Microsoft has released CU1 for Exchange Server 2013 RTM

Last week Microsoft released Cumulative Update 1 (CU1) for Exchange Server 2013 RTM. This update has been long awaited as it is the last piece required to enable migration from Exchange 2007 and Exchange 2010. One could argue that this CU actually makes the product useable; this would definitely be true for non-greenfield installation or lab installs. Regardless, it is now here and the install upgrade process may begin.

One of the interesting delivery changes of CUs from the Exchange team with Exchange 2010 is the lack of a patch but instead the entire product is delivered/re-deployed. This is great if you are doing a new install as you simply install the latest code instantly (think slipstreamed). This is unfortunate for those that like to catalog and maintain past updates as each update is going to be over 1.5GB in size (compressed).

A few observations and gotchas observed… My installation type included a production running RTM version of 2013 and a new install of 2013 using the CU1 code.

1)      The installation process and the upgrade process are not quick – the upgrade took longer (as expected) and had 18 steps rather than 15 for the new install.

2)      The ability to uninstall CU1 after upgrading from RTM is not listed as an option. The only program listed in add/remove is Exchange 2013 CU1 and it is not listed as an installed update.

3)      If you have Exchange 2013 RTM installed and upgrade to CU1, the web.config file is replaced. This impacts the Lync integration into Outlook Web App so do not forget to edit and add the Lync configuration back.

4)      Prior to CU1 the Lync integration only required configuration of the OWAVirtualDirectory backend attributes InstantMessagingEnabled, InstantMessagingType, InstantMessagingCertificateThumbprint, and InstantMessagingServerName and OWAVirtualDirectoryfrontend attributes InstantMessagingType. After CU1 in addition to all the original required attributes we also nedd on the frontendattribute InstantMessagingEnabled. Without the newly require attribute, nothing lights up in OWA.

5)      A reboot BEFORE and AFTER installing CU1 is required.

6)   Make sure if you are upgrading using the command shell that you are using ELEVATED rights.

7)      If preparing the Schema, Forest, Domain using the command shell, make sure you include the /IAcceptExchangeServerLicenseTerms switch or things will not work.

The Download for Exchange 2013 RTM CU1 may be found below along with a link to the Exchange Team’s blog – they nicely go over all of the new and exciting features.

Product

Version

KBs

Download

Exchange Server 2013 RTM CU1

15.00.0620.029

2816900

MS download

Microsoft Releases April 2013 CU for LPE Updates

Some new updates have been released for Lync Phone Edition devices and this update specifically address the issue where the phone and Exchange were never in sync. When voicemail was listened to on a LPE device 9 out of ten times it was not reflected within Exchange and thus the MWI lamp remained on and a logout/in of the phone was the only way to clear it. This was not a problem in the past but at some point I suspect the issue was introduced in a CU.

The Tanjay (CX700) devices receive the update as well as the Aries (Aastra, HP, and Polycom) - the update process is no different from before with an Import-CsDeviceUpdate command. Alternatively you can use the PS command that Dave Howe created to automate the process for you. The PS1 can be found here - just rename from .txt to .ps1 and run from a Lync Management Shell.

As a complete side not, I currently use MangBlog for my blog postings and a recent update fixed a few things and broke a few others - hence the table formatting...I hope to have the issue resolved soon or perhaps I will move to a new platform (it must run under Adobe ColdFusion)...

Product

Version

KBs

Download

Lync Phone Edition for Aastra 6721ip and Aastra 6725ip

4.0.7577 4387

2819315

MS Download

Lync Phone Edition for HP 4110 and HP 4120

4.0.7577 4387

2819320

MS Download

Lync Phone Edition for Polycom CX500, Polycom CX600 and Polycom CX3000

4.0.7577 4387

2819322

MS Download

Lync Phone Edition for Polycom CX700 and LG-Nortel IP Phone 8540

4.0.7577 4387

2819325

MS Download


Additional Notes:

Lync Server 2010 build number is 4.0.7577.216
Lync 2010 Client build number is 4.0.7577.4378
Lync Server 2013 build number is 5.0.8308.291
Lync 2013 Client build number is 15.0.4454.1506
Lync Group Chat build number is 4.0.7577.4102
Lync Group Chat Server build number 4.0.7577.4778
Lync Group Chat Admin build number 4.0.7577.4102
Lync Attendee build number is 4.0.7577.4356
Lync Attendant build number is 4.0.7577.4098
Lync Phone Editions build number is 4.0.7577.4387
Lync 2010 for iPhone build number 4.7
Lync 2010 for iPad build number 4.7
Lync 2013 for Windows Phone build number is 5.0.8250.0
Lync 2013 for iPad build number is 5.0
Lync 2013 for iPhone build number is 5.0
Lync Basic 2013 build number is 15.0.4420.1017
Lync VDI 2013 build number is 15.0.4420.1017