Lync 2013 Client Update – October 2014

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We have an October update to the Lync client and she looks to be a beauty! Read all about kb2889929 here.

This update takes the Lync 2013 Client to 15.0.4659.1000/1001.

What’s Fixed?

  • 3001545 Issues occur when a user selects content in a history conversation window in Lync 2013
  • 2996296 Application sharing without audio or video is slow in Lync 2013 when bandwidth is low
  • 2996294 Recorded audio or video content is low-quality or incorrect in Lync 2013
  • 2996292 Unexpected time stamps appear when you paste messages from a conversation window in Lync 2013
  • 2996290 Memory leaks during a video call in Lync 2013 when camera’s capture resolution is 720p or higher
  • 2996289 PSTN call is disconnected in Lync 2013 when you enable the media bypass setting
  • 2996287 Emoticons generated or typed text loses color or formatting when you paste text in an IM conversation in Lync 2013
  • 2996285 Error “Problem Event Name: APPCRASH, Application Name: lync.exe” when you view desktop sharing in Lync 2013

Continue reading ‘Lync 2013 Client Update – October 2014’ »

Federation fails for new Lync Branch site

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ms-diagnostics: 1045;reason="Local edge server pool is out of service";pool-size="2";pool="edgepool.contoso.com";port="5061";source="MyNewSba.contoso.com"

I found the above error in a client-side trace after having added a new Branch site (and SBA) to a running Lync 2013 deployment and finding Federation wasn’t working.

My users – previously resident on the FE but now homed to this new SBA – were unable to access Federated contacts, who would show as “Presence unknown”, and if I tried to send an IM to any of them I’d get the dreaded 504/239 error.

Strangely though, we were getting an MRAS token OK, and so the clients *weren’t* displaying the “Limited External Calling” warning you might have expected of an issue like this. This is from the Lync Client’s “Configuration Information” screen:

MRAS Server; edge.contoso@contoso.com;gruu;opaque=srvr:MRAS:CIU5c2qMm1qi_jaKkdZY3wAA;  Enabled;

The SBA wasn’t happy, telling me “Connection attempts to the following services have failed” and pointing the finger at the Edge servers.

Continue reading ‘Federation fails for new Lync Branch site’ »

Lync September 2014 Security Updates

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A number of “Important” security updates have hit this week.

Here are the download links for you. I’ll build upon this post in the coming days with the usual screen-grabs…

Lync 2010 server (to 4.0.7577.276): http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=44080. (This RGS update in this one requires a reboot after installation).
 

BEWARE: The have been multiple reports that this KB has an unsigned component within, and your Edge services may not restart afterwards. (Reference).
Updated 17th Sept: http://www.zdnet.com/microsoft-pulls-september-lync-security-update-7000033737/

 

 
Lync 2013 server (to 5.0.8308.803): http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=44084

Lync 2013 client: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2889860

(This post has had additional content added since its initial publication).
  
– G.

Locate Lync Lapses with a Look

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I love the story of the old engineer called in from retirement to fix something at the factory only to have his $20,000 invoice for 5 minutes’ work questioned by the bean-counters. When asked for a breakdown of the charges he submitted “Chalk mark: $1, knowing where to put it: $19,999”. (Snopes says it’s a myth. Party poopers).

To the untrained eye, the Lync Client isn’t all that special, but if you know what to look for it reveals quite a wealth of information. And who doesn’t delight in being able to walk up to the Client PC (or maybe establishing the briefest of desktop sharing sessions), going “oh, OK” and walking off with the fix already known to you without having to click a thing?

Here I spill the beans. Let me know if I’ve missed anything.

The Search Bar

The Search Bar tells you if several features are enabled just by the prompt it offers:

FindSomeone

FindSomeoneOrARoom

FindSomeoneOrDialANumber

FindSomeoneOrARoomOrDialANumber

Continue reading ‘Locate Lync Lapses with a Look’ »

Lync Phone Edition Update – August 2014

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Twice in two months! How lucky are we? This LPE firmware update (from 4.0.7577.44450 to 4.0.7577.4451) is an interesting one…

What’s Fixed?

  • 2988196 The lock feature does not prevent users from making calls on a Lync Phone Edition telephone
  • 2988195 Incoming call from a PSTN number is disconnected when you put the call on hold on a Lync Phone Edition telephone
  • 2988192 Receive incorrect message when you call a user whose line is busy on a Japanese version of Lync Phone Edition telephone

What’s New?

  • 2988193 Update enables users who are not enabled for UC or EV to sign in to Lync Phone Edition telephone

Continue reading ‘Lync Phone Edition Update – August 2014’ »

Lync Server 2013 CU5 OcsCore Update Fails

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Updated 16th Aug: This issue is now described in a kb. 

If you’re starting off a brand new Lync installation it’s common practise to run setup.exe on the DVD to install the Core components, add the admin tools, then run the latest ServerUpdateInstaller to patch this ‘foundation’ before you proceed any further with your Lync build. That way you’re building your new Lync with the latest version of the tools.

Unfortunately it seems the underlying installation process has changed in the August 2014 “CU5” update compared to those that have come before, and you’ll now get an error if you try to do this.

The Scenario

  1. New build of Windows Server 2012 R2
  2. Mount Lync DVD ISO
  3. Run Setup.exe (elevated)
  4. Install Admin Tools (from Deployment Wizard)
  5. Exit Deployment Wizard and run CU5 LyncServerUpdateInstaller (again, elevated)
  6. The installer indicates it’s going to install updates for “Core Runtime”, “Admin Tools” & “Core Components”
  7. The first two succeed but installation of the Core update fails.

Continue reading ‘Lync Server 2013 CU5 OcsCore Update Fails’ »

Lync Server 2013 Update – August 2014

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The August 2014 (CU5?) update for Lync Server 2013 has landed, and at first glance there’s at least one fix for which I already carry a scar. Applying the update to my SE Front-End refreshed 8 components including a rare update to the Windows Fabric – see the image below. This release takes the Server to 5.0.8308.733 (although one KB link says it’s 5.0.8308.738), up from .577).

What’s Fixed?

Lots! Here are a few that interested me:

  • 2976568 Address book delta files are not generated in a Lync Server 2013 Enterprise Edition environment
  • 2967629 Significant bandwidth usage increase by SIP traffic in a Lync Server 2013 environment
  • 2967630 Callee receives a missed call notification after answering a call on an IP telephone in a Lync Server 2013 environment
  • 2979931 Error “I can’t find the meeting with that number” when PSTN user dials in to conference in Lync Server 2013 environment
  • 2967624 HD video stutters in a Lync Server 2013 based video conference in Lync 2013
  • 2967628 Telephone numbers are missing in a contact card in a Lync Server 2013-based Lync mobile client
  • 2967621 Error 404 when Lync phones sign in to Lync Server 2013 front-end servers during SBS failure recover
  • 2983199 “Limited functionality is available due to outage” in Lync client when Lync Server 2013 replication queue is full

Continue reading ‘Lync Server 2013 Update – August 2014’ »

A Fix for Lync Poor Audio Quality

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One of my colleagues has been investigating complaints of poor audio quality at a customer’s site this week. Lync’s QoE reports are blaming dropped packets, but the network team says they’re not seeing any packet loss – so what gives?

It would seem to be the Intel NIC driver that’s at fault – update the driver and BAM! the problem’s gone.

In this case it’s been on Dell machines, but we’ve previously encountered a similar problem on Lenovo ones.

Here’s a Lenovo KB calling it out:
Version 12.10.28.1801 Build 327525
(Fix) Fixed an issue where the computer might experience glitches in audio streaming during conference calls.

If you’re suffering poor audio, check if your NIC is running an Intel chipset and go hunting for driver updates…

With thanks to Ari Protheroe for the initial Tweet that brought this to my attention, and Tristan for his work nailing it on the Dells.
 
– G.