This page is provided for informational purposes only and does not go into effect until Skype for Business 2015 SBA is made available by Microsoft. Lync Server 2013 SBA is forward compatible and supported with Skype for Business 2015.
This best practice document helps a user deploy and execute the Skype for Business 2015 SBA on products that shipped from Sonus without the Skype for Business 2015 SBA.
The Skype for Business 2015 SBA application is only supported on Windows Server 2012 R2 operating system. If your device does not have a license for Windows Server 2012 R2, a license purchase and download will be necessary to activate and execute the Skype for Business 2015 SBA.
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Upgrading from Lync 2013 to Skype for Business 2015 creates a down time. The following recommendations help reduce the down time:
Upgrading from Lync 2010 SBA to Lync 2013 SBA, and upgrading from Lync 2013 SBA to Skype for Business 2015 SBA are valid upgrades. Microsoft does not support a migration from Lync 2010 SBA to Skype for Business 2015 SBA. Contact Microsoft for details.
Before you begin, ensure you have the following information:
The firmware on the SBC as well as the firmware on the ASM (SbcComms) must be at version 5.0 or above. See Upgrading SBC Edge for the upgrade procedure.
Confirm that your ASM is licensed for 'Windows Server 2012R2', which is a prerequisite to run Skype for Business 2015 SBA.
To Confirm Windows Server License:
You will need to purchase and install the Windows Server 2012 R2 operating system license. See Working with Licenses.
You will also need need to acquire a license to operate the Skype for Business 2015 SBA on your ASM. See Working with Licenses. If a license is acquired, see Attach License Label for attaching the label on the unit.
Your license allows you to use the Windows Server 2012 R2 to execute the Skype for Business 2015 SBA. No further OS license is required.
Check the device for a Skype for Business 2015 SBA license label. If the label is attached, no further licenses are required to operate the Skype for Business 2015 SBA. If the label is not attached, you will need to acquire a Skype for Business 2015 SBA license. See Working with Licenses. If a license is acquired, see Attach License Label for attaching the label on the unit.
Confirm that your ASM already has the Skype for Business 2015 SBA image available on the hard drive.
Do not reinitialize the ASM, simply confirm the Skype of Business 2015 SBA image is available.
To Confirm Skype for Business 2015 SBA Availability:
If Skype for Business 2015 SBA is not listed on the drop down menu, follow the instructions on Updating the ASM Recovery Partition.
If you plan to re-use the same host name for the SBA, follow the steps on Exporting SBC Edge Server Certificates.
If you do not plan to re-use the same host name, proceed to the next section, Setting Up Upgrade.
Complete the following procedures in order to deploy your SBA:
Deploy the SBA in the same manner as Lync 2013 SBA.
Recreate the SBA resources you removed in the Skype control panel: