Lync Server 2010 Roles
What is Lync Server 2010?
Microsoft Lync Server 2010 allows users to seamlessly communicate regardless of their physical location. Lync Server 2010 integrates different methods into a single easy to use interface.
Instant Messaging and Presence allows users to communicate in real time and allowing increased productivity. Presence status integrates with other Microsoft products as Exchange. This allows users to approach the person at the right time with right method of communication. Lync server 2010 supports public IMs such as MSN, AOL and Yahoo.
Conferencing in Lync Server 2010 supports features much better than 3rd party providers such as webex. IM chat rooms, audio conferencing, video conferencing and app sharing is all included in Lync Server 2010. Lync Server 2010 also integrates into PBX phone systems allowing users to call in from anywhere. VOIP in Lync Server 2010 is intended to enhance or replace PBX systems.
Lync server 2010 allows users outside your company (external users) to communicate seamlessly with internal users. This is done by placing Lync Edge servers at DMZ as a proxy between internal and external users.
Lync Server 2010 Server Roles
Just like Exchange 2010 Lync can be split in multiple roles for redundancy and scalability.
Standard Edition Server
Standard Edition server is designed for smaller deployments. Standard Edition allows organizations to run all the necessary roles for less expensive deployment without high availability.
The Front End server
The Front End server is main server that runs many Lync services. Front end server and the database server is the required roles. Lync Front End pool is an array of load balanced servers that provide services to common group of users.
Front End server functions are:
- Client registration and authentication
- Presence availability information, DL expansion and address book services
- IM services including IM conferences (chat rooms)
- Web conferencing and app sharing
One front end pool server in the deployment run the CMS (central management server), which manages the master copy of the configuration data. A service connection point SCP is created for CMS during installation. This data is different from data that resides in the SQL database.
A/V Conferencing Server
A/V conferencing server provides A/V services to Lync clients. This can be installed as a single role or with front end server.
Edge Server
Lync Edge Server role is one of the most important server roles because it’s a proxy between internal and external clients. This role allows Lync clients to communicate with users outside company firewalls, which includes external users that may not have an account in your company’s Active directory.
Mediation Server
Mediation Server is a necessary component for implementing VOIP and voice conferencing. This role process and translate different voip codecs. If you already have a existing voip system, you will be running a SIP trunk to your voip system.
Monitoring Server
This role collects data from Lync infrastructure and allows administrator to run reports.