UC Updates

Lync 2010 Client Login Matrix

Justin Hassler — Mon, 02 Nov 2015 06:00:00 GMT

To provide an easier, more visual way of referencing the Lync 2010 client login process, I've put together the following graphic. This is convenient for describing how Lync sign on works to those unfamiliar with the product yet require knowledge of the process, such as network administrators.

Lync 2013 Deployment Preparation Script

Justin Hassler — Thu, 24 Sep 2015 12:00:00 GMT

When deploying Lync 2013, the following Powershell script provides an easy one-step installation of all prerequisites for Windows Server 2008 R2:

Add-WindowsFeature MSMQ-Server,MSMQ-Directory,Web-Server,Web-Static-Content,Web-Default-Doc,Web-Scripting-Tools,Web-Windows-Auth,Web-Asp-Net,Web-Log-Libraries,Web-Http-Tracing,Web-Stat-Compression,Web-Default-Doc,Web-ISAPI-Ext,Web-ISAPI-Filter,Web-Http-Errors,Web-Http-Logging,Web-Net-Ext,Web-Client-Auth,Web-Filtering,Web-Mgmt-Console,Web-Asp-Net,Web-Dyn-Compression,Web-Mgmt-Console,Windows-Identity-Foundation,rsat-adds,telnet-client,net-wcf-http-activation45,net-wcf-msmq-activation45,Server-Media-Foundation

In some cases, it may be necessary to add your installation source directory as described here: https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee662309.aspx

Please note that for Windows Server 2012, the Add-WindowsFeature command has been replaced with Install-WindowsFeature

Dbimpexp.exe with Lync Enterprise Pool - Default SQL Instance caveat

Justin Hassler — Thu, 30 Jul 2015 18:14:00 GMT

Dbimpexp.exe is an invaluable tool for backing up and restoring user data. However, when running the command to target the default SQL server instance, specifying \Default as seen in the Lync Topology will result in an error.

Here's an example that will fail:

C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Lync Server 2010\Support>DBImpExp.exe /user:first.last@domain.com /sqlserver:"lyncsqlsrv.domain.local\Default" /hrxmlfile:"C:\Temp\export.xml"

This will result in the following error:

Error: Failed to connect to SQL Server with a connection string: [Data Source =lyncsqlsrv.domain.local\Default; Database = rtc; Integrated Security = true; Pooling = true; Max Pool Size = 3; Connect Timeout = 45; Connection Reset = false; Enlist = false]

Here's the simple solution, remove \Default from the command:

C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Lync Server 2010\Support>DBImpExp.exe /user:first.last@domain.com /sqlserver:"lyncsqlsrv.domain.local" /hrxmlfile:"C:\Temp\export.xml"

Lync 2013 May 2015 Update Rebrands Lync Regardless Of UI Preference

Justin Hassler — Fri, 05 Jun 2015 07:33:01 GMT

As described in this support article https://support.office.com/en-ca/article/Why-do-I-see-Skype-for-Business-when-Im-using-Lync-50935112-4978-46b8-b2ad-9dd7b81365bf?ui=en-US&rs=en-CA&ad=CA&fromAR=1, the most recent patch to Office 2013 will rebrand the Lync client to "Skype for Business (Lync)" and display the Skype for Business tray icon when the client UI is set to Lync 2013.

It is recommend that administrators prepare for the update before deploying - https://blogs.technet.com/b/office_sustained_engineering/archive/2015/05/08/skype-for-business.aspx

Skype for Business Default Client Experience Matrix

Justin Hassler — Mon, 18 May 2015 21:36:00 GMT

The following table found on TechNet (https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dn954919.aspx) lists the default client behavior for Lync 2013 clients after deploying to the April 2015 client update. Also, for those unable to push updates via inband provisioning or those who simply want to experiment with the UI on their local machine, here's a quick powershell script for changing the client UI: https://gallery.technet.microsoft.com/Quick-Skype-for-BusinessLyn-617ec072

Server version	EnableSkypeUI setting	Client experience
Skype for Business Server 2015	Default	Skype for Business
Skype for Business Server 2015	True	Skype for Business
Skype for Business Server 2015	False	User asked to switch to Lync mode (user can switch to Skype for Business later if you change the UI setting to $true)
Lync Server 2010 or Lync Server 2013 (with correct patches)	Default	User asked to switch to Lync mode (user can switch to Skype for Business later if you change the UI setting to $true)
Lync Server 2010 or Lync Server 2013 (with correct patches)	True	Skype for Business
Lync Server 2010 or Lync Server 2013 (with correct patches)	False	User asked to switch to Lync mode (user can switch to Skype for Business later if you change the UI setting to $true)
Lync Server 2010 or Lync Server 2013 (without patches)	Default	User asked to switch to Lync client experience (user cannot switch to Skype for Business later)