Specifications

8 Reference Architecture | Dell
TM
Unified Communication Solution with Microsoft® Lync® Server 2013 for Single Site
Implementation | Version 1.0
2 Microsoft Lync Server 2013
Microsoft Lync Server 2013 enables instant messaging and presence, audio and video conferencing, web
conferencing, and voice-interoperability. Its functionality can be extended by the use of Session Initiation
Protocol (SIP) trunks or PBXs/voice gateways to communicate with users on the telephony network
(PSTN). There are a number of different modalities that Lync Server provides to users, including:
• IM and Presence: The ability to view the status of other Lync users and update current status
(Available, Busy, Away, etc.). Conferencing with multiple users via IM is also supported.
• Audio Conferencing: Communicate with other Lync users using SIP and Real-time Transport Protocol
(RTP). Audio conferencing using Lync is especially cost-effective for enterprises with employees
spread across geographical locations because users can communicate using the enterprise data
network instead of expensive long-distance telephony.
• Video and Web Conferencing: Video and Web Conferencing allow users to run meetings using 1:1
and group video conferences, including optional recording, combined with desktop and application
sharing. These workloads are available with Lync Server and can be leveraged for day-to-day tasks in
the enterprise.
• Voice Interop with PSTN: Lync Server’s Mediation Server role, which can be collocated on Front End
or Standard Edition servers, works with a SIP trunk or telephony device (IP-PBX/gateway) to
communicate with telephone users within and outside the enterprise. In order to have Lync and phone
systems integrated, the Mediation Server role must be installed and configured.
Listed below are the new and existing server roles of Lync Server 2013:
• Front End Server—The Front End Server role handles Lync client authentication, instant messaging,
web conferencing, audio-video conferencing and user presence updates. It is the central component
of a Lync Server topology. The Front End Server has a local database that stores user data and
topology information. This role can be deployed in an Enterprise Edition pool. In Lync Server 2013, the
Archiving and Monitoring role is combined with the Front End role. The Archiving and Monitoring
component of the Front End role can be used to monitor user statistics and quality of experience
(QoE) within the Lync environment, for archiving conference content and instant messages for future
audits. This component also allows IT administrators to access call detail records and quality of
experience (QoE) statistics for Lync communication. Organizations can also deploy separate Archiving
and Monitoring roles, or use the new unified archiving features in Exchange Server 2013, as per their
requirements.
• Back End Server— Microsoft® SQL Server® serves as the backend for Enterprise Edition servers, and is
also responsible for Archiving and Monitoring roles and Persistent Chat roles. SQL Server maintains a
copy of the topology information, user contact lists, archiving/monitoring databases and logs, and
other data. Lync Server 2013 supports SQL mirroring with primary and secondary copies. High
availability for SQL databases can be provided via two SQL Servers servicing SQL mirrors.
• Mediation Server—This Lync role provides Enterprise Voice capabilities and handles the
communication between Lync front ends and media gateways or session border controllers (SBCs).
This role can be collocated with the front end. The Mediation Server facilitates traffic