Category Archives: Updates

Skype for Business CU1 Released

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Good morning, good afternoon and finally good evening!

On June 19th, Microsoft released the first Cumulative Update for Skype for Business Server 2015.

More information can be found here whilst the actual download is here.

In summary, CU1 addresses the following issues;

  • KB3069206 Exchange UM Auto Attendant can’t transfer call to phone/extension number in Skype for Business Server 2015 environment
  • KB3068921 RTCHost.exe process persistently consumes many CPU resources on a Skype for Business Server 2015 Front End server
  • KB3068926 Default presence configuration parameter is incorrect on a Skype for Business Server 2015 server
  • KB3068920 Skype for Business Web App connected to a wireless network crashes during audio/video or application sharing session
  • KB3068196 Call to a RGS number cannot be transferred to an available RGS agent in Skype for Business Server 2015-based client
  • KB3068197 Skype for Business Server 2015 RGS agent receives a toast for a second call after agent accepts the first waiting call
  • KB3068931 You cannot join a Skype for Business 2015 meeting when the server is deployed in Turkey system locale
  • KB3068932 “Device is not allowed to join” when you click a Skype for Business meeting URL on a Windows Phone 8.1 phone

Keep an eye out for updates to my previous post, for details on how to apply this update!

Happy Monday!

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Lync Mobile – Now Add Contacts (iOS/WP)

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Now please someone correctly if I’m severely behind the times with this one, but whilst having a play around with Lync Mobile running on iOS I noticed a new section appear in my contacts list, added by as well as a notification in the contacts section;

Added by Section

Added by Section

Contact Notification

Contact Notification

I am easily pleased….

so when contacts add you to their contact list, as does the Desktop client, the mobile client now also provides you with notification. Expanding the group obviously shows you who has added you; Continue reading →

Updating Skype for Business Front End Servers

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Following on from my previous post, performing an In Place upgrade, I thought I would put together an overview of the simplified pool update process.

The Skype for Business Server management experience has introduced some very useful commands and processes. Firstly, the In-Place upgrade process itself, which introduced you to the Smart Setup and the Start-CsPool command, all which on their own reduce the operational loads significantly!

In this post, I will walk you through the simplified process of performing maintenance on your Skype for Business Enterprise Edition Front End Servers.

Now to summarise the overall process, I will let these two images do all the talking, on the left is the Lync Server 2013 Patching Process, on the right the same for Skype for Business Server 2015

Continue reading →

Skype for Business Server 2015 In-Place Upgrade

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Good News – Skype for Business Server 2015 RTM components have been released!!

Bad News for some – VLSC\MSDN Subscription required at the moment 😦

As I haven’t created a walkthrough post yet, I thought there would be no better time to get one on the board and kick off with my experience whilst migrating Lync Server 2013 to Skype for Business Server 2015.

Now an unfortunately a lab demon haunted me (in the form of a Windows Update to Server Technical Preview) on release day (1st May) that completely killed my lab, I did have mirrored databases along with persistent chat and an OWA farm deployed and it would have been interesting to see the Persistent Chat process.

For the purposes of this walkthrough this is what I will be starting off with:

Continue reading →

*Issue* Lost Data When Migrating from Lync Server 2013 to Skype4B

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Microsoft released KB on Saturday 2nd May via its FAST PUBLISH process, so clearly there is some urgency behind this patch.

So what’s the issue?

As we know, when migrating from one pool to another, to maintain scheduled conference IDs we leverage the Conference Directory structure (in addition to SQL).

Prior to KB3062801, if administrators leverage the Lync Server 2013 Management Shell to complete the conference directory move to a Skype for Business pool, there is the potential for data to be lost, which will not provide a pleasant experience to your end users.

How can you fix it?

Apply May 2015 CU Update for UC Managed API to all servers within your estate, this will allow for management of the conference directories, using Lync Server 2013 Management Shell.

Are there any workarounds?

Yes – use the Skype for Business management shell to move your conference directory – not the Lync Server 2013 Management Shell! 🙂

Skype for Business TechNet Library

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….is now live!

For those that like a bit of midnight reading, you will be pleased to know that the TechNet library for Skype4Business is now live (Published 9th April).

Included so far are the Planning, Deploying and Managing libraries. On the home page is also a summary of resources which is also a useful page to keep bookmarked (as well as my page here of course!)

The Library can be found here. Have fun! 🙂

Skype for Business Workload Posters

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As we approach the general availability date for Skype for Business, there is definitely an increase in the rate of technical content publication.  One resource that was priceless for understanding the traffic flows in Lync Server was the workload poster!

If you like your diagrams, you will be happy to hear that Microsoft have now released the Skype for Business Server 2015 Workload Poster.

Including within the PDF or Visio downloads are the following workloads:

  • Instant Messaging and Presence (including high level sign in process)
  • AV Conferencing (which now includes the Video Interoperability workload)
  • Application Sharing
  • Enterprise Voice
  • Certificate Requirements
  • Central Management Store Overview and Replication Traffic Flows
  • DNS Requirements

Silk is also now referenced where applicable in audio media flows!

#Skype4B Architecture Updates

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My previous post provides a direct download link to the content I will be referencing in this blog post, the purpose of this post is to summarise the content whilst at the same time adding my opinion to the “improvements”.

So if you are anything like me you will be counting down the days to the upcoming #Skype4B webcasts, to which I received confirmation on my attendance for all sessions! (Lucky boy aren’t I?!).

Now for the content…

Continue reading →

#Skype4B Content Released

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Whilst we count down the days to the Office 365 Summits, it would be a good idea to keep an eye on the Office 365 Summit Readiness Tab.

Microsoft have released the Skype4Business Reference Architecture and Design PowerPoint content – It had 0 downloads when I found it 😉

Not long now!

Skype for Business

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And so the announcement is [finally] made….. the next version of Lync, set for 1H 2015 will become ‘Skype for Business’. I think we all knew that this was going to happen, it was just a matter of when. I think we are all also in agreement that is the logical step for Microsoft to take, considering the audience and global presence that Skype has.

Skype for Business

Me personally, I am keen to see the approach taken to upgrades (in place hopefully!), content sharing and federation now that we are essentially “one platform”.  With new client and server releases and updates to Office 365 there are busy times ahead for all of us!

Check out the Skype blog for more info!