Hello,

Today Microsoft has released February 2013 Cumulative Updates for Lync 2013 products, SDK, whiteboard Archiving Viewer, ressource kit and the planning tool!

No mobility for the moment, i hope see this quickly.

All links here:

Office arrives in the cloud on Feb. 27th

Virtual Launch Event for the new Office 365 for business.

Date Wednesday, February 27^th 8 am PDT and 5 pm PDT

Why Attend?

• Learn how the new Office 365 can help people do
  their best work in a world of devices and services
• Hear customers talk about how Office 365
  is transforming the way they deliver productivity
  tools across their organization
• See how Office 365 delivers new experiences
  combining the power of social with collaboration,
  email and unified communications
• Join in a live Q&A with Microsoft executives
  and product experts

Register to attend: https://vts.inxpo.com/Launch/QReg.htm?ShowKey=12696&LangLocaleID=1033&AffiliateData

At Lync Conference, Microsoft announcing Lync Room Systems.

What is Lync room systems?

A Lync Room System is a comprehensive Partner offering consisting of a bundle of all required hardware and special Lync 2013 software (the Microsoft Lync Room System Edition software). The hardware includes at a minimum one or two large touch enabled displays, high definition video cameras, microphones and a console in the conference room that enables participation without a laptop or desktop from within the meeting room.

Who is Lync Room System partner?

After this announcement, we wait now about more technical informations for this type of integrations.

With the Lync Conference in San Diego, a lot of news coming around Lync technology.

Microsoft provided an updated roadmap for its Lync unified-communications platform about:

• Lync 2013 mobile apps for Windows Phone and iOS will be available in early March, with Android coming about a month later. The new versions of these apps all get VOIP and video over IP. iPad users also get the ability to view shared desktop and application content in a Lync meeting.
• The next version of Lync Server is coming in Q2 2014. That's about 18 months after the Lync Server 2013 product was released to manufacturing -- instead of two to three years later, as has been the cadence for   new Office Server deliveries.
• Lync Online, the Microsoft-hosted version of Lync Server, is on a quarterly update schedule.
• Enterprise voice support for Lync Online is on the list of features due some time in the next 18 months.
• Structured meeting support for Lync Online and Lync Server also are on the list of functionality coming some time in the next 18 months.
• Lync and Skype connectivity, Microsoft announce Lync-Skype connectivity for presence, IM and voice will be available to all Lync users by June 2013.
• Lync Room System, At today’s conference, Crestron, Lifesize, Polycom, and SMART announced their intent to bring Lync Room System products to market to meet the growing need for collaboration-enabled conference rooms

Lync User Management Tool can be an interesting tool to test:

Project Description
Lync User Management Tool (LUMT) enables administrators to manage contacts, ACEs and Privacy settings on behalf of Lync Server 2013 users.

With LUMT, it is possible to:
- Add contacts to default group or to a named group
- Remove contacts from the contact list
- Add ACEs to change the relationship level for the contacts in the contact list
- Remove ACEs for the contacts in the contact list
- Set privacy preference settings for the user to be either Private or Public (this corresponds to the settings in Options/Status in Lync client)
- Change alert notification settings for the user (this corresponds to the settings in Options/Alerts in Lync client)

download here: http://lumt.codeplex.com/

These updates for Lync 2013 include many basic quality improvements since the initial release of Lync 2013. These updates include the following improvements:

•     Enables users to hide offline contacts in the contact list.
•     Enables users to receive buddy invites from untrusted networks.
•     Improves the support for high dots per inch (DPI) displays, for Microsoft Narrator, and for other accessibility features.
•     Fixes bugs that are related to Location sharing and settings.
•     Fixes bugs that are related to Tabbed Conversations.
•     Enables participants to join online meetings by dialing out to their telephone number if online meetings are scheduled by a non-audio-enabled Lync 2013 user.
•     Improves the handling of devices that have both a front-facing and rear-facing camera.
•     Improves the user experience when you join a Lync meeting in a Lync Room System-enabled room.

Description and download here: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2812461

Microsoft Lync Connectivity Analyzer helps Lync administrators find out if the deployment and configuration of their Lync Server environment meets the requirements to support connections from Lync Windows Store app for Windows 8 and Windows RT and from Lync mobile apps.

Overview

Microsoft Lync Connectivity Analyzer attempts to connect to your Lync server using the same services and protocols that are used by Lync Windows Store app and Lync apps for mobile platforms. You can perform the connection tests over your internal network or an external network that connects to your Lync server. Lync Connectivity Analyzer provides a report with detailed information about each connection step to help you validate your configuration and troubleshoot connection problems.

Lync Connectivity Analyzer tests the following Lync server components:

    Autodiscover service
    Authentication Broker (Reach) service
    Mobility (MCX) service
    WebTicket service


Lync Connectivity Analyzer tests the configuration of the following other components:

    Publication of DNS records for Autodiscover URLs
    Certificates
    Proxy servers

Top of pageTop of page
System requirements

Supported operating systems: Windows 7 Service Pack 1, Windows 8, Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1, Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2, Windows Server 2012, Windows Vista Service Pack 2

    Microsoft .NET Framework 4.5 required

Download here: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=36535

You can find on this blog a script will assist in getting servers ready for the installation of Microsoft Lync Server 2013 on Windows Server 2012:

http://www.ehloworld.com/1697#comment-42601

The download link is here: http://www.ehloworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Set-CsLync2013Prerequisites.v1.0.zip

Syntax

Examples

This will launch the script with the default options for Enterprise edition servers

This will launch the script for Standard edition servers

This will launch the script using the e: drive for the source of the Windows Server 2012 installation files

Thanks to the author!

Ferrari Electronics Gateways is officially certified for Lync 2010/2013: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/lync/gg131938

Ferrari Electronics offer two interesting solution with Microsoft Lync:

- Video Door Phones solution:

OfficeMaster Entry Control permit:

              Video Door Phone configured in AD

             Each station is defined as a Lync Analog Device

             Separate video window appears parallel to call

Architecture:

Video here: https://skydrive.live.com/?cid=FB75B89C952F035B&id=FB75B89C952F035B!124#cid=FB75B89C952F035B&id=FB75B89C952F035B%21667

- Sip phone support:

SIP2Lync fully integrates any device into Lync like dect cordless phones, legacy phones via SIP ATA.

Architecture:

Video: https://skydrive.live.com/?cid=FB75B89C952F035B&id=FB75B89C952F035B!124#cid=FB75B89C952F035B&id=FB75B89C952F035B%21664

BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5.0 SP4 MR2 now supports configuring the BlackBerry Collaboration Service to properly communicate with a Microsoft Lync 2013 front end pool. This Maintenance Release Package is a slightly different type of release as compared to previous releases. This setup does alter the database.

In summary:

- The certificate requirements also have not changed from Microsoft Lync 2010 to Lync 2013

- No new Enterprise Instant Messenger client required.

- The hardware and software pre-requisites to support Microsoft Lync 2013 has not changed from the existing pre-requisites for supporting Microsoft Lync 2010 and Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 R2

More informations here: http://btsc.webapps.blackberry.com/btsc/viewdocument.do;jsessionid=A2EB94CCC14E67740F39FB0914C28D13?externalId=KB33629&sliceId=2&cmd=displayKC&docType=kc&noCount=true&ViewedDocsListHelper=com.kanisa.apps.common.BaseViewedDocsListHelperImpl

Lync 2013 session presented during Nordic Infrastructure Conference (NIC) in Oslo are online.

The sessions cover the following points:

- Lync Server 2013: Mobility, Clients and VDI by Martin Lidholm: http://vimeo.com/58109325

- Lync Server 2013: Architecture Overview by Martin Lidholm: http://vimeo.com/58110115

- Lync Server 2013: Best Practice Administration With System Center Operations Manager 2012 by Ståle Hansen: http://vimeo.com/58166528

- Lync Server 2013: Design for High Availability & Disaster Recovery by Justin Morris: http://vimeo.com/58110874

- Lync Server 2013: Migration Strategies & and Coexistence Strategies by Justin Morris: http://vimeo.com/58165673

- Lync Server 2013: Network Quality considerations in LAN, WAN and WLANS by Ståle Hansen:  http://vimeo.com/58166048

Some ppt are available here:

- Lync Server 2013: Network Quality considerations in LAN, WAN and WLANS: http://www.slideshare.net/stalehansen/nic-lync-networkv03-16368137

- Lync Server 2013: Best Practice Administration With System Center Operations Manager 2012: http://www.slideshare.net/stalehansen/nic-lync-bpactivemonitoringv03

Today Microsoft has released January 2010 Cumulative Updates for Lync 2010 products:

As unified communications consultant, one of the most important things to evaluate during a project is the network, offering real-time features with delay, jitter or packet loss directly impact user experience.

Microsoft released an interesting white paper about it's solution over Wireless environment, he is now available from the Microsoft Download Center.

Description:

Microsoft Lync 2013 communications software on multiple platforms and device types is now validated with voice and video (real-time media) workloads over wireless local area networks (Wi-Fi networks). The guidance and documentation provided here also applies to Lync 2010 deployments and earlier releases. However, full Wi-Fi support will be available only with a Lync 2013 client. Changes in the Lync media stack available with Lync 2013 will improve overall performance on high-loss, high-jitter wired or wireless networks. To optimize the wireless infrastructure, in particular for real-time media traffic, this guide provides details regarding Wi-Fi (WLAN) technology, configuration settings, and optimization. In addition, this guide provides deployment recommendations and evaluates typical enterprise, public hotspot, and home Wi-Fi deployments for real-time bidirectional media quality.

You can download it here: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=36494

The name of Lync 2010 Phone Edition is changed to Lync Phone Edition. The software works with both Lync 2010 and Lync 2013.

The update fixes this issues:

• 2703325 Updates are available that enable the "Music on Hold" feature on Lync Phone Edition telephones
• 2781616 Description of the cumulative updates for Lync Phone Edition that add support for additional languages
• 2781617 A common area phone that is running Lync Phone Edition does not try to sign in after the Front End server restarts
• 2802790 Graphic output is not displayed correctly on the screen of a Polycom telephone that is running Lync Phone Edition
• 2781618 A white screen or a white horizontal line appears on a Polycom telephone that is running Lync Phone Edition
• 2781620 White lines appear on the screen of a Polycom telephone that is running Lync Phone Edition

KB description: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2737911/en-us?fr=1

Lync phone edition firmware: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=203406

Un petit dépannage ce matin qui peut faire gagner un peu de temps dans certaines installations:

Impossible de partager des powerpoints avec Lync 2013. la résolution de cette erreur dans ce cas là est la non présence dans le SAN du certificat installé sur le serveur Office Web Apps 2013 de l'url interne.

Snon annonce un webinar pour le 23 janvier 2013: Deploying Microsoft Lync with snom's Expanded Lineup of Lync Qualified Phones Featuring the New snom 7xx Series UC Edition Phones

Le programme est le suivant:

• The new snom UC edition lineup – newly  Lync qualified snom 7xx series - snom 710, 720 and 760 IP phones – and the snom 300 and 370, and the snom 821, all of which employ snom’s new Apollo firmware and have successfully passed the Microsoft Compatible Devices Program’s rigorous testing process.
• The role of each snom UC endpoint in meeting customer needs and budgets
• The distinct features of the award-winning snom7xx series in both Lync and IP PBX environments
• Advanced capabilities of new snom UC edition Apollo firmware – Automatic Lync Server updates of snom phones, out of box, easy sign-in via extension and PIN authentication for standard phone applications
• How to customize snom phones to meet specific business needs and processes – Boss/Admin, custom presence buttons on phones, re-branding and more.

Pour y participer: http://www.snomchannel.com/education/webinars/webinar-under-the-hood-with-snom-uc-edition-phones-qualified-for-microsoft-lync/

Audiocodes annonce son programme "“AudioCodes One Voice for Microsoft Lync” sur leur site: http://www.audiocodes.com/press-releases/audiocodes-launches-audiocodes-one-voice-for-microsoft-lync?goback=.gde_4622415_member_204215061

On y découvre leur stratégie vis à vis de Microsoft Lync Serveur 2013 détaillant leur programme et service:

C'est officiel, le constructeur annonce pour février 2013 l'arrivée sur le marché des téléphones IP qualifiées pour Lync (donc pas un Lync Phone) des modèles 300HD et 400HD qui seront low cost.

La brochure est téléchargeable ici: http://www.audiocodes.com/filehandler.ashx?fileid=867287

Plus d'informations directement sur le site d'Audiocodes: http://www.audiocodes.com/microsoft

Actuellement, si votre contrôleur Cisco WLC est dans une version inférieur à 7.0.235.3, les utilisateurs ayant un os windows 8

c'est un probleme faisant l'objet d'un kb microsoft: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2749073 :

Les clients Windows 8 n'est peut-être pas en mesure de se connecter à des infrastructures sans fil existantes à l'aide de certains routeurs Cisco, contrairement aux ordinateurs Windows 7 et XP.

Cause

Windows 8 peut rencontrer un problème lorsque vous essayez de vous connecter au réseau sans fil de Cisco Unified. Si le client est à l'aide de gestion des clés WPA ou WPA2 avec chiffrement AES, la connexion peut échouer. Avec « débogage client » en vigueur sur le contrôleur de réseau local sans fil, un message semblable au suivant apparaît :

 *dot1xMsgTask: Jun 12 20:23:37.471: 00:11:22:33:44:55 Retransmit failure for
EAPOL-Key M1 to mobile 00:11:22:33:44:55, retransmit count 5, mscb deauth count 0

La résolution est simple, il suffit de mettre à jour le firmware du contrôleur WLC: https://supportforums.cisco.com/docs/DOC-27213

Windows 8 clients can't associate to Cisco Unified Wireless

The problem - Windows 8 clients can't associate to CUWN

Windows 8 wireless clients can encounter a problem when trying to associate to the Cisco Unified Wireless Network.  If the client is using WPA or WPA2 key management with AES encryption, then the pairwise key exchange may fail.  With "debug client" in effect on the Wireless LAN Controller, a message similar to the following is seen:

*dot1xMsgTask: Jun 12 20:23:37.471: 00:11:22:33:44:55 Retransmit failure for
EAPOL-Key M1 to mobile 00:11:22:33:44:55, retransmit count 5, mscb deauth count 0
 
This is the Cisco bug CSCua29504.  This problem is also documented as Microsoft Support Article ID 2749073.

The solution: upgrade WLC software

This bug is fixed in the following releases of WLC software, which are available to download from Cisco.com now:

7.3.101.0
7.2.111.3
7.0.235.3

Un peu plus d'information est disponible sur le futur des certifications Lync.

Il retrouve maintenant deux niveaux de certifications:

- Le niveau "Expert" avec le MCSE Communication, pour valider ce cursus, il faut réussir les certifications suivantes:

Autant prévenir que le temps pour l'obtenir est conséquent, autant de certifications que pour valider le CCNP Voice, du boulot en perspective.

- Le niveau "Master" avec le MCSM: Communication:

Pour valider ce cursus, on retrouve un examen écrit et un lab à l'image du CCIE, pour l'instant, il est encore tôt pour avoir des informations sur le contenu de ces deux examens, mais je devrais en savoir plus bientôt.

Source ici: http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/lync-server-certification.aspx

Des points importants à signaler dans la FAQ du processus de certification MCSE:

Q. What are the recertification requirements for the new MCSE certifications?
    
A. To ensure that our certifications remain meaningful and valuable indicators of candidates’ skills, MCSE certifications will require recertification every three years.

FAQ ici: http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/mcse-certification.aspx

Je vais essayer dorénavant de lister les webinars prévus pour Microsoft Lync 2013 ainsi que les technologies gravitant autour.

Sentri proposes un webinar le 17 janvier: Explore Microsoft Lync & Exchange 2013

Détail de l'évenement:

Topic: Be productive on the go, communicate real time, gain business insights, create content collaboratively and connect.

Technology: Lync 2013 & Exchange 2013

Grande nouvelle pour moi dans ce premier jour de l'an 2013, je fais maintenant partie de la grande famille des Microsoft Most Valuable Professional.

J'ai le grand honneur à partir d'aujourd'hui d'être MVP Lync pour le Canada.

Mon profil est accessible ici: https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/profile=BD29C080-FCE9-4A5E-BB53-128284028BC9

Merci à tous ceux qui, par leur recommandation, a permis cette nomination.

KB2703325 Updates are available that enable the "Music on Hold" feature on Lync Phone Edition
KB2781616 Description of the cumulative updates for Lync Phone Edition that add support for addtional languages: December 2012
KB2781617 A common area phone that is running Lync Phone Edition does not try to sign in after the Front End server restarts
KB2781618 A white screen or a white horizontal line appears on a Polycom telephone that is running Lync Phone Edition
KB2781620 White lines appear on the screen of a Polycom telephone that is running Lync Phone Edition

Description of the cumulative update for Lync Phone Edition for Aastra 6721ip and Aastra 6725ip: December 2012
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2737909/en-us

Description of the cumulative update for Lync Phone Edition for HP 4110 and HP 4120: December 2012
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2737910/en-us

Description of the cumulative update for Lync Phone Edition for Polycom CX500, Polycom CX600, and Polycom CX3000 telephones: December 2012
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2737911

Description of the cumulative update for Lync Phone Edition for Polycom CX700 and LG-Nortel IP Phone 8540 telephones: December 2012
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2737912

Il peut arriver (rarement) que lors de la supression d'un workflow dans les groupes de réponses, son object contact dans l'active directory n'est pas supprimé.

Donc il apparaît encore dans la liste de contact et monopolise un numéro.

Pour le supprimer, avec ADSI edit, dans le conteneur Configuration, aller dans le chemin suivant: CN=Services,CN=RTC Service, CN=Application Contacts, identifier le contact et le supprimer le.

La migration d'un environnement legacy vers Lync Serveur 2010 nécéssite déjà une reflexion et de l'anticipation, surtout quand cela concerne 3 800 comptes utilisateurs.

Si on rajoute le besoin de changer le domaine sip et donc l'uri sip de chaque utilisateur, cela devient un challenge.

Il y a entre autre, une petite astuce pour vider les contacts récents, la liste étant locale au poste de travail, si cela n'est pas anticipé, les utilisateurs veront les contacts en "présence inconnue".

Supprimer le répertoire ~~ dans HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/Microsoft/Communicator/<current user signinname>/GroupStateCacheU ne suffit, il faut prévoir dans le script de modification de l'uri sip utilisé localement sur le poste de travail de l'utilisateur la suppression entière du profil qui permet donc de vider les contacts récents lors de la reconnexion.