Reverse Biased: Illustrated Guide to Syncing Blackberry on Ubuntu Karmic

The reason why i decided to write this post was the lack of a complete and comprehensive guide on achieving syncing of Blackberry on Ubuntu.

This article is not intended for Uber geeks but instead for dummies like me. I have tried to make the article as illustrative and self explanatory as possible.

Requirements : An internet connected (only for installing required software packages) Linux Box running Ubuntu 9.04 (Karmic Koala) , Blackberry (8400g in my case) and a working data cable. I assume that the user has got atleast some working level knowledge of linux in general and is not bamboozled by terms like Synaptic, Evolution, Terminal, sudo et al

Step 1: Installing necessary Packages.

Use Synaptic and install following software packages.

multisync0.90 , barrybackup-gui, barry-util,libbarry0,opensync-plugin-barry,opensync-plugin-evolution,multisync-tools

Alternatively you can install them from command line

sudo aptitude install multisync0.90 barrybackup-gui barry-util libbarry0 opensync-plugin-barry opensync-plugin-evolution multisync-tools

Step 2: Connecting Blackberry

Connect blackberry to your computer using the compatible data cable and fire up terminal. We will check whether the computer detects the device or not. Note down the device pin.
sudo btool -l

Step 3: Backing up the Blackberry

Fire up your terminal and execute the barrybackup . Once opened it will prompt you for entering your device name. Enter the device name and Click Ok

Step 4: Configuring Multisync for Syncing Contacts

Open Application->Accessories->Multisync-gui

The initial screen is blank. Click Add to create a new sync group. I have named the group as Blackberry-Contacts. Click Edit to add members to this group. Remember to add Evolution plugin first and then the Barry plugin. Not vice versa. My setup is erroneous

Once you have finished you will have two members on the left hand side pane. evo2-sync and barry sync. Click on evo2-sync member and we shall configure its properties. Select address book of your choice. I have made a blank address book in Evolution and named it as blackberry. Select No Calendar and No To-do as this group will sync only contacts.

Click on barry-sync member and on the right hand side pane you will see a text pane enumerating some setting. Don't worry. just scroll down to the place where it says Device pin and update your device pin there. The default device pin reads 204ad4e8 . Update the pin. There are 2 more digits ahead 1 0 change them and make them 0 and 1. The 1 is enable and 0 is disable. The first 1 is for calendar syncing and the second 1 is for contact syncing. So since we are only going to sync contacts and not calendar we amend the setting to 0 and 1

So the final line reads as thus Device 3009efe3 1 0. Don't worry about the save option the file is saved auto-magically. Close the Window

Now you will see following window. I am repeating again. My setup was erroneous. If you have followed the steps properly you will see the evo2-sync member above the barry-sync. In case you land up in a situation just like me. Just Remove and configure again. Its simple.

Step 5: Syncing Contacts

Click Refresh and you are done. The sync process will start . It takes a couple of minutes

Viola!! Your contacts are synced.

Step 6: Configuring Multisync for Syncing Calendar.

The steps for configuring Multisync-gui are similar to those we took for contacts . Make a new group Blackberry-Contacts. Add evo2-sync member first and barry-sync member next. Click on evo2-sync member and we shall configure its properties. Select Calendar of your choice, select local calendars preferably at first. Select No Address Book and No To-do as this group will sync only calendar.

Click on barry-sync member and on the right hand side pane you will see a text pane enumerating some setting. Don't worry. just scroll down to the place where it says Device pin and update your device pin there. The default device pin reads 204ad4e8 . Update the pin. There are 2 more digits ahead 1 0 change them and make them 1 and 0. The 1 is enable and 0 is disable. The first 1 is for calendar syncing and the second 1 is for contact syncing. So since we are only going to sync calendar and not contacts we amend the setting to 1 and 0. My Setting is wrong