Planning Multi-Forest Environments for Hybrid Skype for Business deployments
Understanding how to establish a hybrid connection between Skype for Business on premises and online can be challenging when customers use multiple forests. The Skype for Business product group has worked hard the last couple of months to unblock additional scenarios and make the existing documentation clearer. The authoritative documentation can be found here but we wanted to include a quick summary in this blog article: For either a single user forest or multiple user forest deployment, there must be a single deployment of Skype for Business Server. Lync Server 2010, Lync Server 2013 and Skype for Business Server 2015 are supported in this topology (please note that availability of features depends on server version you are using). Exchange can be deployed on premises only, in hybrid or online only. Exchange Server can be deployed in one or more forests, which may or may not include the forest containing Skype for Business Server. For details on support for and limitations with co-existence between Exchange and Skype for Business in various combinations of on-premises and online, see Feature Support in Plan to integrate Skype for Business and Exchange. Exchange Server 2013 and Exchange Server 2016 are supported in this topology. Cloud PBX is supported in complex forest scenarios (as long as all Cloud PBX requirements are met: https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/mt455212.aspx). We used to state that “central forests” were not supported. Since the definition of central forest was quite ambiguous, we replaced it with the following wording and hope to unlock additional scenarios: When Skype for Business Server is deployed in one forest (a resource forest) but provides functionality to users in one or more other forests (account forests), users in other forests must be represented as disabled user objects in the forest where Skype for Business Server is deployed. An identity management product, such as Microsoft Identity Manager, needs to be deployed and configured to provision and synchronize the users from the account forests into the forest where Skype for Business Server is deployed. Users must be synchronized into the forest hosting Skype for Business server as disabled user objects. They cannot be synchronized as Active Directory contact objects, because Azure Active Directory Connect will not properly sync contacts into Azure AD for use with Skype. Regardless of any multi-forest configuration, the forest hosting Skype for Business server can also provide functionality for any enabled users that exist in the same forest. Call to action Get familiar with the updated TechNet documentation If you are in complex forest scenario and were blocked from Skype for Business Hybrid, reevaluate your situation based on the updated documentation Any questions or feedback? Discuss with us in our Community.Skype for Business on Mac Insider: File Transfer
Update: File Transfer for users homed on Office 365 has been released. For more details see this article: Skype for Business on Mac April update is here - and File Sharing during chat for Office 365 users! File transfer is coming to Skype for Business on Mac! While the general availability is still a few weeks out, you can access it now via the Office Insider program for Mac. Note: Initially this will be available only for users homed in Skype for Business Online. What is Office Insider The Office Insider program for Mac allows users to install early builds of upcoming Office and Skype for Business on Mac releases to test new features before other they will be released publicly. For more details see this blog article: How to access early Skype for Business on Mac versions. File Transfer File Transfer between two users – without having to join a meeting – has now been added to the latest Insider versions (both fast and slow). You will now be able to send files from one client to another. This has been one of the most requested features and we are happy to add it to the feature set of Skype for Business for Mac. We are continuing to add additional features to the client so please ensure to stay tuned for more! Note: Currently you will be able to send only one File in any conversation. We are working to get this resolved. Call to Action Read How to access early Skype for Business on Mac versions Deploy Office Insider on some test machines Share Files between the test machines and enjoy this new functionality If you have any comments or questions, feel free to post in our Community
SOF: Provision Skype Room Systems Accounts at Scale
With the launch of Skype Room Systems v2, we recently updated the Skype Operations Framework (SOF) with a new set of changes to provide guidance on Plan, Deliver and Operate this new rich collaboration solution. One of the most valuable assets of this release is about scripted provisioning of the user accounts for the Skype Room Systems v2 devices: https://www.skypeoperationsframework.com/Downloads?SelectedIDs=5_2_0_5 Skype Room System v2 devices are designed in a way that each device requires a unique user account. Each room account should be enabled for a Skype for Business meeting room, and associated Exchange room mailbox should be created and configured for each account for these fancy devices to function properly and deliver the best meeting experience. Depending on the number of meeting rooms and devices, as well as the range of deployment options available with Active Directory, Exchange, and Skype for Business services, the account provisioning process may be complex and time consuming. In addition to the existing script that we released to provision device accounts easily for Skype Room Systems solution, we are proud to announce an easier way of doing the same at scale, in an error-free fashion. This new script, provided as part of the Skype Operations Framework brings many enhancements like: Quickly enable 1s, 10s, 100s, or 1000s of meeting rooms Error free & consistent account enablement and configuration Online, On-Premises and Hybrid support New account creation or support for converting existing accounts License assignment for Online and Hybrid deployments Configure voice features Detailed reporting of the enablement and configuration activities The Skype Room Systems Provisioning script will: Create new user accounts or re-use existing on Active Directory Assign Office 365 licenses for Online and Hybrid deployments Create Exchange room mailbox Configure Exchange calendar processing for automatically accepting meeting requests Configure Exchange Mail Tips so that users can be informed proactively about the new experience when scheduling meetings Configure Skype Meeting Room All you have to do is to create an input file with the account details, and let the script configure all the accounts for you. We strongly recommend you download the Skype Room Systems Account Provisioning asset and start enabling your rooms. Resources To learn more about the Skype Room Systems, please check the provided resources below. Skype Room Systems Account Provisioning Training: http://aka.ms/sof-srsv2-script Skype Room Systems v2 Technical Training: http://aka.ms/sa-srsv2 SOF Meeting Room Solutions Training: http://aka.ms/sof-srsv2 Device Rationalization Workshop: https://www.skypeoperationsframework.com/Downloads?SelectedIDs=4_4_0_13 Skype Room Systems Accounts Provisioning Scripts and Input Files (zip): https://www.skypeoperationsframework.com/Downloads?SelectedIDs=5_2_0_5 If you have any comments, questions or feedback, please let us know via the SOF Community and our feedback site.Meeting Invite Updates (Windows client) - Formatting Dial-In String & Link to Join
Based on feedback we’ve heard from our customers, we’ve made a few updates to the Meeting Invites that are generated by the Skype for Business desktop client. In this blog post, we’ll focus on two new additions – the formatting of the dial-in string, and a link to join using the web app. Let’s take a look!Call Queues and Auto Attendant trainings updated for General Availability
Note: Please note that Call Queues and Auto Attendant got another update. For the latest information see http://aka.ms/sa-ccq-blog As we announced yesterday via our Office Blog article Skype for Business drives digital transformation Call Queues and Auto Attendant have left the preview phase and are now available to all Skype for Business Online customers. We updated our trainings for both features and Korneel Bullens, Senior Customer Engineering Architect on the Microsoft Customer Experience and Deployment team, will walk you through planning, deploying and managing these new capabilities. Resources: Call queues training Auto Attendant training Pptx decks: Attached to this blog (removed outdated content) Looking for more technical training? Please visit Skype AcademyTenant Dial Plans General Availability training
We updated our training for Tenant Dial Plans to reflect that Tenant Dial Plan has graduated from Preview state and is now available for all Skype for Business Online customers. Since the feature has not changed, the training stayed mostly the same – the only change we made (apart from removing references to Preview) is to highlight that External Access Prefix (EAP) is currently not supported. In the recorded webcast, Scott Stubberfield walks you through Tenant Dial Plans: why do you need them, how do you plan and deliver them and how to operate them. The key learnings are: Skype for Business Online now supports tenant based dial plans This allows to create custom normalization rules Tenant Dial Plans are applicable to a specific user or to the entire tenant Resources Tenant Dial Plan training: http://aka.ms/sa-tdp SOF training on Tenant Dial Plans: http://aka.ms/sof-training-5d Pptx decks: Attached to this blog Looking for more technical training? Please visit Skype AcademyAuto Attendant and Call Queues Interactive Guide
We are happy to announce that we have released our Configuring Auto Attendant and Call Queues Interactive Guide. The interactive guide allows to walk through a simulation to experience the setup of Auto Attendant and Call Queues. Walking through the scenarios should take about 15 minutes. Want to learn more? Watch our technical trainings on Skype Academy: Auto Attendants and Skype Academy: Call Queues Read what how the Skype Operations Framework can help you to plan deliver and deploy Auto Attendant and Call Queues: SOF: Auto Attendant and Call Queues Discuss with us in the communitySkype for Business Server requirements for Cloud PBX with on-premises PSTN connectivity
Cloud PBX with on-premises PSTN connectivity allows companies to leverage their existing Skype for Business Server infrastructure to home users in Skype for Business Online while using their local PSTN breakout. Recently we received several questions around the requirements for Skype for Business Server versions. While this is documented on TechNet in Prerequisites for using Cloud PBX with on-premises PSTN connectivity, we want to use this article to highlight the requirements regarding server versions. Other requirements are not discussed in this blog article but can be found in the same TechNet article. Please note that this blog article is specific to leverage Cloud PBX with on-premises PSTN connectivity. If you want to enable “just” hybrid without Cloud PBX, the requirements are not as strict. See TechNet Plan hybrid connectivity between Skype for Business Server and Skype for Business Online for more details. The Federation Edge Server pool is the Edge Server pool that is used for your Federation signaling traffic. Even if you don’t have a Federations with other companies, this Edge Server pool is used for the signaling between your on-premises environment and Skype for Business Online. This Edge Server pool must run Skype for Business Server 2015. Skype for Business Server 2015 must run at least the March 2016 update – of course we always recommend to deploy the latest updates. Other Edge Server pools in your environment can run either Lync Server 2013 or Skype for Business Server 2015. The next hop Front End pool of you Federation Edge pool must run Skype for Business Server 2015. Other Front End pools in your environment can run Lync Server 2013 or Skype for Business 2015. You cannot have any Lync Server 2010 or older in your environment. So, what should I do if I have… Lync Server 2010: upgrade your complete environment to Skype for Business Server 2015. Lync Server 2013: upgrade your Federation Edge pool and the next hop Front End pool to Skype for Business Server 2015. Skype for Business 2015: nothing, you are ready to go (if you have the minimum required hotfix – see above). 😊 Call to action Check if your environment meets the requirements for Cloud PBX with on-premises PSTN connectivity. If you must upgrade (parts of) your environment, watch the following readiness session: Upgrading Server. If you have not established hybrid yet, watch the following readiness session: Hybrid Configuration. To learn more about Cloud PBX in general and Cloud PBX with PSTN connectivity, watch the following two sessions: Cloud PBX introduction and Cloud PBX with on premises PSTN connectivity. If you have any questions or comments, please discuss with us in our community!Update: Polycom RealConnect for Office 365 training
We are pleased to let you know that the training for RealConnect for Office 365 training has been updated due to general availability of the service. In the webinar Adam Jacobs, Principal Architect at Polycom, and Korneel Bullens, Senior Customer Engineering Architect on the Microsoft Customer Experience and Deployment team, partner up to discuss how to plan, deploy and run video interop leveraging the Polycom RealConnect service. The key takeaways of the training are: Cloud Video Interop provides interop between video teleconferencing devices (VTC’s) and Skype for Business Online Polycom RealConnect for Office 365 is the first provider of cloud video interop The overall experience for both VTC as well as Skype for Business users will remain the same Polycom also offers a free trial: You can send an email to TeamMicrosoft@polycom.com to request a 30-day free trial with 5 licenses (currently North America only). Resources: Training recording http://aka.ms/sa-cvi Pptx decks: Attached to this blog Contact Polycom for a trial: TeamMicrosoft@polycom.com Visit the Polycom website for service information, marketing collateral and a webinar series Looking for more technical trainings? Please visit Skype AcademyPrepare for Cloud Connector Edition Release 1.4.2
Cloud Connector Edition Release is coming soon and your Cloud Connector Edition (CCE) 1.4.1 will update automatically – if you have configured everything correctly. To get ready for this release, please refer to the following articles on the Skype for Business Hybrid Voice Team blog by our colleagues Nikolay Muravlyannikov and Carolyn Blanding (MS TEAMS): Prepare for Cloud Connector Edition Release 1.4.2 Understanding Cloud Connector Edition Auto Update Understanding Cloud Connector Edition Auto Recovery Also, if you want to learn more about CCE 1.4.1, here are our Skype Academy trainings by BryanNyce Cloud Connector Edition Deep Dive What’s new in Cloud Connector Edition 1.4.1
