2434215 - Learning: How to integrate Skype/Lync with LMS

How to integrate Skype/Lync with Learning management system?

SAP SuccessFactors Learning

Prerequisites :

• Have a VLS license installed
• the URL format should be  https://lyncdiscover.customerdomain.com
• Your Skype or Lync administrator must allow the SAP SuccessFactors Learning URL in the allow-list of the Skype/Lync server
• SKYPE IDs need to contain the company domain:examples: domain\UserID or userID@domain.com.
  Please note that since Skype is installed on premise, it will be within a domain (let's call it IT) so even if you choose the format userID@domain.com (example user@sap.com), when you will update the instructor VLS credentials in LMS it will have to be IT\UserID and NOT just user@sap.com, otherwise you will get a validation error -usually a connection server error (in our logs we will see a 401 unauthorized)

Context : 
The simplest configuration of Skype or Lync for VLS logs all users in as guests. Users type their name when they launch Skype or Lync, which is an extra step, but everyone in the meeting sees their names, and the instructor can take attendance.
Because Microsoft cannot record attendance automatically back to the LMS, the instructor must take attendance  even if users logged in as named participants instead of guests, so you lose very little by logging users in as guests. Your only loss is that Microsoft limits the amount of guests to 250. If you use Skype or Lync for small training events, then you are unlikely to reach the limit.

For a limit of 250 participants (including instructors) and an extra sign-in step, you assure that users can always get in to the VLS training session. If, however, it is important for you that your users always log in not as guests but with their Skype or Lync user names, you can set up their user names in a user custom column. If the value in the custom column is not null and not recognized by Skype or Lync, then the user is not able to enter the meeting room

Procedure

1. Go to SAP SuccessFactors Learning administration, and then go to System Administration->Custom Fields->User.
2. Click Add New to add a new custom field.
3. In Add New User Custom Column, type a number in Column Number, type Skype or Lync ID in Label, and select Referenced.  Write down the column number because you need it later.
4. In Edit the User Custom Column, do not add any references.  You do not add references because you always want this column to be null for all users. The null value triggers the log in as guest.
5. Go to System Administration->Configuration->VLS Configuration and open the Skype or Lync configuration file.
6. Add the column number that you added to custom_column_number.

Configuring Skype or Lync for VLS With Named User Accounts
Set up users' Skype or Lync accounts if you need more than 250 users in one Skype or Lync training session or if it is important to you that all users are not guests.

Prerequisites
Before you decide to add Skype or Lync user names to SAP SuccessFactors Learning, consider the simpler alternative: all users log in as guests. You must accept some limitations, but the management is easier. Configuring Skype or Lync for VLS (Simplest: All Users Guests)

Your Skype or Lync administrator must allow the SAP SuccessFactors Learning URL in the allow-list of the Skype/Lync server

Context
If you want to you use Skype or Lync for your VLS solution, and if you want all users to sign in under their Skype or Lync user names (and also avoid the 250 guest limit), then SAP SuccessFactors Learning needs to know the users' Skype or Lync user names. The first step in storing users' Skype or Lync user names is to create a custom column where it can be stored.

Procedure

1. Go to SAP SuccessFactors Learning administration, and then go to System Administration->Custom Fields->User and click Add New to add a new field.
2. In Label, type Skype or Lync ID and in Column Number, type a number that does not exist for other columns.  Make a note of the custom column number. You need it later, when importing users' Skype or Lync user names.
3. Clear the Referenced checkbox.
4. Click Add.
5. Go to System Administration->Configuration->VLS Configuration and open the Skype or Lync configuration file.
6. Add the custom field number that you added to custom_column_number. For example, <custom_column_number>200</custom_column_number>
7. Paste the URL to your Skype or Lync server in url_api_address For example, <url_api_address>https://lyncdiscover.mysite.com</url_api_address>
8. Optional: Change the value of site_name. Site name is your way to distinguish this Skype or Lync server from among the other servers you have configured.
9. Save and close the configuration file.

Next Steps
Using a user connector or the import tool (System Administration->System Management Tools->Import Data), import users' Skype or Lync user names to the custom field.

NOTE: When you Need to Set up Skype or Lync User Names
Set up Skype or Lync user names in SAP SuccessFactors Learning if you plan to exceed 250 employees in one training room.

Microsoft has built a limitation into Skype and Lync that allows only 250 guests in one training room. You can exceed that number if the people joining the meeting sign in with a recognized user name.  SAP SuccessFactors Learning can sign users into training rooms without an account as guests, but after the 250th person joins, the 251st person cannot be admitted to the meeting room. If you plan to keep your training sessions below 250 users, then the LMS does not need to know Skype/Lync user names, so you do not need to add them into custom columns.

Note: Kindly refer to the attached document or access the SAP Help portal for additional information. First time implementation should be done with a certified Partner.

SAP, SF, LMS, Successfactors, learning, VLS, Sype, Lync, integrate skype with LMS, Skype, XML , KBA , LOD-SF-LMS-VLS , Virtual Learning System , LOD-SF-LMS-SER , Config. Consulting & Service Requests , How To