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emconsulting

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Lync Server 2013 connectivity issues

I stood up a Lync 2013 server on a single 2012 R2 virtual machine in a datacenter. Users at our branch office have full Lync functionality while at the office. There is a VPN from the branch office to the datacenter network the Lync server is on. Instant messaging works outside of the office however video chat, screen sharing and calls fail due to a network failure. The Lync windows app and mobile app also fail outside of the network. I have researched this issue but haven't found a clear path to know where to start. Thanks for the help.
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Steven Sheeley
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Are you using Lync for just IM and Presense or are you using it for Enterprise Voice as well?
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emconsulting

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Currently using it for IM and presence because this is the only working component outside of the office. We would like to utilize enterprise voice as well as the other features.
I assume that you have users that are NOT at the branch office that are able to use the full functionality of Lync?
No user has full functionality outside of the branch office.

Everyone has full functionality at the branch office. No one has full functionality outside of the office.
Sorry, just trying to wrap my head around this issue.

User A and User B reside/work at the branch office. They can IM and see presence between each other just fine, the can create a meeting and each of them can join that meeting.

User C and User D resides at the main office. They can also do everything with Lync internally to each other.

No user from the branch (User A or B) can see the presence of any user (C or D) in the main office nor can they IM with them. Ditto for Users A & B to users C or D.

If all of the above is true you need to check your VPN. Most VPN's require specially configuration to allow Lync Traffic to flow as it should.

From Technet:  "When users connect to the corporate network using a VPN client, Lync media traffic is sent through the VPN tunnel. This configuration can create additional latency and jitter because media traffic must pass through an additional layer of encryption and decryption. It is the reason for the poor call quality and a lot of issue during meeting.

It is recommend to enable Lync media to bypass a VPN tunnel as the above blog described if you use Lync through VPN.
"
Sorry for the confusion, there are only two sites in this connected via VPN (Main office and datacenter). Users at the main office have full functionality with Lync. Lync has just IM and presence everywhere else but that is it. The rest of the functionality fails when on a different network.

It seems as though you only get full functionality with Lync when connected through VPN.
I'm assuming that your main office is also connected to the datacenter via VPN?
Yes, main office connected via VPN to DC = Full functionality
Everywhere else = IM and presence (no other functionality works)
Ok, please break this into a few parts.

Part one, please let me know if the users at the Main Office can IM, see presence, attend group chats, do video and audio between other members of the Main Office.
Part two, please let me know if the users at the Branch Office can IM, see presence, attend group chats, do video and audio between other members of the Branch Office.
Part three, please let me know if the users at the Main Office can IM, see presence, attend group chats, do video and audio between other members of the Branch Office.
Part four, please let me know if the users at the Branch Office can IM, see presence, attend group chats, do video and audio between other members of the Main Office
There are only TWO sites in this situation: Main Office and Datacenter

Main office to datacenter (VPN between the sites):
Part One: Full Functionality: IM, Presence, Group Chat, Audio and Video

Everywhere else to Datacenter (no VPN):
Limited functionality: IM and Presence
You said in your original question there there was a Branch Site:  "There is a VPN from the branch office to the datacenter network the Lync server is on."  Now you stated the following:
"There are only TWO sites in this situation: Main Office and Datacenter

Main office to datacenter (VPN between the sites):
Part One: Full Functionality: IM, Presence, Group Chat, Audio and Video

Everywhere else to Datacenter (no VPN):
Limited functionality: IM and Presence
"

You have repeatedly listed a Main Office, a Branch Office and a Data center. The original question read as if the Main Office was the site of the data center, now it is not.

I'm sorry and I am not trying to be rude at all but I do not understand your topology or your setup and I really don't understand what the issue is specially given the statement "Everywhere else to Data Center".  Where is everywhere else?  Who are you having issues communicating with?
Let's start over. It has always been a two site scenario with a VPN. I have pasted my original question but replaced "Branch office" with "Main office"

I stood up a Lync 2013 server on a single 2012 R2 virtual machine in a datacenter. Users at our Main office have full Lync functionality while on the office network. There is a VPN from the main office to the datacenter network the Lync server is on. Instant messaging works outside of the main office however video chat, screen sharing and calls fail due to a network failure when outside of the main office network. The Lync windows app and mobile app also fail outside of the main office network. I have researched this issue but haven't found a clear path to know where to start. Thanks for the help.

Sorry for the confusion.
Can you give me your complete topology? How many FE's, how many mediation servers, Directors and Edge servers you have?
I have a single Windows Server 2012 Standard R2 virtual machine hosting all of the Lync 2013 roles.
And where is your edge server sitting? is it in the DMZ and does it have two separate NICs, one to your internal network and one (Minimum) to the world?
No edge server. Is this my problem?
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Steven Sheeley
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Thanks, I will review.
May I suggest that the question be closed and points awarded as your questions has been answered?  Thank you.
Do not need any further assistance at this time.
This question should be closed and points awarded for an answer which was given.

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Steven Sheeley2014-11-11 at 11:11:14ID: http:#a40435801
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