Skype for Business Server 2015 deployment steps are as same as it was in Lync Server 2013. In this blog post, I will cover all the steps which are required to install Skype for Business Server. First, have a look on high level deployment steps which will help you to keep your infra ready for successful Skype for Business Server deployment.

1. Domain joined Windows Server 2012/2012R2 with all recent updates. Better to use Windows Server 2012 R2, latest and greatest server operating system.

2. Download and install hotfix KB article 2858668 for windows server 2012 and KB article 2982006 for windows server 2012 R2.

3. Download and Install Silverlight.

4. Install Skype for Business Server prerequisite.

5. Run setup.exe from Skype for Business Server installation media.

6. Prepare Active Directory for Skype for Business Server. If you have Lync Server 2013 infrastructure, no need to update the Active Directory as it will display you “Complete”.

7. Create required DNS records. Assign Skype for Business Server admin rights.

8. Create Share folder and assign required permissions.

9. Install Administrative tools.

10. Prepare first Standard Edition server.

11. Create and Publish topology.

12. Install or Update Skype for Business Server system.

a. Install Local Configuration Store

b. Setup or Remove Skype for Business Server Components

c. Request, Install or Assign Certificates

d. Start Services.

 

I will cover step by step installation process from step 4 onwards.

Insert or map windows server installation media and open Powershell with administrative rights.

Note: In my setup, using D: for installation media. Change drive letter in below powershell cmdlet according to your setup.

Add-WindowsFeature NET-Framework-Core, RSAT-ADDS, Windows-Identity-Foundation, Web-Server, Web-Static-Content, Web-Default-Doc, Web-Http-Errors, Web-Dir-Browsing, Web-Asp-Net, Web-Net-Ext, Web-ISAPI-Ext, Web-ISAPI-Filter, Web-Http-Logging, Web-Log-Libraries, Web-Request-Monitor, Web-Http-Tracing, Web-Basic-Auth, Web-Windows-Auth, Web-Client-Auth, Web-Filtering, Web-Stat-Compression, Web-Dyn-Compression, NET-WCF-HTTP-Activation45, Web-Asp-Net45, Web-Mgmt-Tools, Web-Scripting-Tools, Web-Mgmt-Compat, Server-Media-Foundation, BITS -Source D:\sources\sxs

 

 

 

After installation restart server.

Run setup.exe from installation media. Or you can use powershell cmdlet to run the setup.

 

As Skype for Business Server 2015 support SMART setup. Therefore you can use “Connect to the internet to check for updates” otherwise select don’t check for updates right now.

Select Installation Location for Skype for Business Server and follow the steps.

Press “Windows + F key” and search for Skype for Business Server Management Shell and Deployment Wizard.

Open SfB Management Shell or Deployment Wizard to prepare active directory.

If you are using Deployment Wizard then click on prepare schema. (Make sure current user should be member of schema admins)

If using SfB Management Shell then run Install-CsAdServerSchema

Once schema is prepared then run Get-CsAdServerSchema. If you get SCHEMA_VERSION_STATE_CIRRENT as a result, it means you are good to go.

Check Schema Version from ADSI.

Open ADSI (adsiedit.msc) > Connect to Schema > Search for CN=ms-RTC-SIP-SchemaVersion and go to properties and search for schema lower and upper range.

rangeLower    3

rangeUpper    1150

Run “Prepare Forest” from Deployment wizard or run Enable-CsAdForest from SfB Management Shell. (Make sure current user is member of Enterprise Admins)

To verify run “Get-CsAdForest” and if the result comes “LC_FORESTSETTINGS_STATE_READY” then you are good to go. You can also open Active Directory Users and Computers and find group which has been created for SfB.

Run “Prepare Domain” from Deployment wizard or run Enable-CsAdDomain from SfB Management Shell. (Make sure current user is member of Domain Admins)

To verify run “Get-CsAdDomain” and if the result comes “LC_DOMAINSETTINGS_STATE_READY” then you are good to go.

 

Once prepare active directory step is completed successfully.

• Open Active Directory Users and Computers and make current user member of CSAdministrator
• Open DNS and create SRV and A records

i) Create _sipinternaltls service location record.

Open DNS Manager and select domain under Forward Lookup Zones. Right click on domain or right click on right pane and select other New Records

Select “Service Location (SRV)” and click on Create Record

Service: _sipinternaltls

Protocol: _tcp

Port number: 5061

Host offering this service: FQDN of your Standard Edition Server (Ex: se02.uc.lab)

ii) Create following Host(A) records

Dailin

Meet

Admin

Sip

Lyncdiscoverinternal

• Create Share Folder and Assign permissions

Create folder and go to the properties.

Click on Share.

Add local administrators group and assign full rights.

As well as go to the Advanced Sharing…

Add local administrators group and assign Full Control.

 

Now you are ready to start the installation of Skype for Business Server.

Open deployment wizard and click on “Install Administrative Tools”.

Once installtion is done. Press “Windows + F key” and search for Skype for Business Server. Now, you can see Skype for Business Server Topology Builder and Control Panel.

Now click on “Prepare first Standard Edition server” and follow the steps.

 

 

 

 

Press “Windows + F key”, open Skype for Business Server Topology Builder and follow the steps. Please enter the required details as per your environment.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I will cover Archiving and Monitoring Server installation in Part 2.

 

You can define Edge pool later in the topology.

 

Define file share which we created in previous steps.

You can define External Base URL for Web Services as per your requirements. (Ex: SEWeb.domain.com)

 

Right Click on “Skype for Business Server” and go to properties.

Assign “Administrative access URL” and “Central Management Store”. Click on Ok

Right Click on “Skype for Business Server” and “Publish Topology”

 

 

 

Now, it is time to install Skype for Business Server System. Click on “Install or Update Skype for Business Server System”

Click on Run “Install Local Configuration Store” and follow the steps.

 

 

 

Click on Run “Setup or Remove Skype for Business Server Components” and follow the steps.

 

 

 

Now Request and Assign Certificates. Click on Run “Request, Install or Assign Certificates” and follow the steps.

Click on Request.

 

Fill the form as needed. Click on Advanced and follow the steps.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Follow the same process for OAuth Certificate.

Once Certificates are assigned open SfB Management Shell.

Run “Start-CsPool –PoolFqdn <poolfqdn>

Type “Y”

Once, services are running open Skype for Business Control Panel and play with it. J

 

Part 2 of this article will cover Archiving and Monitoring; and Persistent Chat Server deployment.