The new features of Skype for Business CU-3

One of my customers has installed the lastest CU for Skype for Business. The CU-3 or the June 2016 cumulative update. It can be found here.

This update contains some new features that will make Skype for Business more interesting. I will go through all the new stuff that comes in this package.

1. Offline messaging, can't say have been waiting for this. But it's here now. This works like this:
Some one sends you a message when you are Offline, well the system will collect these and give you an allert the time you get back online.  Like the pictures below. More about it here

 2. Busy on Busy is a new feature also. This is something that we in Nordic countries has used for ages thanks to Competella and their Routing Agent. Microsoft has since June 2016 this feature but it has some limited features if you look at it instead of the Routing Agent from Competella.
How this is configured, well Randy Chapman has a well written blog about this. Read all about this here.

3. Video based Screen Sharing (VbSS), the thing about this is to get these pro cons:

1. Make screen-sharing (up to 5%) more reliable compared to RDP alone.
2. Make the session setup and video experience faster compared to RDP alone (setup in half the time, with a 6:1 improvement in frames-per-second).
3. Works much better than RDP in low bandwidth conditions, even when sharing high motion content, such as 3-D graphics.

You have to do some changes to make this works. There are some commands to make policy changes that has to be run. Read all about it here. My customer who installed this update has not tried this yet, but when it's done I will sure come back on it here.

The last feature that is added is the multiple emergency numbers in Skype for Business. I am not sure how often this feature will be used in the Nordic countries where I mostly work. But you can read all about how to configure it here.

Thats all for today. Hope you found this one interesting. I will come back soon with some more news about Skype for Business.

TIme is running out, it's time to upgrade to Skype for Busniess

Summer is over and I got an email from Microsoft Support regarding some customer of mine who is still running Lync 2010. The email goes like this:

"After doing more research and tests I have confirmed that both Lync Server 2010 and Lync Server 2013 issue self-signed certificate with SHA-1 algorithm to Lync clients in the meantime both Skype for Business Server 2015 and Skype for Business online issue self-signed certificate with SHA-2 algorithm to their clients.

After doing plenty of research we cannot change Hash algorithm of the self-signed certificate issued by Lync Server 2010 and Lync Server 2013 so we’d like to suggest you perform the upgrade to Skype for Business Server 2015 before January 1, 2017. "

After doing some google search I found this one from November 2014,SHA-1 client issue as it say that clients does not have to do anything but this is an technical issue.

And since also Lync 2010 is out of mainstream support well now it's the time to plan for your upgrade.

KEMP Certified

For about a month ago I become KEMP Certified Salesperson. I had to take this since my first goal was to become KCE (Kemp Certified Engineer).
Well today I passed the test and are now KEMP Certified Engineer.

The next certification is the KCP (KEMP Certified Professional).

Tech update on KEMP with HTTP/2

HTTP/2 is the next major version of the HTTP protocol. While HTTP methods, status codes and language are preserved from HTTP/1.x, this version is a completely new implementation concept and brings many performance improvements, perceived latency enhancements and better resource utilization within reach of application and network designers.

Read all about it here:
KEMP HTTP/2

Skype for Business CU3

Microsoft has come out with CU3 for Skype for Business.
You can download it from here: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3061064

This is some of the new features that is included in this CU:
The June 2016 cumulative update adds the following new features to Microsoft Skype for Business Server 2015:

• Video Based Screen Sharing
• Multiple Emergency Number 
• Busy Options (Busy on Busy and Voicemail on Busy)

Busy on Busy has Competella delivered in a long time with their Competella Routing Agent. What Microsoft has published in their, am I at present time not sure of. But it will be testet and I will come back with a blog about this.

Registry fix for more than 100 users in a goup

Based on information from Technet, we now can add distribution groups for more that 100 users in our Skype for Business client.
Just follow these settings from Technet
https://gallery.technet.microsoft.com/lync/Skype-for-Business-cannot-e9693c2a

Client Update for Skype for Business

Yesterday Microsoft came out with a new client update for Skype for Business. Read all about here, and you can also download it from the URL.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3115087

Lync 2013/Skype for Business client update April 2016

Microsoft has an new update for the client out. It can be downloaded here:https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3114944


On the March 2016 update there was an issue that phone calls was disconnected after 20-40 seconds. There was also issue with joining the meeting from Lync/Skype client that the user got disconnected all the time.

With this patch, this has now been fixed.


Importent update: Was an old link that has come in here. New link has been added.

Last CU for Lync 2010

Sine Lync 2010 went out of Mainstream support 12th april this year, and now Microsoft will just comes up with critical fixes then next 5 years.
More information about this CU is here:
http://blog.thoughtstuff.co.uk/2016/05/last-cu-for-lync-2010-released-end-of-main-stream-support/

Let me just say, that is time to upgrade to Skype for Business if you are still on Lync 2010 Standard or Enterprise Edition.

DHCP options Lync/Skype for Business

Over the years, I have worked a lot with Polycom Lync phones, SNOM IP phones and Aastra/Mitel Phones.
All the years I have been using DHCP options and this has been a great and nice to work with.
Well, now it has been just a bit more simple.
We got a GUI for this now and it can be downloaded from here. There are also information about it here:
http://www.myskypelab.com/2015/11/skype4b-lync-dhcp-config-tool.html

Great tool to make your day easier.

Plantronics Voyager Focus UC

Last authum I did get my Plantronics
http://www.plantronics.com/uk/product/voyager-focus-uc?skuId=sku7180014

This has been one of the best headset I ever used. Both as a UC headset and a mobile headset.
Lot's  of my customers has also used this and they are as I very happy about it.
It's simple and great quality, long hours of speaking and together with Plantronics HUB witch you can download here: http://www.plantronics.com/us/product/plantronics-hub-desktop
You can from this application control and update firmware and other functions as well.

Preview of the new MAC client that will comes

Microsoft has this video out for the new MAC client on OS X.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a70ZoOlq2NY&feature=youtu.be

The codecs to be used is SILK and SVC264. Since this is the preview, well not all functions are in place and you can use the old 2011 client for all the other functions that is not covered in the "beta".

The new client they say that it will come in Q3 2016 for all the users. So sign up for the preview at
https://www.skypepreview.com/

PSTN Calling is now expanding.......

From the Skype Preview you can if you are in UK try out the PSTN Calling.

https://www.skypepreview.com/

Hope this will expand futher in rest of Europe soon.

New update for Lync 2013 is here......

Microsoft has delivered April 2016 update for Lync 2013.
Here is where you find it.
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/2809243?sd=rss&spid=924


Thanks to @randychapman on Twitter for sharing this

Mitel acquires Polycom.......

From the NoJitter blog, we got this message that Mitel acguires Polycom

http://www.nojitter.com/post/240171602/mitel-acquires-polycom--the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly#.VxEQ1XB4YUw.linkedin

Enterprise Connect 2016 Day 3

Here is wrapup video from day 3 of the Enterprise Connect

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Jme_iI1P9w&feature=youtu.be

CloudPBX and CloudConnector Edition

One of the big issues for Skype Online has been that we in Europe don't have been able to enable the users for Enterprise Voice. Well now are things happening.

Based on this information from Microsoft you can now have it.
https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/nexthop/2016/04/07/worldwide-use-of-office-365-cloud-pbx-now-simplified/

And what do you need to configure this?
https://technet.microsoft.com/EN-US/library/mt455212.aspx

This can also be solved by using AudioCodes CloudBond 365
http://www.audiocodes.com/cloudbond-365

I am looking forward to try this out soon and will then blog about the result.

March 2016 CU for Skype for Business

Some days ago in twitter I saw that the new CU for Skype for Business is now out and it replace the November CU.
URL and information will you find here:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3134259

I have not tried this yet on any servers, but I will tries it out as soon as possible on our systems and will then come here with more information about this.

Skype for Business/Lync InterRoute

Today's blog is about InterRoute.....How to get this to work in Skype for Business #Skype4B or in Lync 2013 if you are stilll on the old product.

If you are installing internal sip trunks, well then this might help you a lot.
How did I fix this:
First I have a fantastic CoWorker named Thomas Stubergh here in Skill AS @SKillNorge who gave lot's of input.

The next thing we did was to establish the trunks and route's for the internal trunk and for the external trunk as well.
Then under trunkConfiguration we had to add two configuarations. and both has to have the internal and external trunks in it.
Then we had to place the internaltrunk on top on both.
Then we made the number that we wanted to be used for internal trunk on called number, and also if you have short numbers for speeddial.
And then just wait until it replicates, and magic happend.

Then we saw on wireshark that when dialing from external (my cellphone) it hit the external trunk and then moved to the internal trunk.
And then calling out from an application using the internal trunk we also saw in wireshark that it hit the internal trunk and then moved to external trunk......


Thats all for today.....

Lost conversation stopped working

After the patch for Office who came out in November, there has been an issue that lost call is not logged into conversation history in Outlook.
Here the other day Micrsoft came out with at patch to fix this.
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3114732 

One of my customer who has Office 2013 and Lync 2013, who had this error has tried it and they have confirmed that this patch on the client side has fixed the issue.

Just down the right version for your Lync/Skype client and it will start to write in Conversation History again.

Thanks to Dr.Lync for the url about this issue.

Building Conference rooms?

Are you planning to build new conference rooms, well you should think about quality, services to the cloud. Clear One can help you here.
http://www.clearone.com/

Tektrakom in Norway can connect you to the right partner.
http://tektrakom.no/Produkter

Skype for Business PSTN Conferencing is launching on March 1, 2016 in 18 new countries

From Microsoft I got this information.

Skype for Business PSTN Conferencing is launching on March 1, 2016 in 18 new countries for Indirect and Direct Enterprise customers: Austria, Brazil, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hong Kong, Ireland, Japan, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, and South Korea. For these countries PSTN Conferencing will be enabled for both Indirect and Direct Enterprise customers. PSTN Conferencing will also be enabled for Indirect Enterprise customers in the countries which launched on December 1, 2015.

The full list of Sell-To countries on March 1, 2016 will be: Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and United States.

Skype for Business PSTN Calling service is available in the United States, and on March 1 will be available to Indirect Enterprise customers.

My Powerpoint speaking about Persistent Chat at MUCUGN

As promised on MUCUGN last week, here are the link for the presentation that I gave about the Persistent Chat Server.

https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=FEC708E3CFD199B0!1236391&authkey=!AFN3R4JH0vi6hE0&ithint=folder%2cpptm

/Kai

Microsoft to acquire products from Event Zero

Microsoft has been out shopping again. This time they acquire some products from Event Zero.
Read all about it here
http://blogs.microsoft.com/blog/2016/01/13/microsoft-acquires-management-reporting-and-analytics-technology-from-event-zero-to-enhance-skype-for-business-online/?wt.mc_id=soc_fb_Office-365_Skype-for-Business_null&ls=soc&ca=Office-365&lsd=fb&Ocid=1%20-%20Fans_Social_FBPAGE_Skype%20for%20Business%20-%20SkypeBusiness_20160113_329784418

Client patch for Lync Januar 12th 2016 is out (KB3114502)

Read all about the new client update her:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3114502#bookmark-issue

First look at Cloud PBX and PSTN meetings in Skype for Business

2016 is here and lets recap 2015

2016 has come and happy new #Skype4B year.......

So what has happend in 2015..........

- Skype for Business client come out
- Skype for Business server
- Skype for Business Broadcast meeting
- Microsoft Ignite in Chicago
- Cloud PBX is out in US, and we waits for other countries
- Skype for Business client on Windows mobile and Android
- Skype for Business client on IOS
- Some patches with bugs (like the Novenber 2015 patch) :-)
- Ignite in 2016 moved from Chicago to Atlanta (hope the food will be better @ignite)


I am sure more has happend, and the list will be updated

So the let's turn 2016 to the #Skype4B year.

Lot's happens in Skype for Business

There has been a lot of new things comming for Skype for Business. It started up with the launch of Skype Broadcast, and now we got cloud PBX in US.
Beta testing for the Android client is almost out also. So things happens.
CU for Desember 2015 is out. Get it here:
https://greiginsydney.com/lync-server-2013-update-december-2015/

Want to now more about how the cloud PBX works, well check out this from Microsoft Mechanics on YouTube with Jamie Stark.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Cxawu9mIag

There has also come out a new planning to for Skype for Business. Link will you find here:
http://www.proexchange.be/blogs/skype4b/archive/2015/12/15/skype-for-business-2015-planning-tool-released.aspx

Did you noticed the Hybrid configuration from Skype for Business ControlPanel?

So here you have it, lot happens and more will come.

Skype Broadcast is here!!!!

Last nighte I read a blog from one of the MVP's Thomas Poett about Broadcast.
Here you will find the link to his great blog.
http://lyncuc.blogspot.no/2015/11/broadcast-meetings-in-skype-for-business.html

Unable to publish topolgi due to multiple entries found i AD.........

For a customer who got this multipool Lync 2013 running we had this strange error telling that it was not able to publish the topologi for Lync 2013. This error said it failed because of multiple entries i Active Directory for <name of the enpoint>.

Mulitpool in same site Lync 2013

One of my customers has an multipool Lync 2013 based in 4 countries.
We have been struggeling in different countries where we have trouble to see the presence. Typical error has been that we from the client only sees the Updateing status when searching for them.

Lync client Iphone, Unable to call into, Just going to Voicemail on mobile

When useing Lync client on Iphone one of my coworkers has seen this issue. When someone tried to call him the call just went directly to his Voicemail.
After different testing and working on this, well it seems like the issue was the Lync client on the Iphone was the issue. The error message we got was something like "can not log you in right now"
We then did an unistall of it and then we tried to call him again.
And now the phone was working just fine.
Then  we reinstalled the Lync client for Iphone again and it all worked smooth.

Preview options for Skype for Business

Microsoft has launched a site where you can sign up for nice preview stuff for the Skype for Business solutions.
At the present time you can sign up for:
- Skype meeting Broadcast
- Enterprise Voice in US
- Beta testing of Skype for Business on Android and Iphone

Just follow the link here:
https://www.skypepreview.com/

Competella R2 running out resources, reporting to Skype for Business............

I had an issue the last week where calls was not able to come into the Competella R2 MA client.
In the logfiles for Competella this is what we saw:
[Error] CreateConferenceAsyncResult::OnCreated
 ! The request failed with reason: maxConferencesExceeded.
 ! A 403 (maxConferencesExceeded) response was received from the network and the operation failed. See the exception details for more information.
 ! A 403 (maxConferencesExceeded) response was received from the network and the operation failed. See the exception details for more information.

Skype for Business Online, Broadcast and Yammer integration

One of the MVP's i New Sealand has published this great video about how to integrate Yammerfeed into Broadcast.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWXqPvwTmFQ

Broadcast is a new feature that soon will come to Skype for Business Online. With Broadcast you can host meetings for upto 10000 users.
Be aware that sound and video will be 20 seconds delayed.

Competella upgrade to Skype for Business

I had this pleasure to Upgrade from Lync 2013 to Skype for Business #Skype4B for a few weeks ago.
When it comes to Competella server, the frist I did was that since we was on R1, I had to build a New Competella server based on the Lync 2013 install. When tested that one and it Works, we then start to plan for the Upgrade.
After all Lync 2013 servers was upgraded then we started on Competella server. We then upgraded the UCMA and moved the pool, running at the same procedure as we did on the Lync 2013 installation.
Then we had to reboot the server and get in the patches.
Then it seems like working, but then we discovered that some services in Competella did not work.
Some dialog With Competella Support, well and then we had to install the Competella up on the New UCMA even we had it on Place when we had it installed.

But anyway, this make the Magic working.....Thanks to Thomas Stubergh my co-worker at Skill AS and to Competella support who sloved this  for us.

Windows Phone 8.1 get's #Skype4B

Yes, it's comming i July the Skype for Business Client for Windows Phone.
Read all about it here:
https://support.office.com/en-us/article/See-whats-new-in-Skype-for-Business-for-Windows-Phone-1e242ddc-3414-4101-ae34-4aca0c14f489?ui=en-US&rs=en-US&ad=US

SkillTV is out with 2 new programs

Today SkillTV launched 2 New episodes.
They can be found here. http://www.skill.no/video/videoblogg.aspx

Episode number 3 is about Azure AD With Jan Vidar Elven
Episode number 4  is about #Skype4B With Kai Stenberg

The host for these shows is Elham Binai who is the HR Director at Skill AS.

All episodes are in Norwegian only at present time.

SkillTV.....about Skype for Business

Later today I will do a youtube video where I will talk about Skype for Business on SkillTV.
The URL will come out as soon as the video is out. This video will be in Norwegian only,.

SNOM m9R

As I and Dr.Lync has tested the SNOM m9R on Lync server 2013, there has been som trouble With this.
One issue has been it seems like it sleeps when not used, and the user has to unplug the DECT station and reboot both the handset and base.
I have last week got an email from SNOM in Germany telling me this important information:
1. SNOM m9R is a Product that they will stop makeing.
2. SNOM m9R is not supported on Lync 2013. It was only able to work on Lync 2010 and OCS2007R2.

hmmm after knowing that, I will now not recommend this to be used together With Lync 2013 or Skype for Business server 2015.

Skype for Business in Azure

It's been a some times since my last blog, but I have so buzy and after Ignite who was great except for for the Food at the Ignite.
I have started to work on a demo solution where I plan to install Skype for Business #Skype4B in Azure. At present time I have upgraded the Frontend Server from Lync 2013 to Skype for Business server 2015. I have ordered a SIP trunk over Internet. When this is enabled on the colocated Mediation server, well then I shall try out EV for Azure. If this Works fine, I will install Competella Attendant and Dolphin Q from Loxysoft as a Contract Center.
The SIP trunk has been given to me for free use by NextGenTel and Tom-Roar Nilsen.

More update will come as I progress............

MS Ignite is done and back to normal days again

MS Ignite in Chicago was great. Lots of great speakers and lots of News.
On one of the sessions they showed of the Skype for business Broadcast function that comes in Skype for business Online.
From this feature you can have "Meeting" With upto 10000 People and also record it so that it can be downloaded later.
When using the broadcast function, all sound and what you show off is 20 secunds delayed. And it will play off in Your webbrowser.

Skype4B client, automatic update and Competella Attendant

One of my customer did roll out the latest patch from Microsoft to the Office 2013 pack. They are also New to Lync 2013, and has Enterprise Voice.

Skype for Business...it’s almost here

As a lot of us know, from the 14^th April 2015 Microsoft will start to send out the patch for Office365 Office, Office2013 Pro Plus and even more. Have you informed your employees in your company who has Office2013 Pro Plus or Office from O365?

Do you use System Center to rollout patches and updates or can uses get then from Windows Update?

This Tuesday in this patch we will get then new Skype for Business client. But are you ready for it? What about your plugins in Lync client, will the work?

Skype For Business dates are here

Yesterday we got the dates for Skype For Business. For users running Office 2013 Pro Plus they will get an update April 14th With the New Skype For Business Client.
Then server update will be launched 1.st May.

For more information check this blog
http://www.skypeadmin.com/2015/04/02/skype-for-business-release-date/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+LyncNewsFeed+%28Lync+News%29&utm_content=FaceBook

Lync and configure SIP trunk with Phonero (Norwegian Telco Company)

I have the last few weeks working on a project where Phonero (www.phonero.no) is the SIP Trunk provider.
Normaly when working With Direct SIP almost every SIP trunk provider has the same procedure to get this working.  But recarding when it comes to Phonero, well Things are a bit different.

This is how I got i working from the Lync 2013 side.

Vision for the future.....the future is here

Microsoft published today a new Skype for Business video on You Tube today.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4iS_NDczoI&sns=tw

Some say this is the future, and I will say the future is here real soon. There are lot's of folks out there working to make Skype for Business ready for you.
There are lot's of system integrators who are ready to take you there.

When you will choose you future please choose a partner of Microsoft that know what they are doing. Well some time you have to pay more, but then you will get it work.

There is nothing more expensive then bad consultants..................

Looking forward to help you with Skype for Business.

February update for Lync 2013

After I have tested the February update for Lync 2013 server, I have noticed that the server has to boot twice to get all the changes.
For one of my customers we noticed that Edge and FrontEnd server had some issues and after the second reboot well then it started to work again.

One of the Error that we had was that mobile users and external users had issues to sign into Lync form external. Also that SNOM m9R had some signin issue aswell With the Error named "Final handshake".

But the second boot from the frontend server solved this issue.

Skype for Business

Yesterday was the first online session about the introduction from Microsoft. My present blog has the link to where you can join us.
As we know there will be an inbound Upgrade from Lync 2013 to Skype4B.
You can also run SQL 2014 for you Skype4B solution.
If you plan from what I understood was in Lync 2010, well then you have to migrate you over to Lync 2013 and from there to Skype4B.

There will be many sessions comming now every week, and it is very interesting to listen to the first one. In Central Europe they will start at 5pm.


Hope you will join us..........

Skype for Business sessions comming up soon

Finaly, a taste of Skype for Business is here soon. There are lots of sessions comming up soon.
Just register at this link for it.
https://infopedia.eventbuilder.com/index.asp?landingpageid=7p1c8p
I will be there and hope you will to.

Skype4Business is now a part of Office365 Summit

From Micrsoft I did get this information earlier today. Read more about it here.

http://blogs.office.com/2015/01/14/skype-business-sessions-now-included-office-365-summits/

From this I am looking forward to Microsoft Ignite in Chicago, and as the rest of us Lync/Skype4B geeks.

Hope to see you @MSIgnite

Lync 2013 Desember 2014 update Server

Yesterday, Microsoft come out with the last server update for the Lync 2013 server.
The Direct download is here:
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=36820

What is fixed can be read about from this site:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2809243

I will do some install of this on my Office's Lync 2013 and will report back if there is something strange about it.

Replace TMG Forefront 2010, what shall you do?

As we all know the Forefont TMG 2010 is a Product that is about to end. Microsoft has said this: Microsoft announced the Forefront TMG 2010 product will be discontinued. Microsoft will continue to provide mainstream support for TMG until April 14, 2015.

New features for Lync Room System

There are lots of you out there who has Lync Room System also known as LRS.
There are some new features that has come out yesterday.

You can read about them there:
http://blogs.office.com/2014/12/15/lync-room-system-feature-updates/#.VI8rm-3G41o.twitter

Jabra Evolve series.....how are they? What do people say about them?

I was so Lucky to win a Jabra Evolve 80 MS Stereo and then because I like headset and is about to start my campaign "Good headset for kids at School". Jabra send me for free and for test the following:

Jabra Evolve 20
Jabra Evolve 40
Jabra Evolve 65

All the Lync Versions.
My co-workers has tried tthem and use them in Our Office or out working for Our customers.

Lync 2013 and Skype video

Under Friday 5th desember we did get Video from Lync to Skype. This is a part of where we are going to move into Skype4Business. This feature was talked about during the Lync Conf14 in Las Vegas, and now it's here.
Here you find the Lync Team Blog and can read more about it:
http://blogs.technet.com/b/lync/archive/2013/05/23/lync-skype-connectivity-available-today.aspx

Jabra Evolve 65 UC Stereo

Today I finaly got my Jabra Evolve 65. WOW, what a headset. It just so great. No Cable. The sound in this is great. The fittings is great.
To install it, just plug in the USB 360 dongle and you are ready.
Remember to charge the headset using the cable that follows With it and soon you are ready.
Together With Lync and With Your Mobile phone, it just Works.

This headset is simple to use and it just Works. It will be great for Lync Pro and for Office users in Contact Centers.
I have just testet the stereo and fits nice also if you have glasses. On of my co-workers tried it and he just loved it.
This will be the new standard headset where I work. If you want more information about it just send me and Message here in this blog or on twitter @kaistenberg

Lync becomes SKYPE for Business

As many of us have seen the other days is that Lync will now change name to Skype for Business. For us who is installing Lync what will this say for us?
Where are this going?

Jabra Evolve series

From next week will I start to test all the headset's in the Jabra Evolve series. I have earlier written a blog about the Evolve 80, who I think is one of the best Lync Pro headsets with cable that I have been tested so far.
So just follow this blog and you will get the result of the Evolve Series.

Thanks to Jabra Norway who are letting me have these headsets.

SNOM m9r at homeoffice

An ex-coworker of me Kjetil Lindløkken @Evry has written a blogpost about how to get the Snom M9r to work on you local network.
http://drlync.blogspot.no/2014/10/how-to-setup-snom-m9r-for-lync-2013.html#more

Well, knowing this, I had to take it a bit longer. Would this work at my homeoffice.
So I took it from my Office @Skill and home. Plugged it in and cleared all the log's on the base, and restartet it.
Ofcourse it working. My network is from Altibox and I have some kind of a WIFI/cable router from NetGear.

Lync on MAC part 2

I have earlier written about how to get Lync running on Your MAC. Well I have an update.
You can read the first here:
http://lync2013blog.blogspot.no/2014/10/lync-on-mac.html
And here is the update that you might have to do aswell.

1.go to setting "regional language prefs"

2. Move second place language in the list to the top (by dragging it up list)

3. Restart

4. Return original language to top of list

5. Restart

6. Lync is now working

 

Lot's of thanks to my Co-worker @skill named Trond Jelsnes Undrum who found this way deep down in MAC forum........

Headsets for the Lync Pro

Yesterday I was the lucky one who was one of three who won the Jabra Evolve 80 headset. I have today tried this out on my homeoffice.

Let's start a campaign.....

I was yesterday on a meeting with Jabra, and this made me think. Are you knowable that in Norway we are spending 2.7 billion NOK because we are getting problems with hearing. They get Tinitus and other issues so that they need hearing aid. Do you want this?

Microsoft Ignite, Chicago 4-8 May 2015

Dear Reader of my blog......Be ready for this.

Error in the event log after upgrade from Lync 2010 to Lync 2013, try to resolve the old pool

I have been struggle With an error in the eventlog telling that the fronend server tries to replicate to the old dedeployed Lync 2010 server after uninstalled the old server and fileshare.
Working together With Microsoft support we found that the error was related to the XDS database was not updated or contained the correct information.

Lync 2013 October Update 2014 for Lync Client

The October update 2014 for Lync Client 2013 is out.
Now you can hide Picture in IM sessions is one of the New Things in this update.
For more information check out this URL:
http://blogs.office.com/2014/10/14/simpler-better-instant-messaging-options-lync-2013/

Headset and bad sound kills Lync

I have earlier talked about how important there is with headset for Lync. If the users shall have good experience using Lync, well headset is the main thing to put Your Money into.
It can be said so easy.....Bad Sound Kills Lync.

Lync on MAC

When you want to use Lync on MAC you must remember to import the local CA root certificate. You can get the root CA from Your IT Department or you can export the certificate from Your local computer.
When this is installed then you must fill out Your sip address and on Advanced type Your domain\username and Your password.
Then just Login and you are good to go.

Lync 2013, September 2014 patch

Today I downloaded the Lync 2013, september 2014 patch to run the install for the Company I work work. It was downloaded from this site:http://support2.microsoft.com/kb/2809243
We have a plan that we want to install it on out internal Lync 2013 environment before we install it for our customers.
Well I have noticed something strange duing the installation of this patch.

1. On my FrontEnd server the web Components failed to Upgrade and we had to reboot the FrontEnd server and run the LyncServerUpdateInstaller.msi again to get it installed and updated.
2. On the Edge server the update of Windows Fabric failed, and had to reboot it and so update it again.

I had the same issue when I did  the August 2014 patch for Lync 2013 server, but there I had it on the FrontEnd and Edge server that Windows Fabric failed to Upgrade.

Anyone out there had this same issue when updateing to September 2014 patch?

Lot's of strange behavior when change certificate on Lync 2013 Edge server

This is a strange thing when you are change the external certificate for Lync 2013 Edge server. We did for a customer changed from Geocities to Comodo certificate.

After that we got this strange error in the Eventlogg: Event ID 14428, LS Protocol Stack
TLS outgoing connection failures.

Over the past 8 minutes, Lync Server has experienced TLS outgoing connection failures 18 time(s). The error code of the last failure is 0x80072746 while trying to connect to the server
Then I did a lot of search on uncle Google, but I was not able to find any solutions to this issue.

Proxy error on the client and certificate error

The other day I was struggeling with some strange errors on a Lync deployment I did for one of my customers.
The first was that some users did get this error:

August 2014 server patch for Lync 2013 Enterprise Edition

I have been installing the Lync 2013 August 2014 patches on different Lync 2013 installations. On one installation where we had a Enterprise edtion with 3 servers for the FrontEnd. The first server it all went fine. When I started on the second server it went quite well but the last part of the patch that contains Windows Fabric, it failed.

Using ISS ARR as a reverse proxy for Lync

Since TMG Forefront is soon to be close for sale we have to think and look into other reverse proxy solution.
From what we can read from Microsoft is this:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/office/dn788945.aspx

For a new customer I have installed the ISS ARR as a reverse proxy and this is what I did.

Gartner Magic Quadrant 2014

As we can see. Microsoft is now the leader in Gartner Magic Quadrant. Cisco has the latest two years been the leader.

From the report we can read this.

Microsoft Lync

Microsoft Lync offers a full suite of UC functionality that Microsoft continues to improve with each release. It integrates with Office applications, Active Directory and Skype. Microsoft has a broad set of additional business applications that will increasingly be leveraged, including Office Graph (which uses machine learning to define the context and connect users with relevant documents, conversations and people) and Cortana (a digital assistant).

Powershell Script enable users in different OU's and with enterprise Voice

To make Automatic enable users from AD to Lync With Enterprise Voice. I have made a PowerShell script to do this.
This script can be used as a scheduled task.  This can be used as you want it.
Here is the code:

#Script for automatic enable users for Lync 2013

#THere can be used list of OU,DC if users are in different OU's.

#Remember to change RegistrarPool

#SipAddresser is EQ Mailaddress

#Made by Kai Stenberg, Solution Architect Lync Skill AS
  



#$write shall be set to $true when running the script in production
  $write = $false;




#Delete old files if the script has been run before
  if (Test-Path c:\temp\disabledLyncUsers.txt) {

del c:\temp\disabledLyncUsers.txt;



}
 if (Test-Path c:\Temp\enabledLyncUsers.txt) {

del c:\Temp\enabledLyncUsers.txt;



}
 #set up your list of OU's and domain name

#See the example under, has to be changed to your settings
  $adOus = ("OU=Employees,OU=Users,OU=HQ,DC=domain,DC=local",

"OU=Employees,OU=Users,OU=Bergen,DC=domain,DC=local")




#New users will be enabled and Enterprice voice ready
  foreach ($ou in $adOus) {

$newLyncUser = get-csaduser -OU $ou -filter { Enabled -ne $true }




  foreach ($user in $newLyncUser) {

if ($write) {

$user | Enable-csuser -RegistrarPool <poolname of Lync> -SipAddressType EmailAddress;

$user | Set-CsUser -EnterpriseVoiceEnabled $true;




  #If using other Dialplan or voice policy then Global please remove the # on the next 2 rows

#$user | Set-CsUser -Dialplan "<name of dialplan>"

#$user | Set-CsUser -VoicePolicy "<name of Voicepolicy>"



}
  else {

$user | Out-File -Append c:\Temp\disabledLyncUsers.txt;



}

}

}


 # get-csaduser -filter {Enabled -ne $True -and OU -iin $adOus} | foreach {

# Enable-CsUser -RegistrarPool <poolnameFQDN> -SipAddressType EmailAddress}

# Set-CsUser -EnterpriseVoiceEnabled $true
  

Telenor Office365 and great stuff going on

There are some interesting things going on here in Norway. As you might know Telenor is now providing telephony in Office365. It’s not Microsoft Office365, but Telenor Office365. You can read about it here in Norwegian….http://www.telenor.no/bedrift/office365/

But what makes this interesting is that this can work together with Azure. This gives the opportunity to run attendant application in Lync 2013, like Competella.

This makes it all very interesting and for small customers that don’t can afford to have Lync 2013 Onpremise but want to replace their PBX, can now go for this solution.

 

Lync Day in Norway

At the 14th October 2014 the first Lync Day in Norway will take place.
More information  will be here.

http://lyncday.no/

Lync Conference 2015....what's up

From what we can read on Twitter and other social media Microsoft has desided to not have dedicated Lync Conference next year. What they wil do is to make a huge conference where they have the Technet NA, Lync Conference, Sharepoint Conference and many more in one event.
They will name this Microsoft’s unified technology event for enterprises.

More information about this can be read about here:
http://blogs.office.com/2014/07/21/microsofts-unified-technology-event-for-enterprises/

This great event will take place in Chicago IL from 4th May 2015. Does this date ring a bell.....it's the Star Wars Day :-) May the force be with  you.  See you all there :-)

Lync Web App client, Lync 2013 What's is supported

We are all happy about the new web Client for Lync 2013. No more SilverLight is needed to run this Client.
But if you still run Your Windows XP (not supported any more from Microsoft), be aware that you will not get this in  Your Web Client:
On supported Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows Server 2008 operating systems, computer-based voice and video are not available. Application viewing, application sharing, desktop viewing, and desktop sharing are available.

This has nothing to do With Your browser but Your operating systems. You need to get your IT-Department to Upgrade to a more modern OS.

More information about what kind of functionality you will get in your web Client when installing the plugin you can read about here
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/gg425820(v=ocs.15).aspx

CentralManagement Store moveing, gives some strange error

Normaly when moveing CentralManagement Store (CMS) in Lync we just install the databases With the install-csdatabase commandlet in Lync Management Shell.
But from time to time I have seen that there might be some errors.
One of them was: Move-CsManagementServer : Export configuration data failed. Exception Details:
Exception : System.Data.SqlClient.SqlException (0x80131904):
Could not find stored procedure 'dbo.XdsBackupAllItems'.
Server stack trace:

and when I looked on the server in topology it said it had moved the CMS. Everything was working just fine.
But when I checked the move-centralmanagementServer it still had a old servername. Well then I just went into the old frontend server and run these commands
Export-CsConfiguration -FileName "d:\_source\csConfiguration.zip"
Export-CsLisConfiguration -FileName "c:\_source\CSLisconfiguration.zip"
Then I copied those files over to the New Lync 2013 server.
and then I ran this command:
Move-CsManagementServer -ConfigurationFileName "d:\_source\CsConfiguration.zip" -LisConfigurationFileName "d:\_source\CsLisConfiguration.zip" -Force

This fixed my Error for this case and then we was good to go :-)

Review of Sennheiser SC 260 Lync USB

For the last 2 weeks I have been useing Sennheiser SC 260 for Lync.

What a headset. The sound of it useing Music, just great. The sound is full and it deliver the way Sennheiser can do sound.
Used With Lync 2013 it is just brilliant. Works smooth and real easy to install.
This is just pure value for Money.

Wrapup Office365 Summit in Copenhagen

As earlier written I was at Office365 Summit in Copenhagen.
Since I work as known with Lync, I think this was great since I just followed the Lync track.
One of the session was about Networking and scaling network using the bandwidth calculator spreadsheet. Great tool and great to learn how Microsoft Consulting Services thinks about this. I Norway where I work we don't have so large deployment but it was usefull to learn about this.
Lync 2013 Bandwidth Calculator
There was also session about Central Logging tool and how to use this searching for error. Tip to how to use this and what Powershell commands are something like this:
Start-CsClsLogging -Scenario AlwaysOn
Start-CsClsLogging -Scenario IncomingAndOutgoingCall
wait for 5 minutes
try to Call inn
Stop-CsClsLogging –Scenario IncomingAndOutgoingCall
wait for 2 mins
Sync-CsClsLogging

Search-CsClsLogging –OutputFilePath c:\Logfiles\LogFile.txt

Check the output file for information.

We also check out LRS (Lync Room Systems) how it Works and how to configure.
Thanks to all the People who took their time to be there, do the education and great labs aswell.

We also had a great party on thursday, and we had a great time...........

Office365 Summit in Copenhagen Denmark

Well TechEd_NA is done. Office365 Summit in Denmark is the next show. I will be there. Following the Lync tracks from 21th May to 23th May at Commaxx.
There will be over 80 sessions these 3 days in different directions. But for me it's the Lync 2013 track I will follow.
I will try to blog about this every night so please watch for updates how it was that day.
The first day will be about this:
Module 1: Lync Network Assessment Methodology Part 1
Lab Walk-through: Experiencing Usage Modeling

Module 2: Lync Network Assessment Methodology Part 2

More information will come. Please also look for me on Twitter @kaistenberg since I will report there as well.

Lync 2013 more about Checkpoint

Note to my self...........

For a customer I had a huge struggle with Checkpoint. I don't know if it's me or what it is :-)
We had this administrator network to reach all the servers, and for this network they had internaly open all the traffic for ANY/ANY since it was only the IT-Department running on this network.

When connecting to Lync2013 from this network it failed.
WHY???? since we had opened it for ANY/ANY.
Well ANY/ANY is not any/any in Checkpoint it's almost any/alomost any :-). When Lync Client connect on SSL, the Checkpoint strip this traffic and you are not able to logon the Lync Client from this network.

Why the Checkpoint does this I don't know. We had to add TCP 5061 in front of the ANY/ANY rule and then it work.

Happy Checkpointing and Lync 2013 out there.

Lync2013 and CheckPoint Firewall...

I have noticed something strange when it comes to the customers using Checkpoint Firewall. What we found out was that if we used the default rules in Checkpoint for traffic on Port 5061, well then it stripped out the SSL traffic and send the rest as normal traffic.

Why Checkpoint strip down the traffic I don’t know. To solve this we had to create normal TCP 5061 rules for this type of traffic.

There are other who had this issue http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/lync/en-US/320f12d3-12b3-49ae-8823-bd51b96d62d8/lync-federation-with-checkpoint-firewall

 

For my customer we had involved Microsoft Premier Support, have been checking the Lync 2013 deployment up and down, checked the certificates, analysed network, server, clients and it all. The whole time it was the CheckPoint FW who stopped us and we could not see it J

                                                        

How to move users from LyncOnline to Lync OnPremise?

Well, I have used this script to move users from LyncOnline to LyncOnPremise for a customer.

First we had to set some attributes for the user in Active Directory:

Get-ADUser -identity "<id of the user>" -Properties MSRTCSIP-PrimaryUserAddress | % {
    $_."MSRTCSIP-PrimaryUserAddress"
    Set-AdUser "<id of the user>" -Add @{'MSRTCSIP-PrimaryUserAddress'="sip:user@domain.com"}
}

Then we moved the user from the Lync Online to the Lync OnPremise:

Move-CsUser -Identity "<id of the user>" -Target <lyncpool.com> -Credential $creds -HostedMigrationOverrideUrl https://admin0e.online.lync.com/HostedMigration/hostedmigrationservice.svc

Then we checked that the user has been moved to the OnPremise Pool:

Get-Csuser | FT RegistrarPool, Identity, SipAddress -AutoSize

Then we had to enable the user for Lync OnPremise:

Enable-CsUser -Identity "<name of the user>" -RegistrarPool "<poolname.domain.com" -SipAddress "sip:<sipaddress@domain.com"

Lync and Azure....my conclution

I have tried as you can see from an earlier blog to install Lync 2013 in Azure. So far the Lync Server 2013 FrontEnd works just fine. No problem as long you remember to use my tip about the SQL and cache on Virtual disks.
When it comes to mediation server and Edge server we all know that they require 2 NIC and this is not supported in Azure.
Based on that information,well and since Microsoft clearly say that Lync 2013 is not supported, I have decided to stop my project at this time.
It was great to try, but as way Azure works now, well then I don't have more time to do this and will build a demo environment based on Hyper-V.

Lync in Azure....had to try it

Even Lync 2013 in Azure is not supported from Microsoft, I had to try it to work.
After installed the prerequisites for Windows 2012R2, and did an AD prep, and made up the DNS records I was ready.
Started to install the Lync Tools. Then prepared the first standard edition server.
Lync Local Configstore went just fine. No problems.
When I come to Step 2 in  the wizard, it failed. Did some search for the error that it could not create backend SQL.
Found an TechNet article saying that this could be since we did have to little CPU and memory, reconfigured my server to 4 CORE CPU and 28GB Ram, rebooted the server and tried Step 2 again.
It failed again. Startet to check around.
There seems to a timeout issue when it comes to Azure and when creating the backend databases.
A tip from kloud.com.au saying that he had the same error
http://blog.kloud.com.au/2013/07/15/publish-lync-2013-with-2012-r2-preview-web-application-proxy/
See the part about Lync in Azure.
When we make a New drive for the Lync server we did the PowerShell command like this

Install-CsDatabase -LocalDatabases -DatabasePaths F:\CsData

Then we did Step 2 again and it worked. Then I did Step3 certificates and all services started.

Great job before the weekend comes up. I will see how I can fix the Edge server later next week and just wait for how that goes.

I know that this is not supported from MicroSoft at present time but I think this will give a good way to atleast make a LAB Project and maybe some customer want to build a QA environment i Azure.

Anyway, nice to have done it :-)

Lync 2013 direct SIP trunk...who say the sound is bad?

When I am out trying to convince my customer about Lync 2013 and how good this is, I have the last year heard that in Lync 2013 you have bad sound.
Some say that we have been told that they have to have a Cisco CCM PBX in front of the Lync 2013 since Lync 2013 has bad sound?
Well, I think this is wrong, and other Companies trying to sell way much hardware/software and that they don't know how great sound in Lync 2013 and with QoS and great headset, network well then you will get great sound.
When competitors of mine tells that Lync 2013 is bad, but with for exsample with Cisco the sound will be good. Well you are wrong.
This video is in Norwegian and is made by Microsoft and they are Reference customer for Microsoft.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YA1bVgRyQRA

I can understand that partners who is stucked with Cisco will sell this for what it's worth, but why spend all your Money on Cisco lisences when you will get same sound quality using Lync 2013.

You will not get good sound if your network is bad, or your headset is bad. Quality the Whole way will give you great sound in Lync 2013.

Lync and Avaya, what does it say and what to do

Well Im back from Vegas and LyncConf. What a show, and those News. Just great.
At present time I'm out on job installing Lync 2013 for a customer. HLBA, 3 frontEnd, 2 Mediation and more.
They have and Avaya CS 1000 that shall be Integrated. I have checked out and Avaya is supported on Direct SIP, but as Microsoft say, this is at present time, and we don't know about the next versions of the Avaya software. So we would advise you to use an gateway.
Well, that was easy or was it.
To invest in a gateway for about 2500 users, well you need a lot of SIP lisences for the gateway. Shall the Gateway be part of the cluster og HLB.
How long shall Avaya live before we go for the SIP trunk Direct from a telco?
This is needs that we have to talk to the customer about.

As now we landed on to advise Our customer to go for the Gateway. I think there will be a Sonus SBC 2000 With dual Power......... More will come on this later :-)