Johann's Unified Communications : lcs

Integrating LCS presence with Lotus Notes

jkruse — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 05:24:18 GMT

Have you ever wanted to embed LCS 2005 presence controls within Lotus Notes applications? Well I have good news for you - we've released an updated toolkit to include utilities, documentation and examples on how to do just that.

The Microsoft Office Communicator Integration Module for Lotus Notes is designed to enhance the adoption of Microsoft Office Communicator and Live Communications Server 2005 within organisations using IBM Lotus Notes. This toolkit focuses on the following objectives:

Allow Notes users to immediately experience Live Communications Server technologies working in their own environment
Support Notes developers to quickly integrate Live Communications Server technologies into their own custom Notes applications

Download the toolkit from http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/info.aspx?na=22&p=19&SrcDisplayLang=en&SrcCategoryId=&SrcFamilyId=&u=%2fdownloads%2fdetails.aspx%3fFamilyID%3dda49a15d-e953-46ed-9380-e2ad82285b72%26DisplayLang%3den

Some example screenshots are below....

Technorati Tags: lcs, presence, lotus notes, dev

How to protect your IM infrastructure

jkruse — Fri, 25 May 2007 02:07:13 GMT

After reading about the latest worm to infect public IM networks, I wanted to quickly post about how enterprises can protect their LCS infrastructure from these attacks.

We have a free tool for LCS called the Intelligent Message Filter

The Intelligent Instant Message Filter program helps protect your Microsoft Office Live Communications Server deployment against the spread of the most common forms of virus with minimal degradation to the user experience.

The Intelligent Instant Message Filter program is a managed program that can be installed on the following Live Communications Server roles:

Live Communications Server 2005 with SP1, Standard Edition

Live Communications Server with SP1, Enterprise Edition

Live Communications Server with SP1, Access Proxy

Live Communications Server with SP1, Proxy Server

Live Communications Server with SP1 is the minimum version required. The Intelligent IM Filter is not supported on Live Communications Server 2005 without SP1.
The Intelligent Instant Message Filter program enhances the functionality of the IMFilter program, which is installed by default on all Live Communications Servers with SP1, by providing the following:

Enhanced URL filtering

Enhanced file filter control

Logging capabilities

Enhanced URL Filtering

By using the Intelligent Instant Message Filter program, you can configure URL filtering based on the following options available on the URL Filter tab:

Allow hyperlinks to be sent in any conversation. If this option is selected, the hyperlink is active (clickable) or inactive depending on the client configuration. By default, URLs are sent as inactive in Microsoft Office Communicator 2005. The client behavior can be controlled by a GPO policy.

Allow local intranet URLs. If this option is selected, local intranet URLs are permitted in instant message conversations, regardless of the other settings. Be aware that local intranet URLs are defined on each individual Live Communications Server in the Internet Explorer security tab. This Internet Explore setting on each Live Communications Server determines what types of links the server recognizes as an intranet link.

Block all intranet and Internet hyperlinks that contain any of the file extensions defined on the File Transfer Filter tab. If this option is selected, the Intelligent IM Filter blocks any active intranet or Internet hyperlink that contains a file with an extension listed on the File Transfer Filter tab. When the instant message is blocked, an error message is returned to the sender.

Block instant messages that contain hyperlinks. If this option is selected, Intelligent IM Filter blocks the delivery of any instant message that contains a hyperlink, and an error message is sent back to the client. This is the behavior of the IMFilter program, which is installed by default with Live Communications Server 2005 with SP1.

Allow instant messages that contain hyperlinks, but convert the link to plain text. If this option is selected, the program prefixes the hyperlink with an underscore so the hyperlink is not functional and the user cannot click it. Instead, the user must copy the URL, remove the underscore, and paste it into a Web browser to access the site. When you select this option, you can also customize a notice that is sent to users at the beginning of each instant message containing a hyperlink.

Allow instant messages that contain active hyperlinks If this option is selected, the Intelligent IM Filter permits instant messages with active hyperlinks. You can also configure a warning that you want to insert at the beginning of each instant message to notify users of the potential danger of clicking on a link.

Enhanced File Transfer Control

The Intelligent IM Filter program controls how file transfers are enabled in a Live Communications Server deployment. The file transfer feature can also be disabled on the client using a GPO policy.
The following options are available on the server side using the Intelligent IM Filter:

Allow any file transfer request through the server: If this option is selected, file transfer filtering is disabled, and any file transfer request going through the server is routed.

Block file transfer requests for specific file extensions: If this option is selected, the administrator can specify file extensions that should be blocked by the server in file transfer requests. File transfer requests that contain defined file extension are blocked by the server, and an error message is returned to the client.

Block ALL file transfer requests: If this option is selected, all file transfer requests are blocked by the server.

Logging Features

Live Communications Server 2005 Intelligent IM Filter offers logging capabilities so that you can monitor the SIP messages

In addition to the capabilities provided by the Intelligent Message Filter, we also have advanced anti-virus capabilities with Antigen for LCS.

Read more at http://www.microsoft.com/antigen/prodinfo/datasheets/default.mspx
Try a virtual lab at http://www.microsoft.com/technet/traincert/virtuallab/antigen.mspx

Load Balancers with Live Communications Server 2005

jkruse — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 09:02:33 GMT

Load balancing is based on various forms of network address translation (NAT) at layers 2 and 3 of the networking stack. You may also know that network topologies can be built using different NAT modes. You with me so far? OK then… load balancers can be connected in two LCS topologies, as an independent node on the network or as an intermediary device between the Front End servers and the rest of the network. The first type of connection I mentioned is referred to as a one-arm topology while the latter is referred to as a two-arm topology. The product group supports only Front End servers with a single network interface card with a single IP address. After you tell them this, here’s where customers go off and ask about configs that aren’t supported. Configurations involving two or more IP addresses and/or two or more network cards per Front End server could potentially work but they are not tested and not supported by Microsoft. No support cases, no code changes if issues are discovered.

More at http://blogs.technet.com/uc/archive/2007/03/30/load-balancers-with-live-communications-server-2005.aspx

Office Communications Server 2007 - public beta

jkruse — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 10:35:13 GMT

Imagine the complexities of modern communications condensed into a seamless experience with one address book, one voice mail, and one login across every mode of communication. That's what Microsoft is doing.

We're combining e-mail, IM, voice, and video into a single, intuitive system built around people, not technology. And we're building it all into the Microsoft Office system the world knows and trusts.

Companies will replace conflicting systems with a single, unified communications platform that leverages their existing data and telecommunications infrastructure. IT departments will deliver more flexible, more secure communications, with simplified infrastructure that streamlines management and reduces total cost of ownership.

People-centric, integrated, secure communications that's the promise of Microsoft's vision for unified communications.

UC webcasts

jkruse — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 00:08:40 GMT

Here are two great webcasts on integrating LCS 2005 and Exchange 2007 with your existing telephony infrastructure...

Enhancing Messaging with Real-Time Communications

Messaging and calendaring are important, but sometimes what you need is instantaneous, real-time communications. This session describes how to extend your communications environment with Live Communications Server 2005 and Office Communicator to take advantage of enhanced presence, call control, and Voice over IP capabilities alongside your messaging system.

http://www.microsoft.com/emea/itsshowtime/sessionh.aspx?videoid=294

Delivering Anywhere Access: Exchange Server 2007 Unified Messaging

Exchange 2007's Unified Messaging server role allows you to unify voice, fax, and message data into a single inbox that users can access via the web, through Outlook 2007, or on Windows Mobile or Macintosh clients. This session describes the Unified Messaging server role, introduces the new Outlook Voice Access component, and explains how to integrate it into your existing telephony infrastructure.

http://www.microsoft.com/emea/itsshowtime/sessionh.aspx?videoid=293

Office Communications Server 2007

jkruse — Thu, 14 Dec 2006 05:09:00 GMT

We recently announced the private beta of the next version of LCS, named Office Communications Server.

From the press release...

REDMOND, Wash. — Dec. 11, 2006 — Microsoft Corp. today opened a private beta of its new enterprise voice communications server, Microsoft® Office Communications Server 2007, to 2,500 IT professionals. Office Communications Server 2007 allows companies to integrate voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) technology into existing telephony infrastructure, eliminating the need for expensive network overhauls and also extending the useful life of existing investments. The new voice server will also allow workers to instantly launch a phone call from 2007 Microsoft Office applications, such as Office Word 2007, Office Outlook® 2007 or Office Communicator, by simply clicking on a colleague’s name to determine his or her availability and initiate a person-to-person or multiparty call.

http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2006/dec06/12-11PrivateBetaPR.mspx

I'm actually in Seattle now for the TAP Summit mentioned in the release and I can say that this technology is amazing - it is going to revolutionise the way we view communications.

LCS - common questions

jkruse — Thu, 14 Dec 2006 05:04:00 GMT

When I talk to customers about Live Communications Server (LCS) and Office Communicator (MOC), I often get asked the same questions.

I've addressed most of these below but feel free to ask more by replying to this post - as more questions are asked I will add them to this page.

1. What are the system requirements for LCS?

See the Live Communications Server 2005 system requirements. In addition, you can review the Live Communications Server 2005 planning and quick start documentation available on the Live Communications Server Deployment Center.

2. What clients are supported

Office Communicator
Windows Messenger 5.1 *
Communicator Web Access
Communicator Mobile

* While Live Communications Server 2005 SP1 continues to support Microsoft Windows Messenger 5.1 for presence and instant messaging scenarios, Communicator 2005 is the preferred client for enterprise-to-enterprise federation, telephony, and public IM connection scenarios.

3. What versions of Office does Live Communications Server work with?

There are a couple of points to consider here:
- MOC 2005 will presence-enable Office 2003 and newer
- Smart-tags require Office 2003 SP2 or newer
- LCS/MOC do not require Office - they can exist independently to provide presence and RTC capabilities

4. What is the difference between Standard and Enterprise editions?

Standard Edition is best for small and mid-size companies, or smaller enterprise organisations, with user data stored locally and support for up to 15,000 active users per server. Enterprise Edition is built for large organisations, with user data stored in a back-end SQL Server database and support for more than 100,000 active users per server pool. For more information, see the Live Communications Server Feature Comparison.

5. What versions of SharePoint does LCS work with?

2003 and newer

6. How do I federate my LCS server with Microsoft?

Make sure your LCS infrastructure meets the following requirements:
- Live Communications Server 2005 with Service Pack 1 must be installed
- Live Communications Server Access Proxy must be installed
- Public interface of the Access Proxy must be accessible to the Microsoft Access Proxy. Do a DNS look up against sipfed.microsoft.com for the current IP if ACL reuired
- _sipfederationtls._tcp.sip-domain.com must be published of type SRV in public DNS pointing to the access proxy's FQDN on port 5061
- Certificate used on the Public interface of the Access Proxy must be signed by a public Certificate Authority
- Certificate common name must match the FQDN of the Access Proxy
- Certificate must be 128bit
- Branding.am script must be configured on the Access Proxy
- Network of Origin icon must be 16x16 Pixels, 96 dots per inch, and PNG format
- Network of Origin icon must be published on a SSL web site
For more information please reference the below links:
- Live Communications Server 2005 Document: Reference Guide
- Live Communications Server 2005 Document: Deploying Access Proxy
- Live Communications Server 2005 Document: Configuring Certificates
- Live Communications Server 2005 with Service Pack 1 Resource Kit
- NOTE: the branding.am for NOO or Network of Origin is located and documented in the Resource Kit
If you meet the above requirements, contact your Microsoft Account Manager, or me by using the form on this blog, to discuss federation with Microsoft

7. Which Public IM networks does LCS work with?

MSN, Windows Live, Yahoo and AOL

8. Can I trial Public IM Connectivity?

Yes there is a free, 60 day, 10 seat Public IM Connectivity trial. To qualify for the trial, participants must be either a Select, Enterprise, or Open Value customer. Since Public IM Connectivity is dependent on Live Communications Server 2005 with SP1, the trial participant must either have licenses for or be running Live Communications Server 2005 with SP1. To request a trial, please contact your Microsoft account manager.

9. When will web conferencing be part of LCS?

We currently have a hosted web-conferencing service called LiveMeeting
Office Communications Server 2007 (currently scheduled for Q2 CY2007) will have on-premise web-conferencing capabilities

Want a job in UC at Microsoft?

jkruse — Sun, 26 Nov 2006 18:23:00 GMT

Are you passionate about communications? Keen to be part of the future of UC, VOIP and convergence? An expert in LCS and LiveMeeting? Want to work for Microsoft? Well - read on!

We are currently looking for a RTC Technology Specialist to join our Unified Communications Group here in Sydney.

This is a technical role to enable customers and partners to develop, deploy, and support UCG solutions. You will need deep technical expertise, effective sales and presentation skills, and superior customer focus.

http://members.microsoft.com/careers/international/default.asp?lang=EN&loc=AUS&job=90305668