@Dashrender There is some licensing requirement but I don't remember if it is the Microsoft CAL or if a separate license is required by Polycom for the phone itself. If I get a chance today I'll look it up.

You are correct. I should have stated "IP phones" and not "SIP Phones". The phones CAN run sip but I know that Polycom's use their own UC firmware for S4B. As for just your off-the-shelf SIP phone that I do not know, I've only had experience with the Polycom VVX ones.

Also, check out Jeff Schertz's blog it is my go to resoruce for Polycom and Lync/S4B integration. Here is an entry on Polycom UCS for VVX phones:
http://blog.schertz.name/2015/09/polycom-ucs-5-4-for-vvx-phones/

Skype for Business does support a limited number of SIP phones. We are using Polycom VVX310's with our installation, utilizing Polycom's "Bring Together Over Ethernet" (BToE) solution to have the S4B software client and the phone "sync" for things like status changes. I was not directly involved in the implementation other than installing an FTP server on our Front End server to serve the provisioning files for the Polycom's
Here is a .PDF on installing BToE
http://support.polycom.com/global/documents/support/technical/products/voice/Using_Polycom__UC_Software_BToE.pdf.
I do believe you need to procure a license form Polycom for each Polycom phone used by Skype for Business, but do not quote me on that I am unsure if the Skype for Business CAL handles the license requirement or not.

2006?? Somebody either typo'd or recycled a very old label

@scottalanmiller 100% correct kind sir, I withdraw my previous comments. I unfortunately have fallen for the ponzi scheme that is cloudatcost (luckily out only a few bucks) so I will be looking at other providers for my test bed

@Minion-Queen Agreement here. ugh my worst day of the calendar year.

I've been toying with the idea of a PBX on cloud myself using Digital Ocean. NerdVittles has a write up on FreePBX on that platform. http://nerdvittles.com/?p=17205

Ohh..this other server's got an SD card slot...hmm XS on SD??

@DustinB3403 @scottalanmiller Thanks will review. I've been following @BRRABill thread as well

@scottalanmiller and I got another old server here...hmmm...XS off usb? Would do ESXi but been there already

Finally...got an older server here to boot Hyperv2012R2 from USB for a little experimentation

Fios is in Some areas of Buffalo, NY. It is limited within the city boundaries (I think North Buffalo only??), and in some suburbs. I have 25/25 at my house in Amherst, our HQ in Tonawanda I just ordered 150/150 for, but one "burb over FiOS is not available.

@scottalanmiller We have some business in Utica still but higher-ups decided to consolidate to our Syracuse location.

Pretty much get my US news from BBC and CBC, I don't watch local news any more. Drives my wife nuts that I insisted on putting an antenna up just to get the Canadian TV stations to watch their national news every night.

Old thread but...We just closed our Utica office, we had a 35 down 5 up cable modem from Time Warner and experienced no issues; and in fact when I called to cancel the service they offered a free upgrade to 50 down 5 up . Was going to take it but why upgrade the speed when there's NO OFFICE??

@scottalanmiller Symon P. from 5Nine software, and Max K. from Starwind

Attending Storwinds webinar on HyperConvergence solutions

Don't get me stated on cell availability around here (Western NY). Buffalo/Rochester area is the worst, regardless of carrier or technology. 4G? I'm lucky if I can get CDMA 1X in my building, and I"m only a mile from a tower! Now, in the "boonies" I would expect that but not in a relative major suburban area. I've literally gone up into less populated areas of New England or the middle of Pennsylvania expecting little to no service, and get not just 4G, but full on XLTE with measured 20 Mbit down!

Probably NOT what you're looking for, but Dell has a line of rack mount workstations:
http://www.dell.com/us/business/p/precision-r7910-workstation/pd?oc=cupr7910w7p

Our one division uses these in rack media cabinets for school auditoriums