How to Backup Lync (Part 1)

A question that I am frequently asked after we get Lync installed and running is “How do we backup Lync?” This is a great question and one that is easy to answer. Thanks to the Central Management idea and Topology Builder, we only have to backup a few items in order to get the entire Lync environment backed up.

There are two crucial pieces for most environments. First is the topology itself and then secondly, we need the user’s data (Contacts, etc). To do the first piece, we use Export-CsConfiguration from the Lync Management Shell. An example:

Export-CsConfiguration -FileName MyTopologyBackup.zip

To backup the users data, we need to use the dbimpexp.exe tool. This tool is available in the root folder of the Lync Server installation media. It is also installed at \Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Lync Server 2010\Support as part of the Core Components. Here is an example of how to run the dbimpexp.exe command:

Dbimpexp.exe /hrxmlfile:<path and backup file name> /sqlserver:<SQL Server FQDN>\<instance name>

dbimpexp.exe /hrxmlfile:MyUserDataBackup.xml /sqlserver:mysqlserver.domain.com

With these two pieces you can get most of your Lync environment. In the next article I will detail how to backup other Lync components such as the Location Database, Group Chat and Response Group settings.

Adam Ball, PEI

Lync External Pool Name and Lync Mobility

Here is another tidbit that I came across recently while working with a client. When we setup Lync for them originally, they wanted their internal and external pool names to be exactly the same. At the time, there was no reason it couldn’t be from a technical reason so that is what they chose to do.

With the release of Lync Mobility, we now have a technical reason that the internal and external pool names cannot be the same. The Lync Mobile client is dependent on the web services to sign in and due to how Lync Mobility works, if your pool names are the same, it won’t properly utilize the external web services.

The reason we want to utilize the external web services is so that if you switch from an internal wireless to say a 3G connection, the Lync Mobile client will be able to stay connected. The Lync Mobile service is built with the idea that internal clients will actually use “hair-pinning” in order to sign in. That is, they will go out the firewall and come back in the same interface so that they are accessing Lync Mobility as if they were outside the corporate network.

If you are wanting to implement Lync Mobility, the lesson learned is make sure your internal and external pool names are different.

Adam Ball, PEI

Lync Tool Belt #8: Desktop Sharing

Next on the list of cool Microsoft Lync functions is the Desktop Sharing feature. This is a great tool to use to collaborate or share information with the other attendees in your Lync sessions. You have several options when it comes to sharing.

To access this feature follow these simple steps:

1. Start a Lync Session (either a one-on-one or online meeting)
2. Click the drop down arrow next to the share button
3. Choose from the following options
• Main monitor
• Secondary monitor
• All monitors
• Program
• Power Point Presentation
• New Whiteboard
• New Poll
4. Within these sharing options you can give controls to other attendees to be able to click around your screen

Collaborating on a PowerPoint or troubleshooting an issue on another user’s computer is made very easy utilizing Lync desktop sharing.

For more information on Microsoft Lync please visit http://pei.com/solutions/microsoft-lync-server-2010/

Other Lync Tool Belt Blogs can be found here http://pei.com/category/blog/

-Andrea Leonhardt, PEI

Lync Tool Belt #7: Making Phone Calls with Lync

Microsoft Lync allows you to place phone calls with one click.  When you are browsing through webpages or search engines a small blue phone icon will appear.  By clicking this icon, you will instantly be placing a phone call through Lync.

You can also manually dial a number straight into Lync.  On the Lync interface you can click over to the phone icon and a key pad will appear.  From this screen you can dial any number.  Once you are in a call and need to maybe press “1” or enter a pin number you can do this as well.  Within the Lync call screen you can expand the keypad again to enter in any additional numbers.

Another neat feature that Lync has built in, is when you dial a number it gives you a list of people that are on your contact list that match that number.  This includes contacts home, mobile, desk and lync phone numbers.  From this screen you can then click the drop down arrow next to the desired contact and choose which number you wish to place a call to.

Make sure to check out all the information on our website on the newly released Lync Mobility.

http://pei.com/solutions/microsoft-lync-server-2010/lync-mobile-client/

Also,  if you liked this blog, you may also find my previous Lync Tool Belt Blogs useful!  You can find all of these and other blogs at:

http://pei.com/category/blog/

If you see an IT solution that you like or want to know more about make sure to contact us! http://pei.com/contact-us/

-Andrea Leonhardt, PEI

Lync Tool Belt #6: Call Forwarding

Need to run to the dentist?  There is a very easy way to forward all of your calls to your cell or even better to a co-worker.

1. Click the drop down menu next to Call forwarding is off on the bottom of your Lync interface
2. Click forward calls to
3. Choose your cell to forward to yourself, to forwards to a co-worker select new number or contact
4. Type in the search bar the person you want to receive your calls
5. Click ok
6. To turn call forwarding off just click the drop down arrow again and select turn off call forwarding

If you want to discover other Lync Tools check out some of my other blogs!

Presence: http://pei.com/2011/11/lync-tool-belt-5-a-little-tit-bit-about-presence/

Federating: http://pei.com/2011/11/lync-tool-belt-4-how-to-federate-with-other-lync-users/

And many more!!

For a complete Lync demo make sure to call PEI 303-786-7474 or e-mail info@pei.com.

You can also get a hold of us by filling out this form http://pei.com/contact-us/

-Andrea Leonhardt, PEI

Lync Tool Belt #5: A little Tit-Bit about Presence

Presence is a function of Lync that has proven to be extremely useful.  For those of you that are unfamiliar with what presence is, here is a little Lync Presence 101.  Presence is the red, yellow and green bars next to contacts on your Lync interface.  These colors can be changed manually or automatically in some cases.

Manually changing presence:  I can click the pull down menu next to my name in the “me” section on the top of my Lync interface.  I can change my presence to Available, Busy, Do not Disturb, Be Right Back, Off Work or Appear Away.  These options are shown below.

Automatically changing presence:  If I have an Outlook meeting scheduled on my calendar my presence will automatically change to, “In a Meeting.”  Within Outlook, if I am scheduled on an Online Meeting, my presence will show me as “On a Conference Call.”  If I am on the phone my presence will show me as, “On a Call.” When I lock my computer or walk away from my computer my presence will change to “Away.”  By having my presence change it allows my co-workers to quickly identify whether or not I am sitting at my desk and available to collaborate.

You can see in the above picture the statuses of all my co-workers.  From this screen I can see that Adam is away from his computer, Dan is available to chat and Emilio is in a meeting.

Just another tool that Lync encompasses, making collaboration and communication that much easier!  To learn more about Lync please visit www.pei.com or give us a call at 303-786-7474

-Andrea Leonhardt, PEI

Lync Tool Belt #3: The Whiteboard Function

When you are involved in any Lync conversation whether it is IM, Voice Call or a Conference you have the option of sharing what Lync calls a whiteboard.  This is a blank screen that is shared with all participants within your Lync session.  Say you want to share a picture or copy and paste text or heck, play hangman; this is all possible on a whiteboard.

Here’s how:

1. Start a lync session
2. Click Share
3. Click New Whiteboard

At the bottom of the white board you can add arrows, text, pictures, etc.  When you are done sharing click stop sharing and hide stage.

If you would like a live demo of this Lync capability or any other Lync function we would be happy to help.  Please visit www.pei.com.  To gather more information about Lync please visit our Resource Library on our website.  Also, feel free to shoot us an e-mail if you have any other questions, info@pei.com.  Look for another Lync Tool Belt item coming soon!

-Andrea Leonhardt, PEI

Lync Tool Belt #2: Setting up Your Lync Picture using LinkedIn

There is a very simple way to do this in Lync by using your picture on from your LinkedIn account.
Here is how:

1. Go to your LinkedIn Account
2. Click view profile
3. Right click your picture and click properties
4. In the properties screen copy the address URL
5. Open up your Lync Interface
6. Click the pull down arrow next to the gear in
   the upper right hand corner
7. Click tools
8. Click options
9. Click on my picture
10. Click show a picture from a web address
11. Paste your URL from LinkedIn
12. Click Connect to Picture
13. Click ok

That is it!  You will now have a picture on your Lync, especially useful when you are federated withcontacts outside of your company.  Who doesn’t like a face with a name?

Look for more tools to add to your belt coming soon!  For more information on Lync please visit http://pei.com/solutions/microsoft-lync-server-2010/

To read about the total economic impact of Lync visit http://pei.com/resource-library/

-Andrea Leonhardt, PEI

Lync Tool Belt #1: Creating a Poll

This is a feature of Lync that I think is overlooked frequently and it is actually pretty cool.  Have you ever been on a conference call with several attendees trying to figure eout when to meet next?  The polling tool would be a fantastic way to do this.  These are the steps that you take to create a poll.

1. Click Share
2. Click New Poll
3. Type in the Poll Name
4. Type in the Poll Question
5. Type in Possible Responses
6. Click ok

Once the poll is open you then have the option to open the poll to the conference attendees, close the poll, show results to everyone in the conference, edit the poll choices, clear responses and finally save the poll for future use.  This feature allows for real time polling, which makes collaboration seamless.  Below is a screen shot for an example.

Pretty cool huh?  For more information on Lync please don’t hesitate to contact us.  You can fill out the contact us for on our website at http://pei.com/contact-us/, e-mail us at info@pei.com, call us at 303-786-7474 or heck snail mail us… 5435 Airport Blvd., Suite 106 Boulder, CO 80301.

Look for additional Lync tricks and tips coming soon.  If you have any Lync Tool Belt Requests please let me know, andrea.leonhardt@pei.com

-Andrea Leonhardt, PEI