name.
Mobile File Manager supports Windows File Sharing (including the ability to browse your Windows network), WebDAV, FTP and SFTP connections from your BlackBerry so that you can manage files and folders on your remote computers and network shares.
If your BlackBerry device has a local file system (such as the BlackBerry Pearl™ 8100™ or 8800™), you can also use Mobile File Manager to manage the files and folders on the device.
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A: Mobile File Manager can be used on any BlackBerry smartphone that has a wireless data plan, 32 MB of memory and v4.0.2 or higher of the BlackBerry system software (for remote file and folder access); OR v4.2 or higher of the BlackBerry system software (for remote and local file and folder access).
A: Using Windows File Sharing, you can access any shared folders on any PC with Windows 2000 or higher. Using WebDAV, you can connect to any files and folders (on Windows computers) that you have configured as Web Shares and that you have permission to access. Using FTP or SFTP, you can connect to any computer that is configured to accept these connection types.Note: Mobile File Manager has been tested with the most common WebDAV, Windows Networking, FTP and SFTP servers. If you cannot connect to your remote computer, please contact Rove Support.
A: For Windows File Sharing, the drive, folder or file that you want to access must be configured as shared. For WebDAV connections, the files and folders on the remote Windows computers must be configured as Web Shares. For FTP connections, you must install an FTP server on the computer you want to connect to. For SFTP connections, the remote server you want to connect to must have SSH installed and running.
A: There is a range of FTP servers available free and for purchase on the Internet. We recommend that you evaluate the options relative to your requirements.
A: On Unix systems, SFTP is typically installed by default as a component of the SSH server. For more information about how your system is configured, please consult your system administrator. For Windows, we recommend you evaluate the many different free options available on the Internet.
A: Many web services offer WebDAV connections and therefore allow you to manage your files and folders with Mobile File Manager. These include (but are not limited to):
A: If you have a BlackBerry Enterprise Server with the MDS Service enabled, Mobile File Manager will use it for all connections and data transfer. If you do not have a BlackBerry Enterprise Server, Mobile File Manager will connect using the TCP/IP stack on your BlackBerry, which uses your carrier's network. Mobile File Manager will automatically detect the best way to connect.
A: All file and folder transfers go through the BlackBerry smartphone. This leverages the best-in-class security of the MDS Service if you are using a BlackBerry Enterprise Server. Make sure that your wireless data plan is suitable for higher volumes of data traffic.
A: If you connect to a computer in your network using a BlackBerry Enterprise Server, all data sent between the BlackBerry Enterprise Server and the BlackBerry smartphone is encrypted using Triple Data Encryption Standard (TDES) or Advanced Encryption Standard (AES). The US Government has security-certified TDES and AES as compliant with Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS).SFTP connections are additionally encrypted by SSH for enhanced security. WebDAV connections by default use HTTP, which is by nature insecure. To make secure WebDAV connections over TCP/IP, use HTTP-Secure (HTTPS), which uses Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption.Windows File Sharing requires that you enter valid authentication credentials for the sessions, but sessions that do not use the BlackBerry Enterprise Server/MDS as the connection method will not be encrypted. For more information, see the Security and Connection Types Overview (PDF) for Mobile File Manager.
The MDS Service must be enabled.
If you are using a BlackBerry Enterprise Server 4.0, the MDS Service is usually installed and enabled automatically, but if you are having connection difficulties, you may want to check if the settings are correct.
If you have the Desktop IPPP, the MDS Service is installed and enabled. If you do not have the Desktop IPPP, then do the following on your BlackBerry Enterprise Server:
If the above steps do not resolve your problem, do the following:
For TCP/IP, Mobile File Manager requires that you use an Internet access point name (APN) instead of a wireless access point (WAP). Contact your carrier and find out what settings you need to configure to use their APN.
On a BlackBerry smartphone, you can enter or modify Internet APN settings by selecting TCP on the Options menu.
For the latest information about settings for BlackBerry smartphones, please visit the BlackBerry Forums website.
This error message will appear if the IT Policy on your BlackBerry Enterprise Server has the Disallow Third Party Application Downloads enabled.
Disable the Disallow Third Party Application Downloads setting on the IT Policy for all Mobile File Manager users:
Note: Depending on the version of your BlackBerry Enterprise Server, this IT Policy setting may also be called DisallowThirdPartyAppDownloads or Disallow 3rd Party Applications.
After you have installed Mobile File Manager, you can re-enable this IT Policy, because it only prevents the installation.
This error message can appear when you try to install Mobile File Manager on your BlackBerry smartphone using the BlackBerry Desktop Manager, and the system software for your BlackBerry smartphone is not installed on your desktop computer.
You must install the operating system software for your BlackBerry smartphone on your desktop before you can install Mobile File Manager from the Desktop Manager. You can download the required software for your Blackberry smartphone from www.blackberry.com.
This error can appear not caused by a firewall issue, but by a setting in the IT Policy on your BlackBerry Enterprise Server called Allow Split Pipe Connections. This IT Policy setting prevents applications from switching between TCP/IP and MDS connections.
There are two ways to fix the problem:
We are currently working on a solution to this issue, but in the meantime, use another host such as your BlackBerry Enterprise Server, Exchange server, or a file server.
To make WebDAV connections to Microsoft Windows computers, the folders that you want to access with Mobile File Manager must be configured as Web Shares.
To configure Web Shares, Microsoft IIS 5 or higher must be running. Then follow these steps:
To connect to Windows computers, drives, folders or files with Windows File Sharing, they must be configured for sharing and your authentication credentials for the computer must be valid.
If you are connecting to a computer that is visible to your BlackBerry Enterprise Server, you do not need to make any changes to your network or firewall configuration.
If you are connecting to a computer that is not visible to your BlackBerry Enterprise Server (for example, your computer at home), then you must make sure that the firewall for that computer has port 445 TCP open.
To set up a shared drive, folder or file:
This error is usually associated with a server that cannot be contacted. The most common reasons for this error are:
The next time you connect with Mobile File Manager, the system will ask if you want to allow the connection.
This error message can appear when you try to connect with Mobile File Manager using TCP/IP. For TCP/IP, Mobile File Manager requires that you use an Internet access point name (APN) instead of a wireless access point (WAP). Most carriers have an Internet APN available and may charge an additional fee to use it. Contact your carrier and check if you are able to use their APN.
If you are already using the APN, check with your carrier that your Internet APN settings are correct. On a BlackBerry smartphone, you can enter or modify Internet APN settings by selecting TCP/IP on the Options menu.
This error message can appear if you accidentally select Do not allow connection on a BlackBerry smartphone when setting up Mobile File Manager for the first time. To clear this setting and have Mobile File Manager ask you again, do the following:
