UC Unleashed

Update: A newer version of this script has been released, and is available at Set-Lync2010Features.ps1 v5.0 – automated prereq PowerShell script for Lync Server 2010 released

If you’ve followed this blog for a while, you may remember one of the more popular posts, Automated prerequisite installation via PowerShell for Exchange Server 2010 on Windows Server 2008 R2. In that script, I used some simple techniques to help take some of the boring tasks out of installing Exchange 2010 servers. It was updated several times, and a new update is coming soon.

Well, Lync Server MVP Stale Hansen took that script and adapted it to installing the prerequisites for Lync Server 2010 and posted the results online. He did some neat things like installing the Best Practice Analyzer and the Resource Kit.

I got tasked with Lync responsibilities on my current project, so I took a closer look at the Stale’s version of the script, and decided to add some more code. Here are some of the changes:

1. The script now prompts you about installing the telnet client. The telnet client isn’t REQUIRED, but is often recommended. Since my current project is in a high security environment, installing anything that isn’t absolutely required is generally frowned upon. So I made it optional.
2. I added the option to disable IPv6. Lync Server 2010 doesn’t make use of IPv6 at all, so this option might prove handy.
3. I added the option to install the Lync Server 2010 Stress and Performance Tool, the Visual C++ 2008 Redistributable that the Lync installer complains about, and options to install the recently released IM and Expert feature as well as starting Windows Update. Note that the IM an Expert piece is still early in testing. Note also that the Visual C++ install should be done after rebooting the server, otherwise it throws errors.
4. Behind the scenes, I cleaned up a LOT of code – something I’ve been meaning to do to the Exchange prereq script as well. The script now looks to see if something is installed before trying to install it. The Resource Kit and BPA both have documentation that is MS Word based, so the script will ask you if you want to automatically install the free MS Word viewer and related filters.
5. The OS detection method was cleaned up, and now supports any version of 2008 R2, including RTM and various service packs.

I’ve built 6 production servers and haven’t noticed any issues yet. But, as always, use at your own risk.

The code can be downloaded at Set-Lync2010Windows2008R2Features.zip. Rights required are local server admin. Also, set your execution policy to unrestricted in order to be able to run this unsigned script.

I welcome any comments, suggestions, concerns.