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.

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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

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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.

Lync M:N Routing Breaks AnalogDevices

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OK, so that’s not entirely the truth – but the great Scott Hanselman says you need to have a catchy title to get ’em in.

*IF* however, you implement M:N Routing in Lync 2013 and change the trunk name so that it’s no longer the same as the gateway’s FQDN, you’ll no longer be able to call a Cs-AnalogDevice that uses that PSTN/trunk gateway:

FailMessage

“Call was not completed or has ended. When contacting your support team, reference error ID 503 (source ID 241).”
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Lync Phone Edition Update – July 2014

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Hello to my Egyptian and Moroccan visitors! Good news: this LPE firmware update (from April’s 4.0.7577.4444 to 4.0.7577.4450) is exclusively for your benefit!

2973943 Update for Lync Phone Edition to accommodate daylight saving time (DST) in Egypt and Morocco

For the rest of us there appears to be nothing new – which I guess is even better news, because if it ain’t broke…, no?

Download the relevant CAB files from here:

And HERE’s Pat’s great “New-CsFirmware.ps1″ script to upload the new CABs for you.

 

Polycom UCS (VVX) firmware 5.1.1b

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Polycom has today released the “v5.1.1b” firmware update for UCS/VVX phones, and this version is now officially Qualified for Microsoft Lync 2013. It contains a handful of new config options, adds support for the expansion module &  fixes the recent “SIP 480 bug”. Early-adopters beware: depending upon the link you click on the Polycom website you might end up with an accidental release of an earlier version of the Lync CAB file: 5.1.1.2320. The file you DON’T want is called “Polycom_UC_Software_5_1_1_release_sig_lync.zip”. The correct file is linked below. (Polycom is aware of this – the download link should be corrected soon).

Download

You can find the whole shebang here, but you wouldn’t be the first person to be blinded by the collation of links. Here are the key ones:

Firmware / Software

Documentation

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Lync 2013 Client Security Update – June 2014

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I see Microsoft has just released a security update for the Lync 2013 Client (kb2881013) which appears to be the Lync-specific fix under the MS14-036 security bulletin umbrella (and which is why clicking the kb’s link takes you to the bulletin’s page).

This update takes the Lync 2013 Client to 15.0.4623.1000.

"This security update resolves a resolves a vulnerability in Microsoft Lync that could allow information disclosure if a user opens a specially crafted Lync meeting request."

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Polycom VVX gives SIP480 – Can’t be Called

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A recent update to the Polycom VVX firmware for Lync has introduced a strange bug.

If a phone running the affected version of firmware is used to log into a BRAND NEW new Lync account (i.e. a normal user account or a Common Area Phone), the phone appears to stamp some invalid call forwarding data into the user database and render the account permanently unable to be called. Whilst you’ll be able to call out FROM the affected phone and others will be able to see its presence, you won’t be able to make a call to it:

Yes, it’s available… … until you try and call it.
VVX-Available VVX-Unavailable-crop

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Lync 2013 Client Update – May 2014

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The Lync 2013 Client updates are flowing thick and fast of late. Here’s the May update.

This update takes your client to 15.0.4615.1000.

I’ve pasted the following warning onto the recent Client updates, as I don’t believe it’s fixed yet:

If you install this update, users of Outlook 2007 and and Outlook 2010 will no longer be able to see (or call) the numbers of their Outlook Contacts. Microsoft is aware of this and offers two work-arounds: edit the Contact to remove their e-mail address, or change the user’s CsClientPolicy to set “DisplayPhoto” to “NoPhoto”. Bounce the clients, wait for a contact re-fresh/re-synch and all will be well – just a bit clunky without the photos.
This has been fixed in the August 2014 update – at least for Outlook 2010.

 

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Enabling logging on the Sonus Tenor gateway

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If you’re ever trying to debug a Sonus / NET / Quintum Tenor gateway, you’ll not get far by relying on Config Manager’s “Call Log” view.  When you’re ready to get serious, Telnet to the gateway and issue these commands:

ev l3 sproto Enables Level 3 logging of all the SIP messaging
ev l3 ch Enables Level 3 logging of Call Handling. It’s described as a “master process” and is considered vital when tracing
ev l3 pri_dec Enables ISDN logging
ev l3 cas Enables CAS logging
ev c Clear the buffer
ev qu Display to screen

 

The gateway will then log all relevant messages to the screen. (You need to hit “Q” to get back to command mode).

(BTW it’s OK with you asking it to log modules that aren’t installed, so you don’t need to worry about that).

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