Archiving Server provides a repository for information exchanged via Lync Server. Why? Two reasons:

1. It gives you a log of Lync activity everyone can draw upon. How many times have you tried to remember what Jane said about the Michaels project? Thanks to Archiving Server, you have a saved copy of that IM conversation.
2. It helps you fulfill legal compliance requirements. Many organizations must keep track of project steps, client files, and so on to meet compliance regulations. Since Archiving Server tracks automatically, its archive database acts as a regulatory resource.

What DOES it track though? It’s important to know what is and is not archived by Archiving Server. Otherwise, you might assume it just grabs everything. It doesn’t.

What Lync Archives on the Archiving Server

• Instant messaging conversations (both person-to-person, and between multiple parties)
• Content uploaded in Web conferences
• Conference events (joins, parts, etc.)

What Lync DOES NOT Archive on Archiving Server

• File transfers
• Conferencing annotations and polls
• Audio & video for person-to-person IM and conferences
• Application sharing for IM and conferences
• Diagnostic reports for session failures (those come from Monitoring Server)

Caution – There’s a Time Limit on Archived Materials

It’s important to note: Archiving is NOT intended to work indefinitely! As you can imagine from the above lists, storing uploaded files and daily IM logs will fill up space fast.

The server will keep archives until one of two things happens:

1. You tell it to purge old archived files.
2. Its storage fills up.

Obviously, you don’t want to reach #2.

In the Lync Server 2010 Control Panel, there’s a setting that dictates when to purge old archive files. You can control the time interval for this under Archiving Configuration. How long you keep archived files depends on your legal compliance requirements. 1 year, 2? Talk to Legal.

Then head to this page for a how-to: Enable or Disable Purging for Archiving – TechNet.

Want to add Archiving Server to your Lync setup? Use this deployment guide to help you.

If you’re having trouble with Archiving Server (e.g. conversations aren’t showing up in Conversation History), use NextHop’s “Troubleshooting Archiving Server” post as a guide.

Do you use an Archiving Server? What’s the big value from it, for you?

There’s so much information in the new Lync 2010 Training Package that I had to dedicate another post to it.

As promised, a second comparison of its training lists. As this package is geared toward training users on the Lync 2010 client, we’re talking about the Help Desk list today.

Training List 2: Help Desk

Last post I pointed out that each of the training packages is based off a “standard set” of materials. FAQs, Quick Reference cards, introductory How-To videos, and Self-Paced Training.

With Help Desk, we see how Microsoft adapts the training package for different roles. Specifically, 2 more resources included above this standard (1 new, 1 at higher priority).

A. The addition of “Help Desk Troubleshooting,” a 110-page reference document for common Lync client problems.You’ll find guidelines for everything from “(Sharing) Participants See a Black Window” to “Agent Unable to See Some Response Groups.”

The Troubleshooting document alone makes this worthwhile. It’s a great keep-on-hand reference. Our Support department has already used it to help a client. (I may pull some how-to’s for future posts in fact.)

B. The Instructor-Led Training mentions go from “Optional” to “Strongly Recommended.” Often the only difference between training lists is what priority each material element is assigned. However, because the Help Desk will field most of the (initial) support calls, it’s important they be fully informed on Lync’s capabilities.

If you want to see what’s available for Instructor-Led Training, look here. There are four courses (registration required, but free):

1. Introducing Microsoft Lync
2. Best Practices for Microsoft Lync Conferencing
3. Facilitating a Successful UC Rollout
4. Effective Conferencing with Microsoft Lync: Transitioning from Office Live Meeting

How to Start Lync Training with the Instructor-Led Courses

These 4 are the only courses for the whole Lync Training Package (at least for now). You’ll find them, at different priority levels, in almost every training list.

I don’t think all of these benefit the Help Desk most, though. Pick and choose which are the most relevant to the role you’re training for.

Here’s what I would suggest: Use the Instructor-Led training in the following order (by role).

• Executives and Information Workers sign up for 1 & 2 in succession
• Information Workers sign up for 3 & 4 afterward
• Early Adopters sign up for all 4
• Help Desk signs up for 1, 2 & 4
• New Hires and Admin-Receptionists sign up for 1

This way everyone receives at least an overview. From there, more technical roles take on more technical training. All without disrupting everyday workflow.

Next week – we’re talking about Archiving Server. The recent post on Monitoring Server got a lot of attention, so I’m tackling its cousin. Watch for it!

While on Twitter yesterday, I saw a new Lync download making the rounds:

Microsoft Lync 2010 Training Download Package

From the overview:

“The Lync Training Download Package contains all of the available training and user education resources for Lync.”

All of these resources are sorted for you in an Excel workbook, & divided up by office role.  Information Worker, Early Adopters, New Hires, Admin-Receptionists, Executives, Help Desk and Lync Online.

Each list is broken up by a category, defined by Lync Server Role or communication method.  They are:

• IM and Presence
• Collaboration and Conferencing
• Voice and Video
• Devices
• Group Chat
• Attendee
• Lync Web App
• Lync for Mobile Clients
• Lync for Mac

The training material for each category is ranked, from “Optional” to “Strongly Recommended.”  Some of the material comes in the training package download.  The rest is available on Microsoft’s support websites.

Organizes Current Lync Training Material For You

Why use this new training package?  It makes Microsoft’s Lync education resources neat & easy to find.

Everything (to date!) is included:

–WorkSmart Guides
–Quick Reference Cards
–FAQs
–Training Videos
–Instructor-Led Training (registration needed)

However, it’s important to know:  This is NOT recommended as a resource for Lync certification.  There’s almost no server-side material.   The package is clearly intended to help you train to support Lync’s client-facing functions.

Training List 1:  New Hires

The “New Hires” category is a good starting point.  It lists out what I’ll call the “standard set” of training materials.  FAQs, Quick Reference Cards, introductory How-To  Videos, and Self-Paced Training.

You’ll find these in every other category, with additional resources and/or different recommendation levels depending on the role.  Pay attention to Recommendation levels…they’ll give you a path to follow.  Start with “Strongly Recommended” and work down from there.

For instance, under Collaboration & Conferencing for New Hires, a Quick Reference Card and Self-Paced Training are “Strongly Recommended.”  A How-To Video is “Recommended.”  And Instructor-Led Training is “Optional.”

Catch-All for Microsoft Lync Education

How effective will this training package be?  That depends on how you decide to use it.  The download includes a lot of information, some of it new.  (I’m putting the “Help Desk Troubleshooting” doc on our SharePoint right after this post.)

Microsoft has written the workbook as a catch-all and a starting point.  So you can build training into your office’s activities by grabbing certain elements and putting them in front of the people who need them most.

Next week I’ll go into more detail with comparisons between categories.  Until then – planning to use this download?  How?

Have you tried out Mobile Lync yet?

Microsoft has released brand new clients for every major mobile platform – iPhone, Android, Windows Phone, even the iPad. Twitter’s abuzz over the new clients.

All of the clients will work with both on-premises Lync Server or Office 365′s Lync Online. (However, some features are not available to Lync Online users.)

Let’s go through what’s available, shall we?

Lync for iPhone

Download Lync for iPhone at the iTunes App Store.
What it does: Presence, IM, Email Contacts, Enterprise Voice Calls, Voicemail, Dial-Out Conferencing, Call Forwarding.
The iPhone client is surprisingly comprehensive. It even has capabilities (Enterprise Voice Calls) the Android client doesn’t right now. Microsoft really pushed to make the iOS client as complete a duplicate of Lync 2010 (desktop) as possible.

Lync for iPad

Download Lync for iPad at the iTunes App Store.
What it does: Presence, IM, Email Contacts, Enterprise Voice Calls, Voicemail, Dial-Out Conferencing, Call Forwarding.
Virtually identical to the iPhone client (adjusted for iPad screens of course). However, the reviews for this version gave it a slightly lower rating the iPhone client. One reviewer noted that push notifications didn’t work for her.

Lync for Android

Download Lync for Android at the Android Market.
What it does: Presence, IM, Email Contacts, Voicemail, Dial-Out Conferencing, Call Forwarding.
The Android client is a fairly basic mobile app. Some features are not supported yet (VoIP, video). Right now it appears to function best as a connector between the phone’s capabilities and Lync Server.

Also, note: Lync for Android runs in the background, all the time. Push notifications aren’t necessary. Something to keep in mind for Android users!

Lync for Windows Phone 7

Download Lync for Windows Phone from the Windows Phone Marketplace.
What it does: Presence, IM, Enterprise Voice Calls, Conferencing, Call Forwarding.
Of all the clients, this one looks the sharpest to me. Look at this screenshot. Slick, isn’t it? Almost a step up from the Lync 2010 interface.

Appearances aside, the Windows Phone client packs in every feature the iOS clients have. Several more than Android, like taking delegate calls & using Call via Work.

However, one thing is missing: access to Lync voicemail. I’m honestly not sure why Microsoft didn’t include this. The system has the same base from server (Lync Server) to hardware platform (Windows Phone). What prevented voicemail?

What’s Missing in Mobile Lync (For Now)

Please note: According to the Microsoft Lync Mobile Client Comparison Tables, NONE of the mobile clients can do the following.

• Automatically log IM conversations in Exchange
• Manage delegates
• View video in meetings
• Conduct two- or more-party calls with external users
• Share desktop or use presentation tools

Looks like we’ll have to wait until V2 for these features.

What’s your experience with a Lync mobile client? Is there something you’d want to see added?

We’re back, with another hardware review! Up for today is our newest acquisition (and already our favorite conferencing tool): the Jabra SPEAK 410-USB speakerphone.

The Duo variant of the BIZ 620 USB. Image courtesy of Jabra.com.

Didn’t we already review this headset? Well, yes and no.

I titled this a “mini-review” because I did post a review on the Jabra BIZ 620 USB headset last month.

But one thing’s different today. Last month’s review was done on the Mono (single earpiece) model.

The Jabra BIZ 620 Duo has two earpieces.

Like its Mono brother, it has an adjustable microphone arm on one earpiece. The mic swivels to either side, so you can use it on the left or right ear (I prefer the right).

In fact switching the headset around is easier to do with the Duo model, since both ears are covered anyway.

Headset controls are located in the same call control knob as the Mono model. Located on the headset’s cord, it has four buttons for adjusting volume up/down, answering a call, and ending a call.

Advantages of the Jabra 620 Duo: Better Focus on Conversations, Music Playback

As someone who’s always used one ear with their phone, the Jabra 620 Duo takes a little bit of adjustment. The good kind – with two earpieces, it’s easier to tune out background noises when you have a call.

Test calls revealed the same audio quality, in and out, as the 620 Mono. That and the dual earpieces make Lync calls easy to make, pay full attention to, and end with a button-push.

Oh, and the 620 Duo will play music through its earpieces ( the Mono wouldn’t).

Comfort Warning: Don’t Fiddle With It Too Much

The only disadvantage I note is the weight of the control knob. It can pull down on the headset if you move it too much. With the Mono headset this isn’t too big a deal.

But with the Duo headset, you’re aware of the other ear piece slipping off your ear when it pulls down. More to adjust. So you notice it more quickly.

Still, pretty small price to pay for an immersive VoIP headset with good sound quality and an adjustable mic!

What headset do you use with Lync?

Something a little different this week – two mini-posts!

One today on a Lync Server update. One tomorrow on the Jabra BIZ 620 Duo USB headset.

Mobile Clients are Coming Soon: Prepare Lync Server

Yesterday I tweeted a link to a recent Microsoft announcement: Lync clients coming soon for Windows Phone 7, the iOS platform, and Android (via Engadget).

Last week, Microsoft also released a new Cumulative Update for Lync Server 2010 – one intended to prepare Lync for use of these new mobile clients.

The update, Cumulative Update 4, consists of multiple server-side (and client-side) updates, as well as six new Cmdlets. The cmdlets are what mark this as a mobility update. Tom Arbuthnot has written thorough descriptions of the cmdlets over at the Lync’d Up blog. I’ll just give overviews on what they do here (go read his post for full information – it’s worth it!).

1. CsAutodiscoverConfiguration: Lets you change Autodiscover settings. Autodiscover helps client apps (like a mobile Lync client) find certain resources, like a user pool.
2. New-CsWebLink: Creates a Web link to Autodiscover. Handy for updating configuration with new clients.
3. Test-CsMcxPushNotification: Verifies that Push Notification’s working, so you’re able to send notifications out to mobile devices.
4. CsMobilityPolicy: Lets you control Mobility Policies. In Lync, these policies govern who can use a mobile client, as well as if you can use Call via Work (using work numbers instead of mobile numbers for calls).
5. CsMcxConfiguration: Configures Lync Server Mobility Service settings. Enabling mobile devices to use many of Lync’s services – Presence information, voicemails, conferencing, etc.
6. CsPushNotificationConfiguration: This cmdlet lets you configure Push Notification.

Lync Server Updates for Core Components, Administration and Clients: Install Them All

The Cumulative Update 4 files are available for download at Microsoft Downloads. The easiest installation method would be to use the Cumulative Update Installer (LyncServerUpdateInstaller.exe).

If that doesn’t work for you, look under “Installation Methods” on this Microsoft Support page for a manual install option.

And as Justin Morris wisely reminds us – don’t forget to backup your Lync Server setup first!

Check back tomorrow for our second Lync headset review!

On Sunday, I received an email from a UK consulting firm. The individual (I’ll call him Mr. B) wanted to know about monitoring Lync Server.

Now, his question was more about identifying the signs of a well-functioning Lync setup. But it touched off a related question in my mind – how much monitoring does Lync Server do for itself?

Turns out, quite a lot. Lync’s Monitoring Server role keeps tabs on just about every communication in & out. It’s not a required server role for Lync to run, but it’s recommended.

Why? Simple reason – Monitoring Server reports help you figure out what’s working (and what’s not).

Reports are broken down into four categories: System Usage Reports, Call Diagnostic Reports, Call Diagnostic Reports (per user), and Media Quality Diagnostic Reports. Makes it easier to identify a specific problem, if you know what type of problem you’re looking at.

What Monitoring Server DOES Provide

Overall, reports cover pretty much everything you’d want to know about how good a job your Lync Server’s doing. For example, you can find all of this in Monitoring Server reports:

1. Information about the communication sessions in your organization. That covers VoIP phone calls, IM sessions and conferences.
2. Endpoint information about each session. IP addresses, connection speeds, which Edge Servers were used, etc.
3. Quality measurements for the different types of communications you use (SIP calls, video conferencing, etc.).
4. Activity lists for each user in the organization, by date and/or session type.
5. Reports on Call Admission Control-restricted sessions.
6. Summary of (and details on) calls made to Response Group workflows.
7. Diagnostic reports and troubleshooting information for session failures (including SIP response codes and diagnostic headers).
8. Server Performance reports:  Shows you which servers have had the most problems, using metrics like packet loss, signal degradation, noise, etc.

And a few more.

Many of the Monitoring Server reports are broken up by type, or medium. For example, one report will tell you about IM sessions, broken down by pool. Another will tell you about VoIP calls in the same pool. A third could provide a summary of all communications in that pool.

What Monitoring Server DOES NOT Provide

• The content of a phone call, IM session or conference. That’s the job of Archiving Server.
• Monitoring for the Windows Servers Lync is installed on. It doesn’t cover Windows processes. Use a standard server monitoring tool for that.
• Non-Lync Server application logging. Use a third-party tracking tool to track activity on these.

Microsoft has a Work Smart guide for Monitoring Server here: Lync Server 2010 Monitoring Server Reports Work Smart Guide – Microsoft Download Center
Plenty of information on each report, what it records, and how to make use of the data.

Have you referred to a Monitoring Server report lately? What did you find out?

First off, I want to say thank you to all the new signups, and the people who’ve emailed me with questions! We’ve had a lot of conversations lately. It’s great! Lync Server adoption is growing like crazy (not just on the blog too – we’re getting more & more consulting projects on it).

Today’s post centers on the Skype purchase. Yes, once again. Someone asked about it, honest!

Thing is, they asked me a very poignant question:
“What else do you think is in the cards for Skype at Microsoft? I’m thinking about Windows 8, mostly.”

GOOD question. And from just a little research, I determined that we’re not the only ones who’ve weighed in on it lately.

Skype’s Future at Microsoft: Ars Technica Speculates

Big-name tech news site Ars Technica posted on this the other day. Jon Brodkin speculated on “integration everywhere,” putting everything from Windows Phone to Xbox Live to Windows 8 on Skype’s potential-destination radar.

Jon has some very good points about how easily Skype could be integrated into the Microsoft software base. I think building it into Xbox Live and Windows desktop make a lot of sense. With that in mind, I’ll say this:
Adding Skype as a default option to Windows 8 is the smart play.

Picture this. You install Windows 8 around this time next year, on a dozen tablets for employees. Lync Server is already running on your back-end. The Skype client included in your Windows 8 detects each employee’s Lync credentials, auto-configures…and poof, your employees are able to call anyone.

I mean *anyone.* In the office or around the world. The VoIP in Skype and the Unified Communications in Lync, working together.

Pick up a Windows Phone and you’d have the same connectivity there. Same interface too. Sounds like a good future for Skype, doesn’t it?

Will Skype Grow, Shrink, or Vanish? Web Users Weigh In

That wasn’t the only speculation I came across though. Many Web users have their own questions. And their own concerns.

I’ve copied out a few of them below. And added my own thoughts. Some useful food for thought, for those of us involved in office communications.

“Do we have to use an integrated client?”
I suspect there will be several client options. A “basic” Skype client, Lync 2010 with Skype baked in, a Windows Phone app, etc.

“Skype on Windows Phone 7?”
As one commenter said on the Ars Technica piece, “Microsoft could easily roll its own telephony package.”  With the Skype technology and a Lync backend, they could indeed. That’s a bit more ambitious than I was thinking. It would be a very good pull for Windows Phone though!

“Skype allowed multiple logins before. Will we lose that?”
More than one person was interested in multiple logins. Since a seamless integration – not just with Lync, but also with Windows Phone and Xbox – makes sense, multiple logins is still a safe bet.

“Will Skype disappear into Lync and Windows Live Messenger?”
Unlikely. The Skype contact interface is too well-known to just throw it out. It’s more likely that Windows Live Messenger will take on most of Skype’s interface.
Lync less so, since it has its own interface. That will be more of an in-process integration; certain steps to use Lync may come to resemble Skype.

“Skype’s painfully inefficient. Anything Microsoft does will be an improvement.”
While that seems a little excessive, a lot of user complaints about Skype are that it’s slow. Bloated, memory hog, call it whatever you want.
Will that increase load time for Lync? Or other Windows integrations? Possibly. It IS a disparate code base. One possible method would be to re-develop segments of the code as they’re integrated into separate Microsoft platforms (one for Lync, one for Xbox, one for Windows 7, one for Windows 8…).

Hopefully Microsoft will release some additional plans soon. Now that the merger is approved, they’ll want to avoid wild speculation going on too long.

Since there’s already so much discussion, they’d better hurry!

I hope this sates your curiosity (for now). Next week I’ll discuss a Lync bug we came across in our latest implementation.

On Monday my boss handed me a new Jabra headset and said, “Here, we got a bunch of these in. Try it out. Let’s put a review up.”

Sure!

Image courtesy of Jabra.com.

Starting With a Headset Overview

I’m using a Jabra BIZ 620 USB mono headset (one headphone, for the right ear). The mic arm is adjustable, and moves up to 270 degrees.

In other words, up alongside your head when you want it out of the way.

The headset has an integrated call control knob on the cord (right).

The buttons are (from top to bottom):

• Answer Call
• Increase Volume
• Lower Volume
• End Call (Pressing this button when not in a call will mute your mic)

There’s also two LEDs on the call control. One green LED to indicate that the device is in use; one red LED to indicate that the headset is muted.

The BIZ 620 is a USB plug-and-play headset. No drivers are required. Just plug it in and you’re ready to talk.

Supports Windows 2000, XP, Vista, and Windows 7. Also support Mac OS 9.0.4 and up.

Putting it On

The call control knob is a little heavy, causes headset to tilt if it’s not adjusted. I had to keep the band fairly tight to balance out the weight on the cord. Once I did that, the headset was very comfortable.
The ear piece is well-padded, so it sits very lightly against the ear.

The mic is adjustable. Jabra recommends putting it about two finger-lengths away from your face.

I’ve had the headset on for about an hour now. No discomfort whatsoever. (In fact I stood up a moment ago, forgetting it was on!)

After I plugged the headset in, Lync automatically recognized it and switched my audio devices. (Note the headset icon in the lower-left corner.)

Right here!

That’s all the configuration I had to do. A test under Options/Audio Device reveals that the headset volume is set to about 40% by default. Just tap the “+” on the call control knob to raise it.

From here, it’s just a matter of clicking a contact (or entering a phone number) and hitting Enter.

Making Calls in Lync 2010

Rubber meets the road time!

I tested the headset on four calls: two to internal contacts, and two to outside clients.

I didn’t tell any of them I used the headset.

Both of the outside clients asked if I had a new phone. When asked why, they said I sounded much clearer. (I’d spoken with them before using my laptop’s built-in mic.)

It’s always better listening to voices through headphones than laptop speakers. The Jabra headset improved sound quality for both of us. No static, no pauses, no issues.

Final Verdict: Great Headset for Lync Users

The Jabra BIZ 620 USB is optimized for use with Lync Server. It’s one of Jabra’s Unified Communications products, made for their partnership with Microsoft. lines comes in mono (one headphone) and duo (two headphones) versions. USB and MS connectors available.

I really like how simple this headset makes things. There’s no setup, and no extra steps in Lync. Click to make a call, and this headset handles the rest.

The Jabra BIZ 620 USB headsets are available through several distributors and resellers. Jabra maintains a list on this page: Jabra BIZ 620 Series – Authorized Distributors and Resellers

Do you use a Jabra headset with Lync? Which model? How’s it working for you?