How to Integrate Microsoft Lync 2010 with BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES)

Phoummala Schmitt

Oct 15, 2013

Do you have Lync 2010 and BES servers running in your enterprise? Did you know there is a Lync app for BlackBerry devices? Integrating Lync Instant Messaging (IM) with your BES server will give your users the ability to have Lync IM sessions while they are on the go.

Overview of the BES Collaboration Service

The Lync IM integration with BES is provided by the installation of the BlackBerry Collaboration Service. This service can be installed on your existing BES server or on a separate server that is dedicated to just the BlackBerry Collaboration Service. Using a dedicated server for the BlackBerry Collaboration Service will maximize your available TCP connections, allowing the service to respond to any increase of requests. The service works by creating an encrypted connection between your Lync server and the Lync app on your BlackBerry device. When IM sessions are started, the device sends the encrypted message to the BlackBerry Collaboration Service using Port 8181, after validation with the Lync server and AD, the service sends the message to the Lync server.

For environments with both BES 10.1 and BES 5, unfortunately you will need to install 2 different versions of BlackBerry Collaboration Service due to limited support on the new version. BlackBerry Collaboration Service 10.1 is only supported for devices running OS 10 or higher, so for devices that are older you will need the BlackBerry Collaboration Server 5.0.4 version. The following features are available on BlackBerry devices when integrated with Lync:

Initiate and manage IM sessions on their BlackBerry devices
Search their Lync contacts list
Manage their contacts and group contacts
Send email messages to Enterprise IM contacts or conversation participants
Users can view the presence of their contacts and their conversation history in the Enterprise IM app Users can email their conversations to themselves and their contacts

Install on the BlackBerry Collaboration Service Server: Prerequisites

There are a few requirements that need to be met before any installation or configuration can begin with the BlackBerry Collaboration Services. The requirements should be prepared in the following order on the BlackBerry Collaboration Service server.

The service account that is used to run the BlackBerry Collaboration Service needs to be added in the RTCUniversalServerAdmins group if you plan on utilizing automatic provisioning of the BlackBerry Collaboration Service within AD. If you want to manually provision, add the service account into the RTCComponentUniversalServices group.
Install the Microsoft SQL Server Native Client (sqlncli_x64.msi).
Download and install the Microsoft Unified Communications Managed API 2.0 Core Redist 64-bit.
Using Server manager, enable Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 SP1.
Locate and install the following files from the Microsoft Lync Server 2010 installation files:
- Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 Redistributable Package (vcredist_x64.exe)
- Microsoft SQL Server Native Client (sqlncli_x64.msi)
Install the ucmaredist.msi file from the Microsoft Unified Communications Managed API 2.0 Core Redist 64-bit that was downloaded in step 3.
Install the ocscore.msi file from the Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 R2, Core Components
You will need to install a web certificate with the following settings under the Personal Certificate folder for the local computer account.
- Subject Name = FQDN of your Lync Server pool
- Subject Alternative Names = FQDN of your Lync Server pool and the FQDN of the server that the BlackBerry Collaboration Service is installed on.
- Friendly = OCSConnector

Install the BlackBerry Collaboration Service

After all the perquisites have been completed you can continue with installing the BlackBerry Collaboration service, which can be installed on the same server as your current BES server or on a separate server.

Logon to the server with which you will be installing the component with the service account that installed the BES server. Typically this is the BESadmin account. If this is the same server as your BES server, stop all the BES services. If you’re on a separate server, stop all the BES services on your BES server.
Run the BES installation files for the version that you are going to install (such as the BlackBerry Collaboration Service 10.1.0).
During the setup, select use existing configuration database.
You will now be prompted to verify your database name and database server.

During the setup options select the BlackBerry Collaboration Service component:

Select your Lync server which will be Instant Messaging Server
Type the name of your Lync server in the HOST field
Type the FQDN of the Lync pool
Type Port number

You may be prompted to restart the server. Click OK.
Log back in the server using the BESadmin account and finalize the installation. You will need to restart all BES services.
If you added the BES service account to the RTCUniversalServerAdmins group, the BlackBerry Collaboration Service is automatically provisioned as a trusted application.

Deploy the Enterprise Instant Message Client

You have now completed the installation of BlackBerry Collaboration Service which means you can now start publishing the app for Instant Messaging.

Download the BlackBerry Enterprise Instant Messaging Client 3 app to the BES 10.1 server and place in a shared folder that the BESadmin account has access to.
Logon to the BES 10.1 BDS (BlackBerry Device service) go to the Software > Applications> and select Add or update applications.

Select the zip file that you placed in the shared drive and upload to the BDS and Publish the application.
Go back to Software. Select Create a Software Configuration, then enter a name for the configuration and click Save.

Click on the new software configuration you just made and select the Applications tab, then select Edit.

Click Add applications to software configuration and select the Enterprise Instant Messaging App you just published and click on Save.

To deploy the app you will need to assign the Software configuration to a group or users.
After deploying the software configuration, go the devices work partition and open BlackBerry World.
Click on the Company apps and select the Enterprise IM app to download and install to the device.