Lync 2013 Server Types

Lync Server 2013 systems rely on a variety of server types. Shown here is a simplified system built on Lync Server 2013.

Front End servers play the central role in a Lync system. Front End servers are typically organized into pools of multiple servers that share load for a specific population of users. In Lync Server 2013, they do all of the following:

• Authenticate users, track users’ network locations, and set up communications sessions among users
• Distribute user presence information and deliver instant messages (IMs)
• Schedule and host Web conferences, and mix and distribute digital audio and video to conference participants
• Route and set up voice calls and run applications that implement advanced voice features such as Routing Groups (also known as automatic call distribution or hunt groups)
• Capture traffic to comply with data retention policies and aid troubleshooting; for example, archiving IMs and conference content and running the monitoring service that captures