You can make optimized audio and video calls with Skype for Business inside a virtual desktop without negatively affecting the virtual infrastructure and overloading the network. All media processing takes place on the client machine instead of in the virtual desktop during a Skype audio and video call.
VMware Virtualization Pack for Skype for Business Features
VMware Virtualization Pack for Skype for Business offers the following features:
- Execute calls and conferences using a HTTPS proxy server
- Response groups
- Microsoft Office Integration: start a Skype for Business call from Word, Outlook, SharePoint, and so on
- Quality-of-Experience allows Skype for Business clients to report call metrics to the Skype for Business server to generate reports
- Manage calls on behalf of someone else as a delegate
- Active speaker identification
- Call via X (home, work, and so on)
- Control the volume from the remote desktop
- E911 calls
- Call park and pick up
- Join external meetings anonymously
- Redirect calls to mobile devices
- Call statistics
- Smart card authentication
- Point-to-point audio calls
- Point-to-point video calls
- PSTN calls via dial pad
- Transfer, forward, mute, hold, and resume a call
- HID commands
- Calls to PSTN through mediation server
- Remote connectivity and calls through Edge Server
- Music on hold
- Custom ringtones
- Voicemail integration
- USB phones
- Published applications support
- Forward Error Correction (FEC) with audio and video
- Skype for Business online meeting
- Meet Now conferencing
- Whiteboarding and screensharing
System Requirements for VMware Virtualization Pack for Skype for Business
| System | Requirements |
|---|---|
| Microsoft Server | Lync Server 2013, Skype for Business Server 2015, Office365, Skype for Business Server 2019 |
| Microsoft Client | VMware strongly recommends that you use the latest Skype for Business client updates.
Note: Skype for Business Basic 2015 or 2016 clients are not supported.
|
| Virtual desktop operating systems | Minimum 2 vCPU requirement |
| Client machine operating systems | Minimum hardware requirement is 2.4 GHz dual core
VMware Virtualization Pack for Skype for Business supports the same Linux operating systems as those supported by Horizon Client for Linux. VMware Virtualization Pack for Skype for Business supports the same Mac operating systems as those supported by Horizon Client for Mac. |
| Deployments |
|
| Display protocols | VMware Blast and PCoIP |
| Network ports | The same ports as those used by the native Skype for Business client. See client ports in https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/skypeforbusiness/plan-your-deployment/network-requirements/ports-and-protocols. See also https://kb.vmware.com/s/article/52558. |
| Microphones and Webcams | The same devices that are qualified to work with Skype for Business. See webcams listed in https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/SkypeForBusiness/certification/devices-usb-devices. |
| Audio and video codecs | The same as the audio and video codecs used by the native Skype for Business client. See https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/skypeforbusiness/plan-your-deployment/network-requirements/network-requirements. |
| Compatible Peer Skype for Business Clients (non-VDI) |
|
| Media Feature Pack | Must be installed on the remote desktop for Windows 10 N and KN versions. You can install Media Feature from https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=48231. |
Installing VMware Virtualization Pack for Skype for Business
To use Skype for Business, you must install VMware Virtualization Pack for Skype for Business on the client machine. VMware Virtualization Pack for Skype for Business software is installed by default as part of the Horizon Client for Windows, Horizon Client for Linux, and Horizon Client for Mac installers. For Horizon Client installation information, see the installation and setup guide for the Horizon Client version.
A Horizon administrator must install VMware Virtualization Pack for Skype for Business on the virtual desktop during Horizon Agent installation. For Horizon Agent installation information, see the Setting Up Virtual Desktops in Horizon document.
VMware Virtualization Pack for Skype for Business contains these software modules:
- Horizon Media Proxy installed inside the virtual desktop
- Horizon Media Provider installed on the client endpoint
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\Lync\VdiMediaProvider - GUID(REG_SZ)
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Office\Lync\VdiMediaProvider - GUID(REG_SZ)
Pairing Modes for a Session
Lync.exe loads VMware Virtualization Pack for Skype for Business plugin on startup. The plugin checks for a valid session and writes the pairing mode state in the registry. To query pairing modes, verify that Lync.exe is running in the processes list, then check HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\VMware, Inc.\VMWMMAPlugin - PairingMode(REG_SZ).
- Optimized: a valid session
- Fallback: no valid session
- Optimized (version-mismatch)
- Fallback (version-mismatch)
- Connecting
- Disconnected
- Undefined
When Lync.exe exits, the plugin deletes the pairing mode value from the registry.
Users do not need administrator privileges to check the pairing mode. Multiple users logged in on remote desktops can find each user's pairing mode in the HKCU hive.
Configuring VMware Virtualization Pack for Skype for Business Group Policy Settings
You can configure group policy settings to change the default configuration. See VMware Virtualization Pack for Skype for Business Policy Settings.
VMware Virtualization Pack for Skype for Business Limitations
- Socks and http proxy servers are not supported.
- The VMware Virtualization Pack for Skype for Business solution does not support interoperability with third-party multiparty conferencing units, such as Pexip.
- Gallery view is not currently supported.
- You cannot record calls.
- Media Bypass is not supported. For details, see https://kb.vmware.com/s/article/56977.
- The double-hop scenario, such as Horizon Agent nested with Horizon Client, is not supported.
- Skype for Busines VDI optimized solution is not compatible for inter-operatibility with Lync 2010 clients.
- Using Lync or Skype for Business client on the client machine concurrently with optimized Skype for Business client in the remote desktop is not supported.
- The Lync 2013 client UI is not supported when connecting Skype 2015 client to a Lync 2013 server. An administrator can configure Skype client UI on the server: https://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/30282.switch-between-skype-for-business-and-lync-client-ui.aspx
- In the video preview window, if you want to preview a different camera than the one listed, select the device, then close the dialog, then re-open it to preview it. If you want the camera to update dynamically, use the Skype for Business 2016 Click-to-Run installer version 16.0.11001.20097 or later.
- If you are connected to a private network when you install Skype for Business on the remote desktop, the installer adds inbound and outbound firewall rules for that network profile. When you log on to the remote desktop from a domain network and then use Skype for Business, you see a firewall exception. To fix the problem, manually add firewall exceptions for Skype for Business client in the firewall rules for all network profiles.
