Best Practice - Repurposing the Ribbon Cloud Link as a Lync/Skype SBA Device

Purpose

An enterprise may plan to deploy Cloud PBX (defined at https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/mt612869.aspx) services at a future time. In the interim, the same enterprise may have/choose to deploy Skype for Business 2015 Server on-premises. See https://technet.microsoft.com/en-ca/library/gg398095.aspx .

To minimize SBC-related expenses, Ribbon presents you with the option of deploying a Cloud Link device (intended to support Cloud PBX-related local PSTN voice services) as a Survivable Branch Appliance ("SBA", primarily used with on-premises Skype for Business 2015 Server deployments). When you choose to migrate to Cloud PBX services, no additional SBC hardware expenses will be incurred.

This article explains how to re-purpose a Ribbon Cloud Link device into a RibbonSBA, and vice versa.

Prerequisites

When repurposing the RibbonSBC Cloud Link as an SBA device, take note of the folllowing:

• Ensure you purchased a Ribbon SBC Cloud Link. See https://ribboncommunications.com/solutions/enterprise-solutions/microsoft-skype-business/cloud-link.
• Ensure the Ribbon SBC and SbcComms (see Managing the SBC Communication Service) are running the same software version (required version is 6.1 and later)

• Access the Ribbon Support Portal - Download Center, and download the required Microsoft(r) Lync 2013/Skype for Business 2015 SBA image that matches your enterprise's Unified Communications deployment.

• Ensure you acquire and apply the relevant Skype for Business 2015/Lync 2013 SBA label. Label products that can be ordered are listed at Working with Licenses. See instructions regarding label application, here: Attach License Label - Skype for Business and Windows OS.

How to Repurpose a Ribbon Cloud Link as a Lync/Skype SBA device

Complete the following procedures to deploy the Ribbon Cloud Link as an SBA as follows:

1. Update the ASM Recovery Partition with the SBA image you plan to use. See Updating the ASM Recovery Partition.
2. Re-initialize the ASM using the SBA image you loaded. See Re-initializing the ASM.
3. Deploy the SBA. For details, see Preparing for SBA Deployment - First Steps.
   

After deployment, the Ribbon Cloud Link will now run as an SBA.

Returning to Ribbon Cloud Link Usage

If you need to revert back to the Ribbon Cloud Link, see below:

1. Re-initialize the ASM using the Cloud Connector Edition (CCE) image found on the hard drive. See Re-initializing the ASM.

2. From the ASM image type drop down, select Cloud Connector Edition.

   Re-initialize ASM

   
   
   

After re-initialization, the Ribbon SBC will now run as a Cloud Link.