Deploy Skype for Business Client vía GPO

Hello I bring to you a way to deploy Skype for Business with Office 365 Click-to-run tool.

First we need to Download Office 2016 Deployment Tool from here

Then we need to shared a Folder in one Machine (This Folder must be accesible from any user computer, will be the Installation repository)

I create a Folder Named “Shared” (Yes , I Know, Such Original!) and give Everyone Read-Only Permission.

Unzip the Office 2016 Deploymet Tool Files at Shared Folder

As we only want to Install Skype for Business we need to modify the configuration.xml file like this. (We will use 32 bits version as Recommended Version)

First modify the initial configuration file to download the Office Suite

<Configuration> <Add SourcePath=”\\server\Shared_File” OfficeClientEdition=”32″> <Product ID=”O365ProPlusRetail” > <Language ID=”en-us” /> </Product> </Add> </Configuration>

My configuration.xml file look like this

Then execute the follow to download the necessary files

\\server\shared_folder\setup.exe /download \\server\shared_folder\configuration.xml

For me, will be as follow.

An Office Folder will be added to our Shared Folder.

Now, we need to create a .cmd file as Follow.

IF EXIST “C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\lync.exe” (goto End) else (goto Install) :Install start \\ad-ucblogmx\Shared\setup.exe /configure \\ad-ucblogmx\Shared\configuration2.xml :End

Put the .cmd in the same Shared Folder.

And create a second .xml file (I called Configuration2.xml) where select only Skype for Business to Install.

<Configuration> <Add SourcePath=”\\server\share_folder” OfficeClientEdition=”32″ Branch=”Current”> <Product ID=”O365ProPlusRetail”> <Language ID=”en-us” /> <ExcludeApp ID=”Access” /> <ExcludeApp ID=”Excel” /> <ExcludeApp ID=”Groove” /> <ExcludeApp ID=”InfoPath” /> <ExcludeApp ID=”OneDrive” /> <ExcludeApp ID=”OneNote” /> <ExcludeApp ID=”Outlook” /> <ExcludeApp ID=”PowerPoint” /> <ExcludeApp ID=”Project” /> <ExcludeApp ID=”Publisher” /> <ExcludeApp ID=”SharePointDesigner” /> <ExcludeApp ID=”Visio” /> <ExcludeApp ID=”Word” /> </Product> </Add> <Updates Enabled=”TRUE” Branch=”Current” /> <Display Level=”None” AcceptEULA=”TRUE” /> <Property Name=”AUTOACTIVATE” Value=”0″ /> </Configuration>

For my lab the configuration2.xml look like this.

Now, from Group Policy Manager, create a GPO. I name my GPO “Skype for Business Install”

Edit your GPO, go to Computer Configuration->Windows Settings -> Scripts (Startup/Shutdown) , Select Startup

Now, add the Network Path to our .cmd File (must be the network path, not local disk)

and Listo! The users computers will have Skype for Business installed.

Hope this will help you.