2. Core server and voice improvements
Speaker Name
Speaker Title

3. Agenda Core server improvements Voice improvements
Chat and presence reliability
Mobility improvements
Conferencing reliability
Manageability improvements
Call via Work
Response Group Service (RGS) scalability
SILK in Skype for business
Call quality dashboard

4. Core server improvements
Chat and presence reliability
Mobility improvements
Conferencing reliability
Manageability improvements

5. What is the core server? Apps Platform: UCWA, UCMA, UCAP, UCJA
Core server: authentication, signaling, routing, security, storage, compliance
Conferencing
Voice
Chat and presence
Apps

6. Chat and presence reliability
Core server improvements
Chat and presence reliability

7. Chat and presence reliability
Optimization of presence and sign-in traffic
(Reduction by around 25%)
Reduced traffic during re-sign in
Better telemetry and monitoring
Better mobile experience

8. Mobility improvements
Core server improvements
Mobility improvements

9. Mobility improvements
Problem
Solution
Sending IM to user on mobile can cause a long delay (“spinning donut”) until the mobile user accepts
Automatically accept the incoming IM using same logic the desktop client uses to accept IM on best available endpoint
Incoming IMs on mobile can get lost if you don’t accept in time
Full history of IM conversation is not available on mobile
Provide a uniform server-based conversation history across all endpoints (mobile, desktop, and web)
No Single Sign-On (SSO) capability for Exchange and Skype for Business; no multi-factor authentication (MFA)
Address Single Sign-On and multi-factor authentication through the adoption of Azure Active Directory Authentication Library (ADAL)

10. Azure AD Authentication Library (ADAL)
Based on OAuth 2.0 protocol
Provides uniform passive authentication across Office 365 applications for Single Sign-On
Works for on-premises Active Directory (requires ADFS for Windows Server 2012 R2+)
Replaces passive authentication used in Lync 2013
Can be enabled just for mobile clients if desired
Supports multi-factor authentication (MFA)—Windows Server 2012 R2 + Web Application Proxy is required to distinguish internal and external clients

11. Server-side conversation history
Captures
Successful calls
Missed calls
Chat history
Architecture
Leverages UCWA for mobile clients
Leverages LYSS interaction
Stores history in Exchange
Deployment
On Front End
No new server roles
Configuration
Policies for mobile and desktop clients
Can enable/disable calls and IMs history
Storage queue processors
UCWA
Presence server
Data MCU
Archiving agent
Lync storage APIs (real time)
Auto-accept Cache
Exchange data transport
Storage service queue
Read/write
Missed IM
Conversation history processor
Archiving processor
SKYPE FOR BUSINESS SERVER FRONT END
Exchange web services
Intra-pool storage queue backup module
Inter-pool storage queue backup module
Exchange server
FEs in the same pool
FEs in another pool
CDR DB
QoE DB
LYNC STORAGE SERVICE
Contact/group
Meeting meta/ content/archive
Session meta/content
SQL
Read/ write/ search/ notify
Raw session data
Free/busy/voic /etc.
Monitoring processor
SQL data transport
Web conferencing processor

12. Server-side conversation history
Storage queue processors
UCWA
Presence server
Data MCU
Archiving agent
Lync storage APIs (real time)
Auto-accept Cache
Exchange data transport
Storage service queue
Read/write
Missed IM
Conversation history processor
Archiving processor
SKYPE FOR BUSINESS SERVER FRONT END
Exchange web services
Intra-pool storage queue backup module
Inter-pool storage queue backup module
Exchange server
FEs in the same pool
FEs in another pool
CDR DB
QoE DB
LYNC STORAGE SERVICE
Contact/group
Meeting meta/ content/archive
Session meta/content
SQL
Read/ write/ search/ notify
Raw session data
Free/busy/voic /etc.
Monitoring processor
SQL data transport
Web conferencing processor

13. Conferencing reliability
Core server improvements
Conferencing reliability

14. Conferencing reliability
Synchronous writes to the back end for conference state
Prioritization of replication of conference state
Conference directory data loss protection
Better handling of expired conferences
Better conferencing telemetry

15. Manageability improvements
Core server improvements
Manageability improvements

16. Windows Fabric and Skype for Business Server
Windows Fabric is a distributed systems platform that makes it easy to build scalable, reliable, and easy-to-manage services and applications
Skype for Business Server implemented a highly available platform using Windows Fabric v2 which is responsible for
Failover management (new in WinFab v2: DeActivate API)
Primary/secondary nodes election
Replication between primary and secondary nodes

17. Starting a pool with a single Cmdlet
Start-CsPool
 Prerequisite checks (all servers Skype for Business Server, Windows Fabric v2+)
 Attempts to start all servers in the pool
 If problems starting any server; perform extended diagnosis; alert
 If problem on Front End cannot be fixed, run Start-CsPool with exclusion list
 Fail if min server requirements cannot be met due to exclusion list
 Does this operation require quorum loss recovery
 If no data loss, perform implicit quorum loss recovery
 If there will be data loss
 Seek admin approval with data loss information (or)
 Configure option to skip specific routing group replicas and proceed with start
 Start all servers if no issues

18. Skype for Business Server
Simplified patching
Lync Server 2013
Skype for Business Server

19. Health Readiness Check (HRC)
Online equivalent of Best Practice Analyzer
Available through Skype for Business Online Admin page
Currently works on server-by-server basis

20. Voice improvements Call via Work
Response Group Service (RGS) scalability
SILK in Skype for Business
Call Quality Dashboard

21. Remote Call Control (RCC)
RCC is the ability to control a PBX phone from Lync
First delivered in Live Communications Server 2005 SP1
Lync Server 2013 has same capability as 2010 SP5 (allows for P2P video calling)
Only supported with Lync Server and Lync desktop client
RCC is deprecated on Skype for Business client
While RCC is supported in current released products, we recommend customers use Enterprise Voice

22. Core server improvements
Call via Work

23. Call via Work Enterprise Voice for PBX Users User experience Features
Skype for Business users can make voice calls using any PSTN phone, including existing PBX endpoints
Leverages existing Direct SIP connectivity between PBX systems and Lync/Skype for Business
User experience
Skype for Business dials out to PSTN or desk phone number to connect user, then connects with far-end destination
Features
Presence update and call control from Skype for Business client
Mid-call control capabilities preserved on PBX phone

24. Call via Work
User instantiates call from Skype for Business rich client
Skype for Business client places call to user’s PBX station set (or to any other PSTN phone number)
PBX routes call and local user answers
When Skype for Business client sees this call answered, places far-end call. Here Skype for Business will use PBX user’s DID as ANI
PBX routes call out to PSTN with user’s DID (or to any other local PBX endpoint)
Far-end call answers and call is established, with  Skype for Business acting as control channel 1 2 3 4 5 6
PBX
PSTN
Destination
Skype for Business pool
Skype for Business client
PBX Station
Local call
Far-end call

25. Call via Work Inbound Infrastructure Cloud1 2 3 4 5 6
PBX
PSTN
Destination
Skype for Business pool
Skype for Business client
PBX Station
Local call
Far-end call
Inbound
Call via Work doesn’t have an inbound experience
Infrastructure
Should operate with any supported PSTN egress
May find complexity with numbering support
Cloud
Not available in Lync Online

26. Outbound call to external user (PSTN)1 4 3 2 5 6
PBX system
PSTN
Mobile
Skype for Business server
Skype for Business user A
Desk phone user A
Audio
User A initiates a call to PSTN
UCWA places the initial call to self/desk phone
PBX rings the desk phone of user A
Once answered, UCWA places second call to PSTN
Ring back is provided to user A’s desk phone
Once PSTN answers, call is connected
User experience
Conversation window
Call initiated from Skype for Business client
Available
Call initiated from desk phone
Not Available

27. Outbound call to internal user1 5 3 2 6
PBX
Skype for Business server
Desk phone user A
Desk phone user B
Skype for Business user B
Audio 4
Skype for Business user A
User A initiates a call to user B
UCWA places the initial call to self/desk phone
PBX rings the desk phone of user A
Once answered, UCWA places second call to user B
Since user B is enabled for CvW and set Simulring to their own desk phone, ms-skipRnl header is used to force another call out to user B’s desk phone
Once user B answered on Skype for Business client or desk phone, call is connected
User experience
Conversation window
Call initiated from Skype for Business client
Available
Call initiated from desk phone
Not Available

28. Call via Work inbound call
Delivering inbound calls to Skype for Business client and PBX phone
Need to consider both calls from PSTN and calls from other Skype for Business users
Forward and simultaneous settings are tied with activation of CvW feature
If using CvW for outbound, incoming calls automatically forward/simulring to client and configured PBX phone
Configured DID # for both user and PBX phone is the same
Using ms-skipRnl header for the PBX phone number with the simulring settings for CvW

29. Inbound call from internal user
Figure 1: Inbound call from Skype for Business 2 3
PBX
Skype for Business server
Desk phone user A
Audio 1 4
Skype for Business user A
Skype for Business user B
Figure 2: Inbound call from desk phone
User B calls user A from Skype for Business client or PBX phone
PBX or Skype for Business Server receives the call (depending on who originated the call—see below)
If Skype for Business Server receives the call, user A’s endpoint is alerted. Since user A is enabled for CvW and set to simulring their own desk phone, the ms-skipRnl header is used to force another call out to user A’s desk phone
If PBX receives the call, PBX rings the desk phone of user A as shown below
Call from Skype for Business
Call from PBX phone
PBX First in Line
Skype for Business Server First in Line
Skype for Business Client Toast
Yes No
Unanswered/missed call notification
Voic

30. Inbound call from external user (PSTN)1 2 3 6
PBX system
PSTN
Mobile
Skype for Business server
Skype for Business user A
Desk phone user A
Figure 2: PBX First in Line
Audio
Figure 1: Skype for Business Server First in Line 4 5
PSTN user calls User A
PBX or Skype for Business Server receives the call (depending on who originated the call—see below)
If Skype for Business Server receives the call, user A’s endpoint is alerted
Since user A is enabled for CvW and set to simulring their own desk phone, the ms-skipRnl header is used to force a call out to user A’s desk phone
User Experience
Skype for Business Server First in Line
PBX First in Line
Skype for Business Client Toast
Yes No
Unanswered/missed call notification
Voic

31. Meeting join scenarios
Outbound join
Conversation window
Presence
Skype for Business client behavior
Meet now
Yes
In a conference call
Call to desk phone
Scheduled meeting—click to join
Group call conference escalation via work number
Group call conference escalation via Skype
Call via Skype for Business Client
Dial Skype for Business server conference bridge from Skype for Business client
In a call
Dial Skype for Business server conference bridge from desk phone No
Available NA
Inbound join
Simulring desk phone
Behavior when clicking toast
Added by name No
Call to desk phone
Added by number
Yes
Call via Skype for Business client
Drag n dropped into meeting
Group call invite recipient

32. Feature policy and administration
Configuration is roamed for MPOP endpoints
Saves the state of CallViaWork at the endpoint and whether it’s in use
CallViaWorkEnabled
A Boolean indicating whether the user can utilize Call via Work
AdminCallbackNumber
An E.164 phone number to be used as the CvW call-back number
UseAdminCallbackNumber
A Boolean indicating whether the user can change their CvW number

33. User configuration

34. Response Group Service (RGS)
Voice improvements
Response Group Service (RGS)

35. Response Group Service (RGS) enhancements
RGS has been enhanced to improve scalability in Skype for Business Server
RGS Agent Group: 800
IVR group: 400
Agents per pool: 2,400
*Note: These numbers will be finalized after RTM testing is complete.

36. SILK in Skype for Business
Voice improvements
SILK in Skype for Business

37. SILK in Skype for Business
Scenarios
SILK is available in Lync 2013 desktop client today for mobile peer-to-peer calls
SILK will be the default codec for all Skype for Business and Skype P2P sessions. RTA still there for backward compatibility
SILK is not supported on single-core CPU
Supported clients
Lync/Skype for Business desktop client, Lync App
Mobile: Android, iPhone, iPad, Windows Phone
Unsupported clients
VDI Plug-in, Lync web app, Attendant, Lync Phone Edition

38. Call Quality Dashboard (CQD)
Voice improvements
Call Quality Dashboard (CQD)

39. Journey to Call Quality Dashboard
QoE Archive
Analysis Cube
Web API
Report portal
~150 pages
Sample SQL queries
Lync 2013 Network Guide
~30 SQL queries
PowerShell
Excel workbook
Call Quality Methodology

40. CQD features QoE archive
Cube-based reports based on SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS)
<1s query return performance against SSAS
Web API access to cube data
HTML5 + JavaScript Report portal
Report editing and design
Web download same ship with Skype for Business Server

41. Call Quality Dashboard (CQD)

42. Summary Core server improvements Voice improvements
Chat and presence reliability
Mobility Improvements
Conferencing reliability
Manageability improvements
Call via Work
Response Group Service (RGS) scalability
SILK in Skype for Business
Call Quality Dashboard