How to deploy Lync 2013 client using SCCM

In this post we will see how to deploy Lync 2013 client using SCCM. There are two versions of the Lync 2013 client available, Lync Basic 2013 and Lync 2013. Lync Basic 2013 provides all the basic functionality that’s available in the full version of Lync 2013 except some of these.

The Lync Basic client includes enhanced presence, contacts, instant messaging (IM), Lync meetings, and basic voice functionality. Features not supported in Lync Basic include multiparty video, OneNote integration, virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) support, skill search, recording, Enterprise Voice features, and advanced call handling.

To compare the features and capabilities of Lync 2013 clients you can read Client comparison tables for Lync Server 2013

Where can I download the Lync 2013 clients ?

Lync Basic 2013 is available on the Microsoft Download Center and comes in two versions:

• Microsoft Lync Basic 2013 (64 Bit)
• Microsoft Lync Basic 2013 (32 Bit)

Lync 2013 is available via the Microsoft Volume Licensing Service Center for customers with a Volume Licensing agreement.

You can download the Lync 2013 client from VLSC or you could use OCT to customize the Lync 2013 which comes with Office 2013. To customize client installation in Lync 2013, you can click on this link.

So my Lync configuration file consists of few lines of code. I have saved this file with name config-pd.xml inside the folder lync.ww.

You can download the configuration file here.  As an example, in this post we will see Lync 2013 32 bit client deployment. You could follow the same procedure to deploy Lync 2013 64 bit client deployment.

How to deploy Lync 2013 client using SCCM

Let us now look at the steps to deploy Lync 2013 client using SCCM.

• Copy the Lync setup folder to the sources folder or any shared folder on the ConfigMgr server.
• Launch the Configuration Manager console, click Software Library.
• Under Application Management right click Applications and click Create Application.

Choose Manually specify the application information and click Next.

Specify some information about the application such as Name, Publisher etc. Click Next.

You can specify more information about the application here, the information specified here will be seen by user in the Application Catalog. Click Next.

We will now configure the Deployment Type for Lync 2013 client setup. Click Add.

Let the deployment type be a Windows Installer (*.msi), choose Manually specify the deployment type information. Click Next.

Specify some information about this deployment type and click Next.

For the Content Location, provide the path where the Lync 2013 files are present. The next step is to specify install and uninstall command.

Specify the Installation Program and Uninstall Program as shown in the below screenshot.

Click Next.

Lync 2013 Client Detection Method

On the Detection Rule window, choose Setting Type as File System. Under Specify the file or folder to detect the app, set the following

• Type – File
• Path –%ProgramFiles%\Microsoft Office\Office15
• File or Folder name – lync.exe

Click OK and then Next.

Click on Add Clause. On the Detection Rule window, choose Setting Type as Registry. Under Specify the registry key or value, set the following

• Hive – HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
• key– SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\15.0\Registration\{0EA305CE-B708-4D79-8087-D636AB0F1A4D}\ProductName
• Value – Microsoft Lync 2013

Click OK and then Next.

In the above steps we have added 2 rules to detect the presence of the app. One of these rules to detect the app is also fine. Furthermore under Connector field change And operator to Or. Click Next.

Selection the Installation behavior as Install for system if resource is device; otherwise install for user, Logon requirement as Whether or not a user is logged on and Installation program visibility to Hidden. Click Next and complete the remaining steps.

Click Close.

Testing Lync 2013 Client Installation

Right click the Lync application and click on Distribute Content. Add the Distribution Point and complete the wizard. After you distribute the application to DP, right click on the Lync application and click on Deploy.

Choose the Collection where this application is to be deployed and click Next. Under Deployment settings, set the Action as Install and Purpose as Available. Click on Next and complete the wizard.

After few minutes the Lync 2013 app can be seen in the Software Center under Available Software. Select the app and click on Install Selected. The app is downloaded from the DP and installed.

The Lync 2013 client is installed successfully.

The Lync 2013 client has been installed on the computer. If you want to what’s going in the background during the client installation, you can open the AppEnforce.log file on the client computer using Trace Log Tool. If the app fails to install you can check this file for troubleshooting purpose.