What's New in Lync Server 2013 for IT Pros?

Lync Server 2013 Preview and its client software, Lync 2013 Preview, enable your users to connect in new ways and to stay connected, regardless of their physical location. Lync and Lync Server bring together the different ways that people communicate in a single client interface, are deployed as a unified platform, and are administered through a single management infrastructure. Below is a concise list of new features in Lync Server 2013 Preview along with guidance for building your own test lab environment.

Learn about NEW Features in Lync Server 2013 Preview

• New Management and Administration Tools
• Topology Changes
• Operating System and Processor Support
• New Disaster Recovery and High Availability Features
• Changes in Role Based Access Control (RBAC)
• New IM and Presence Features
• New Conferencing Features
• New Features for External User Access
• New Enterprise Voice Features
• New Monitoring Features
• New Archiving Features
• New Exchange Server Integration Features
• New Persistent Chat Server Features
• New IPv6 Features
• New Unified Contact Store Feature
• New Video Features
• New Client Features

Build Your Lab

1. Download the Lync Server 2013 Preview installation bits
2. Download the Windows Server 2012 Release Candidate installation bits (Lync Server 2013 runs on Windows Server 2012, so you may as well test both at the same time!)
3. Install Office 2013 Customer Preview to get the new Lync 2013 client
4. Review the Planning Primer for an overview of the deployment planning process
5. Review the System Requirements for Lync Server 2013 Preview
6. Prepare your lab infrastructure for Lync Server 2013 Preview
7. Define and Configure your Lync topology
8. Implement your Lync topology
9. Setup your Front End Servers and Pools
10. Configure Dial-in Conferencing

HTH,

Keith