How to Update Lync 2013 Standard Backend Database ?

Microsoft Releases frequent Cumulative updates for Lync 2013 servers and Most of these updates requires updating the Lync 2013 SQL Backend database. In this article I will discuss how to update the SQL Express backend database after installing a new Lync 2013 Cumulative update or specific Rollup that requires DB version update.


First to check the status of the Database after installing the cumulative update and whether you need an update, you need to run the below two commands from elevated Lync Power Shell.

1. PS C:\> Test-CsDatabase -ConfiguredDatabases -SqlServerFqdn servername.domain.com | FT DatabaseName, ExpectedVersion, Installedversion        
2. PS C:\> Test-CsDatabase -CentralManagementDatabase | FT DatabaseName, ExpectedVersion, InstalledVersion

The Output will be something similar to that (This is the output of the second command on one of my deployments)

DatabaseName        ExpectedVersion      InstalledVersion

     ------------                   ---------------              ----------------

         xds                             10.13.2                    10.13.1
          lis                                 3.1.1                      3.1.1

 

As you can see there is a difference between the expected and installed value in the XDS database.

 

To update the Database we need to run the below commands in sequence:

 

1. Install-CsDatabase -ConfiguredDatabases -SqlServerFqdn FEBE.FQDN -Verbose
2. Install-CsDatabase -CentralManagementDatabase -SqlServerFqdn CMS.FQDN -SqlInstanceName DBInstanceName -Verbose

 

 

After that we need to enable CsMobility service and Run Bootstrapper as follows:

 

1. Enable-CsTopology
2. Bootstrapper.exe
3. Reboot the server.

 

This should take care of updating the backend DB and you can double check by running the previous Power Shell again and ensure both expected and installed versions are the same.

Reference Links:

Lync 2013 Cumulative Update List

http://blogs.technet.com/b/nexthop/archive/2013/03/26/lync-2013-cumulative-updates-list.aspx

Lync Server Resources

http://blogs.technet.com/b/nexthop/p/links.aspx


 

Read More

Running Lync 2013 client on DirectAccess Computer

I am a big fan of Microsoft DirectAccess technology, for those who are not aware of DirectAccess, Its Microsoft new Remote connectivity solution where users on the Internet get Intranet connectivity to their corporate network without installing any client or initiating any software like old traditional VPN.

Microsoft DirectAccess is purely based on IPV6 and Lync 2013 is fully supporting IPV6 and Lync 2013 clients using DirectAccess should work without any problem.

If any one encountered problems making Lync calls or connecting to Lync on a DirectAccess Computer then you need to ensure that IPV6 is enabled on the Lync 2013 Server as per the below image.

This can be achieved as follows:

1. Open the Lync 2013 Topology Builder from an old file or download the topology
2. Edit the properties of the Lync server and in the General Properties ensure that IPV6 is enabled.
3. These settings need to be published from the Action Menu - Topology - Publish

Now you can enjoy Lync 2013 over DirectAccess Connection.

Read More

Microsoft Lync 2010 client / XP machines connectivity with Lync 2013 Server

After a successful implementation of the Microsoft Lync 2013 we faced a problem with our legacy Windows XP machines that are still existing on the network and need to access the Lync 2013 server. This was not possible because Lync 2013 client is only supported on Windows 7 or Windows 8. The Lync Web client doesn't support all features especially the Audio/Video conference features on XP machines (Greyed out).

As a solution we tried using Lync 2010 full client on Windows XP machines. When we try to login from Lync 2010 Client in the Windows XP or even Windows 7 we received the below error.

“Microsoft Lync 2010 is not a version that can be used to sign in to the server”

 
In Order to allow backward compatibility for Lync 2010 clients on Lync 2013 server, you need to do the following:
 

1. Open Lync 2013 Control Panel
2. Click on Clients – Client Version Policy
3. Click the “Global Policy” – Edit – Show details
4. Double Click “UCCP”
5. At the bottom under Action: select “allow”  - Ok
6. Back to the Global Policy Settings Select OC Version 4.0.7.7577.4103 and allow it as previous policy (Default was block)

 The below screen shot is provided for more elaboration.

 

 



Hopefully this should be helpful for anyone facing the same problem.

Read More