Hi

We have many users complaining about problems when inviting external persons to join a Lync conference. The problems starts when the external part, has a local Lync client installed, but not configured.(they don't have a Lync account any where) 

When the external part is using the link provided in the invitation, the local Lync client is uses instead of the LyncWebApp. Since this the client is not configured, and they dont have any username/password, they cannot join the conference.  I found a strange tip online where you add ?sl=1 to the end of the meeting url. This actually works, because it bypasses the local Lync client and forces the meeting join to use Webb App, but surely there is a way of configuring something to make this easier to work?

Brgds

Claus Jarrels

Hi Claus,

You have already identified the work around for forcing the Lync Web App over the locally installed client.

Unfortunately I do not believe there is an alternate way to automatically force this behavior. A shame because not all companies have the luxury of forking out for CALs across the board.

Someone may have configured agroup policy that edits the local registry to bleed Lync out of that particular users account, and then applied that policy to all non-lync enabled users, but I have not read or seen such progress.

Failing that it's either ?sl=1 suffix or Lync enabled.

Srry its not the immediate answer you're looking for.

• Proposed as answer by Anthony CaragolMVP Wednesday, November 20, 2013 4:08 PM
• Marked as answer by Kent-Huang Monday, December 02, 2013 6:33 AM

I agree with Ben
the only way to achieve this is to add  ?sl=1 to the end of the URL.

Regards

Iain Smith

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• Proposed as answer by Anthony CaragolMVP Wednesday, November 20, 2013 4:09 PM
• Marked as answer by Kent-Huang Monday, December 02, 2013 6:33 AM

Hi,

There may be a work around using ?sl=. But its an all or nothing scenario so you'll have to weigh the number of meetings with successful results against complaints to see how to go about it.

Since meeting URL's are published through reverse proxy, you may be able to configure your reverse proxy to force the Silverlight client - always. Check this out - http://www.avianwaves.com/Blog/entryid/175/Using-a-Reverse-Proxy-to-Automatically-Force-External-Lync-Meeting-Guests-to-Use-Silverlight-Client.aspx

Other than that, unfortunately there isn't any configurable option in Lync.

Hope that helps.

Hi,

The purpose of Lync Web App to provide the in-meeting experience for anyone who does not have a Lync client installed locally. If Lync client is not installed on a users computer and the user clicks a meeting link in a meeting request, Lync Web App opens.

There is no such configuration setting or switch to force use Lync web App except using ?sl=1 to the end of the meeting URL.

I know that this is a very old thread, but I think that a reply to Kent is very much needed.  Many companies are using Lync without connectivity to the internet.  If I were to send them a Lync meeting invite, their Lync would open and not be able to connect.  My company and Lync looks bad to these other companies and our employees because they can connect to every gotomeeting, webex, etc. without any problems and without having to modify the URL.

All of a sudden all the Lync links are dead! The server appends "First Online Meeting?" to check for meeting readiness and give options for downloading the plugin and joining via web app, and also checks for Silverlight and popup blockers, but we're getting the equivalent of a 404 from it now

First online meeting?

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