Both Lync Server 2013 and Skype for Business Server 2015 are supported with the .Net Framework 4.6.2. Skype for Business Server must have the February 2017 update for Skype for Business Server or later installed.

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This update can be found at https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/3061064/updates-for-skype-for-business-server-2015

Lync Server 2013 must have the November 2016 update, or later installed. This update can be found at https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=36820.

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Execution of Scripts

When you try to run a powershell script on Windows, you may receive the following error stating that the execution policy on your computer does not allow you to run the script.

To fix this error, you must change the PowerShell execution policy for this computer.  These instructions will explain how to allow “Unrestricted” access to running scripts on your computer.

1. To set the execution policy to unrestricted, enter the following command (PowerShell must be run as an Administrator):

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Backup Script

Needed a backup script which i can run from the powershell or with use of the Windows schedular. I’ve created some checks on folders and succesrate. The scripts also can email you when backup is succesful/failed. If you have any suggestions please let me know!

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        ##################################### Backup Script ###############################################
        ## Name: Backup_Script.ps1                               
        ## Creator: Erwin Bierens                     
        ## CreationDate: 10-02-2017                               
        ## LastModified: 10-02-2017                                
        ## Version: 1.0
        ## Website: https://erwinbierens.com/powershell-backup-script
        ## 
        ## Description: Copies the Backupdir to the Destination folder
        ## Deviations will be written to logfile
        ## Only Change Variables in Variables Section  
        ##
        ## Thx to the followingg scripts i created this one, source information
        ## http://www.krist-online.nl/index.php/scripts/14-robocopy-powershell-wekelijks-backup-schema
        ## https://blog.sat.iit.edu/2011/11/backup-script-using-robocopy-and-powershell/
        ## 
        ##
        ## Example: powershell -command "& 'c:\temp\Backup_Script.ps1' "
        ## 
        ####################################################################################################
        
        ####################
        ##Variables Section
        ####################
        
        ## Source directory
        $source="C:\Temp\Backup\A"
        
        ## Destination Directory
        ## you can also use the network path "\\server\share"
        $destination="C:\Temp\Backup\B\"
        
        ## Destination Log File
        $logfile="c:\temp\backup\logbestand.txt"
        
        ## BackupRapport is being used to check if backup is succesfull
        $backupReport="c:\temp\logfile_backup.txt"
        
        ## Make changes for email reports
        $EmailFrom="backupscript@bierens.it"
        $EmailTo="erwin@bierens.it"
        $SMTPServer="192.168.178.32"
        
        ## Email Subjects and Body info
        $successEmailSubject="Backup Succesfull"
        $successEmailBody="The Backup is succesfull"
        $failEmailSubject="Backup Failed"
        $failEmailBody="The backup is failed, please check the attached log file"
        
        ## =========================================================
        ## =========== DONT CHANGE PARAMETERS BELOW ================
        ## =========================================================
        
        ## Check if destination exists, if no create folder
        if (!(Test-Path -path $destination))
        {
        New-Item $destination -type directory
        }
        
        ## robocopy command
        ## /XO Excludes older files.
        ## /COPY:DATSO Specifies the file properties to be copied. D Data, A Attributes, T Time stamps, S NTFS access control list (ACL), O Owner information
        ## /E /Purge Mirrors a directory tree
        ## /R:10 Specifies the number of retries on failed copies. The default value of N is 1,000,000 (one million retries)
        ## /log: Writes the status output to the log file (overwrites the existing log file). use /log+: for appending 
        ## /NP Specifies that the progress of the copying operation (the number of files or directories copied so far) will not be displayed.
        robocopy $source $destination *.* /XO /COPY:DATSO /E /purge /R:10 /log:$logfile /NP
        
        ## Check variables to compare source and destination
        $check_source = Dir $source
        $check_destination = Dir $destination
        
        ## Compare source and destination, write deviations to backup report 
        Compare-Object $check_source $check_destination -PassThru > $backupReport
        
        ## Create and send email after succesfull backup
        function sendSuccessEmail{
        send-mailmessage -from $EmailFrom -to $EmailTo -subject $successEmailSubject -body $successEmailBody -Attachments "$logfile" -priority High -dno onSuccess, onFailure -smtpServer $SMTPServer
        }
        
        ## Create and send email after unsuccesfull backup
        function sendFailEmail{
        send-mailmessage -from $EmailFrom -to $EmailTo -subject $failEmailSubject -body $failEmailBody -Attachments "$logfile" -priority High -dno onSuccess, onFailure -smtpServer $SMTPServer
        }
        
        ## If backupreport is empty, backup is succesfull send email
        $File = Get-ChildItem $backupReport
        if ($File.Length -eq 0) {sendSuccessEmail}
        
        ## If backup report is not empty, something is going wrong. Email will be send
        $File = Get-ChildItem $backupReport
        if ($File.Length -gt 0) {sendFailEmail}
        #EOF

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In order to send mail from your own mailserver (in this case Microsoft Exchange 2016) you’ll need to setup a send connector. In this tutorial i’ll show you how to configure this part.

Configure the Send Connector

Go to your Exchange admin center.

Go to Send Connectors and add a new connector.

Name the connector and select Internet and click next.

Select “Route mail through smart hosts”

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Configure ARR

Open your IIS Manager, right click “Server Farms” and “Create Server Farm”.

Specify a Server Farm name, i used Skypeweb

Click “Next”.

Server address must be your Front-end pool, click show advanced setting and set the following ports httpPort 8080 httpsPort 4443 And click “Add” and “Finish” These ports are configured on your Front-end server for external traffic. Click Yes at the next screen. (this will save you some time later..)

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Intro

Let’s take a small adventure into the world of free SharePoint. Yes, Completely free!

SharePoint Foundation 2013 is technically free (Exept your windows license ofcourse) and can do a whole lot for you without needing to spend significant amounts of money on Server editions of SharePoint.

Downloading SharePoint Foundation

Finding SharePoint Foundation was not as easy as one would expect. Going to www.sharepoint.com, and clicking Try or Buy didn’t render a link. I clicked Try Now under SharePoint Server 2013. Then off to the right under Related Downloads is a link for SharePoint Foundation 2013. Wait, that doesn’t have SP1 which is required for Windows Server 2012 (but SP1 has been retracted, hasn’t it?), so I searched some more and found it. Lucky for you, you can download it from: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=42039. If you’re running Windows Server 2008, you can download it without SP1: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=35488. Looks like Microsoft doesn’t necessarily want to show off this free version is readily available.

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Preparing for installation**

Before installing SQL Server 2016 you need to prepare your system.This guide will help you to apply all patches needed for installation.

Start with installing .NET framework 3.5 via Server Manager (link), Go to Windows Update and make sure the following settings are correct(see image below)

No check for new updates and make sure all updates are installed.

Before you can install the KB2919355 patch you will need to download and install KB2919442: Update voor Windows Server 2012 R2 first.

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Skype for Business External Connectivity

Skype for Business external connectivity (federation) enables a Skype for Business user to connect with users in other organizations that use Skype for Business as well as those that host their own Skype for Business Server on-premises.

Federated contacts can see presence, communicate by using IM, and make Skype-to-Skype audio and video calls.

There are a couple of federations important to have:

• Skype for Business Online (Office365)
• Exchange Online (Office365)
• Skype for Consumer (Skype.com)

Following are the federation relationships that are supported by Skype for Business and the available modalities:

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While installing a new Skype for Business enviroment i walked in to a error when prepping the forest. After searching a while on TechNet and other forums i found out that the schema’s couldn’t run from the Skype for Business Front end server.

The execution failed the parameter is incorrect 00000057

Error: An error occurred: “Microsoft.Rtc.Management.ADConnect.ADOperationException” “Active Directory operation failed on “masterdc.skypedev.nl”. You cannot retry this operation: “The parameter is incorrect 00000057: LdapErr: DSID-0C090D87, comment: Error in attribute conversion operation, data 0, v2580"”

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Organize your mailbox

Do you also recognize a overloading email inbox, to much unreaded emails and no time to clean up, ‘Inbox Zero’ may be the solution for your problem!

Yesterday i was reading a blog (sorry, it’s in Dutch) from Michel Bouman from Microsoft. Last year he wrote a blog about how he implemented ‘Inbox Zero’ method by Merlin Mann in his life. In short terms, you have 4 folders(categories):

• Action
• Archive
• Sometime
• Waiting For

Every email you receive you will validate agains the rules below:

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