About Me

My photo
This is a blog for John Weber. One of my joys in life is helping others get ahead in life. Content here will be focused on that from this date forward. John was a Skype for Business MVP (2015-2018) - before that, a Lync Server MVP (2010-2014). I used to write a variety of articles (https://tsoorad.blogspot.com) on technical issues with a smattering of other interests. I have a variety of certifications dating back to Novell CNE and working up through the Microsoft MCP stack to MCITP multiple times. FWIW, I am on my third career - ex-USMC, retired US Army. I have a fancy MBA. The opinions expressed on this blog are mine and mine alone.

2013/02/26

Lync 2013 VDI

Aren’t you just dying to fire up a complete virtualized client environment and try out the exciting new features in Lync 2013 as they pertain to those wonderful Citrix and VMWare clients? Welcome to the world of fully virtualized clients.

But wait! You may want to do a little light reading first.

I had to hunt and peck all over the web to find some of this information, so I have made this lame attempt to bring some of it together into one place (so poco viejo me does not lose it).

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj205304.aspx

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj204683.aspx

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=21129 (VDI in Lync 2010)(But good reading)

http://blogs.technet.com/b/nexthop/archive/2012/09/21/microsoft-lync-2013-preview-in-a-virtual-desktop-infrastructure.aspx

http://blogs.technet.com/b/nexthop/archive/2012/12/21/support-for-lync-2013-dvc-implementation-vs-the-citrix-hdx-optimization-pack-for-microsoft-lync.aspx

http://www.thincomputing.net/2013/01/08/support-for-lync-2013-dvc-implementation-versus-the-citrix-hdx-optimization-pack-for-microsoft-lync/

http://blogs.citrix.com/2012/07/24/xendesktop-support-for-lync-2013/

http://blogs.vmware.com/euc/2012/07/microsoft-lync-2013-support-with-vmware-view-desktops.html

http://h20435.www2.hp.com/t5/367-Addison-Avenue-Blog/Talking-Thin-Clients-Yes-Literally-Here-s-What-HP-Has-Planned/ba-p/79021

http://community.wyse.com/forum/entry.php?68-Dell-Wyse-Enables-Microsoft-Lync-To-Be-Deployed-On-Its-Thin-Clients

Oh, BTW, for you O365 freaks: VDI not supported.

Known Limitations for VDI

The following are known limitations when you are using Lync 2013 in a VDI environment:

  • There is limited support for Call Delegation and Response Group Agent Anonymization features.
  • There is no support for the following features:
    • Integrated Audio Device and Video Device tuning pages.
    • Multi-view video.
    • Recording of conversations.
    • Joining meetings anonymously (that is, joining Lync meetings hosted by an organization that does not federate with your organization).
    • Using the Lync VDI plug-in along with a Lync Phone Edition device.
    • Call continuity in case of a network outage.
    • Customized ringtones and music on hold features.
The Lync VDI plug-in is not supported in an Office 365 environment.

2013/02/22

Jabra Speak 510 MS

Having a new toy to play with is always fun.  Today I am putting a Jabra Speak 510 together with Lync 2013 to see how things go.  The “official” description of this device is:

Jabra SPEAK™ 510 - A personal Bluetooth® and USB speakerphone to call and multitask on your terms – at the office, at home, or on the go.

Getting this thing out of the box took like 5 seconds – sort of like Christmas – I just ripped it open.  Minus the reams of safety warnings and other government dictated stuff, all that comes out of the box is a nice carrying case, and the unit.  The cord for connecting this to your favorite computing device is neatly coiled around a provided-for-this-purpose gap around the unit’s base.  The cord itself is a usable 24 inches or so long.  Long enough to allow positioning the 510 somewhere other than in your face, but not so long that coiling the cord becomes an issue.  A note on the one piece of documentation that was non-government-regulated:  There are only four pages for any language.  However, four pages pretty much covers all the instructions you need to operate this device. If you are seriously stuck, you can get the official Jabra unit documentation here.  Size-wise, the Speak 510 is about the size of your hand and maybe an inch thick.  For a good estimate, here is the 510 next to my laptop.

DSC_0003

According to Jabra’s website, the intent of this device is to “turn any room into a conference room” and the 510 (in our case the 510 MS) is “Microsoft optimized and seamlessly integrates with Microsoft Lync.”  Let’s find out.

It took my laptop (Windows 7 Ultimate) about 15 seconds to load up some USB software and then I was informed that it was ready to go.  There is a light next to the power button, and the battery has a red LED next to it – a quick check of the documentation showed that this is as expected for the first time plugging the 510 up to your computer.

I did absolutely nothing special to use the Speak 510, it just worked properly.  I did not have to setup Lync for it, nor did I have to play with any settings – other than to turn the volume down.   Wowzer! this thing can fill the room with sound.

I thought the controls were intuitive to use – they are touch-sensitive and provide visual and aural feedback.  For instance, increasing the volume lights up a ring of lights…more volume, more lights.  Nice. Bluetooth pairing went as described in the manual…right down to having spoken instructions!  Perfect for someone like me who is slightly brain dead at times.  During my testing with Lync 2013 client, I never heard any squeal or feedback unless I forced audio interference.  I also managed to initiate an outbound call using the unit to take my Lync off-hook and then entering a PSTN number with my computer keyboard. Nice.

DSC_0006

Here is the unit with the volume turned up to a setting that you could hear very comfortably from across the room.

Speaking of Bluetooth, you can connect this device to your phone or your headset.  I had a pairing with my iPhone in very quick order – complete to Pandora playing from my phone through the 510.  Zippy.

After playing with this unit for several hours (I am easily amused) I come to the conclusion that this is a very nice piece.   I could find no defects in the manufacturing and it did everything I was told it would do.  The claim of “seamless” integration with Lync 2013 is completely justified.  The sound quality was very good, the microphone pickup was good even from across the room, and the controls/ease of use were spot on. And it fits easily into my backpack.  A great addition to my mobile office. 

YMMV

test 02 Feb

this is a test it’s only a test this should be a picture