Lync 2013 and IPv6

Microsoft Lync Server 2013 supports the use of IPv6 addressing. To use IPv6 addresses, you must also provide support for IPv6 DNS and configure DNS host AAAA (known as “quad-A”) records. In deployments where both IPv4 and IPv6 are being used, it is best to configure and maintain both host A records for IPv4 and host AAAA for IPv6. Even if your deployment has transitioned fully to IPv6, IPv4 DNS host records may still be required when external users are still using IPv4.

Lync Social App

Here is the link to a free app that allows users to update there Lync, Twitter and LinkedIn statuses simultaneously. Its called LyncSocial and can be downloaded from here:

http://www.lync-social.com

The setup consist of:

1. Run the installer
2. Select what Social Networks you want to update from your activity feed from within Lync
3. Lauch the LyncSocial app
4. Select Twitter, LinkedIn or both checkboxes
5. Post in your activity feed window in Lync and have the application verify with Twitter (this is automatic).
6. Once you post the Verifier Code in the LyncSocial application your set.

Lync and Yahoo Federation will be discontinued soon

Lync and Yahoo Federation will be discontinued soon.

http://blogs.technet.com/b/lync/archive/2012/11/26/lync-and-yahoo-federation-end-of-life.aspx

New Microsoft Remote Connectivity Analyzer Tool

The online tool now includes Exchange, Office 365 and client test tools. The Office 365 Lync DNS Test checks the external domain name settings for your custom domain user in Office365.

http://testconnectivity.microsoft.com.

Microsoft Lync Server 2013 Debugging Tools

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=35453

Device Selection Tool for Microsoft Lync 2010

Tool that helps Lync users find the best device based on their mobility and communication behaviours, and help IT decision makers rolling out Lync to select appropriate UC devices for their users.

Link to Download

Microsoft Unified Communications Managed API 3.0 Software Development Kit

Unified Communications Managed API (UCMA) 3.0 is a managed-code platform that developers use to build applications that provide access to and control over Microsoft Enhanced Presence information, instant messaging, telephone and video calls, and audio/video conferencing.

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=10566

Cisco UC Solution versus Microsoft Lync - Game Changer

There are over 13,000 companies offering  Federation. Now add in Federation between Lync 2013 and the 1.2 billion Skype accounts out there as of December of 2012!

http://windowspbx.blogspot.ca/2011/09/usa-microsoft-lync-federation-directory_02.html?m=1

Why pick Lync 2010/2013 over a Cisco UC Solution?

Lync is much simpler to deploy and costs significantly less. A full blown Cisco UC solution requires CUCM, CUPs, WebEX, UNITY, and MeetingPlace. Microsoft Lync can deliver those same services out of a single Standard Edition server. So how do you integrate Lync in the mix since some companies have already made huge investments with Cisco products? Well, Im glad you asked; Integration is pretty straight forward, typically consists of a Direct SIP Trunk between Lync Mediation Server and the CUCM server. For companies that have made such investments in Cisco, they are starting to see the potential of having Lync Server within their organization and so are integrating Lync Server 2010/2013 within their current Cisco Infrastructure. This allows them to move forward but in steps with the plan to eventually remove the Cisco Infrastructure at a later date.

Lync Meeting Content Retention Period

When users upload documents to their meetings that are hosted by Lync, the files are uploaded to the Lync File store. One question that seems to come up a lot when designing Lync solutions is “how long is meeting content stored for?”
The files remain on the file store until they are deleted by the meeting organizer or they are removed by Lync at the default time period of 15 days (after the meeting). The default time period is configurable and can be set to any value between 30 minutes (00:30:00) and 180 days (180.00:00:00).

To view the current setting, open the Lync Management Shell and view the ContentGracePeriod attribute using this command: Get-CsConferencingConfiguration

To change the value, use this command: Set-CsConferencingConfiguration -ContentGracePeriod <value>

Lync Tabbed Conversations

 

Not using Lync Tabbed Conversations, you’re missing out on a great application. Tab Conversations has been out for a while but I still notice that client accounts are unaware that this app exists. Tabbed Conversations for Microsoft Lync 2010 provides a tabbed conversation window to allow multiple Lync 2010 instant messaging (IM) conversations in a single window. Before you can run Tabbed Conversations, you need to install it on your computer.

Note:  Tabbed Conversations is a separate program, not a Lync add-in, so it must be started before you can use it with Lync. Also, if Lync is restarted, Tabbed Conversations must also be restarted.

UCSniff Assessment Test tool

UCSniff is a VoIP/UC Sniffer, Assessment Test tool with some useful new features, such as IP Video Sniffing. UCSniff is a Proof of Concept tool to demonstrate the risk of unauthorized recording of VoIP and Video. It can help you understand who can eavesdrop, and from what parts of your network.

http://sourceforge.net/projects/ucsniff/files/

Lync 2010 Error returned installing OcsCore.msi(Feature_LocalMgmtStore), code 1603

This error may be seen when installing or updating a Lync Server System in step 1: Install Local Configuration Store

Workaround:

1.          Stop any Antivirus running on the server

2.          Rerun Setup

What’s New in Lync 2013

http://blogs.technet.com/b/lync/archive/2012/08/03/what-s-new-in-lync-2013.aspx