Jul 21, 2014
Lync Server 2013 is suitable for small organisations and for testing purposes where all functions run on a single box. The enterprise version of Lync Server 2013 allows you to run different roles on different boxes thus providing scalability and high availability. In the blog post, I will discuss and explain networking architecture in Lync Server 2013. The required server roles are front-end servers and back-end servers. Optionally, you can also run other roles such as edge server, mediation server, director and persistent chat server. Selection and implantation of such roles depend on the organisation’s requirements. The image below takes a look at the placement of such roles in the network, and will be a point of reference throughout the remainder of this post. The enterprise deployment of Lync Server 2013 consists of front-end pools. Front-end pools are collection of Lync servers sharing the load among each other. Each front-end server maintains its own database that is synchronised with other front-end servers, thus providing natural high availability and load balancing. The front-end servers provide the core Lync capabilities. The front- end servers are placed within the internal network. The Mediation Server role translates signalling, and in some configurations, media between your internal Lync Server infrastructure and a public switched telephone network (PSTN) gateway, IP-PBX, or a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) trunk. With Lync Server 2013, you can co-locate the mediation server role on the front-ends. As you can see in the diagram, the mediation servers are also placed on the internal network. You can also install a persistent chat role on dedicated boxes and place them on the internal network. Persistent chat enables users to participate in multiparty, topic-based conversations that persist over time. In order to allow your internal users to be able to communicate with the users outside the organisation’s firewall, you will need to deploy an Edge Server role in the DMZ zone. Deploying an Edge Server role also enables mobility services, which supports Lync functionality on mobile devices. Users can use supported Apple iOS, Android, Windows Phone, or Nokia mobile devices to perform activities such as sending and receiving instant messages, viewing contacts, and viewing presence. Edge Servers also include a fully integrated Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol (XMPP) proxy, with an XMPP gateway included on front-end servers. You can configure these XMPP components to enable your Lync Server 2013 users to add contacts from XMPP-based partners (such as Google Talk) for instant messaging and presence. Edge server requires a reverse proxy, which is used to publish the Lync services outside the organizations firewall. Another optional component, Director, can be placed in the internal zone. This role can authenticate Lync users but they do not host user accounts or provide conferencing services. In case of a denial of service attacks, the attack ends with the director and does not flow towards the front-end servers. Apart from these Lync server roles, you will also have other associated workloads such as Active Directory Server, Microsoft Exchange Server, SCOM Server and WAC Server within your internal network. If you’re interested in finding out more about networking architecture, be sure to take a look at New Horizons’ Lync Server 2013 courses.How do your Excel skills stack up?
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