Lync FAQ

Hi,

I came acorss the post from Network world on a Lync frequently asked questions and I thought it would bo good to post here. Some of the questions I have placed below:

According to the post Lync is Microsoft's replacement for Office Communications Server (OCS) 2007 R2. However I feel that its much more - this release is a software based PBX solution and has loads of nifty collaboration . More details on this further in this post.

Lync includes Microsoft Lync Server 2010, Lync 2010 client, Lync Web App client and Lync Online, which is a hosted UC service. It would be interesting to see how Lync evolves on the cloud especially with Office 365 be launched.

How is the compatibility between OCS and Lync? Important for migration and tranition scenarios for existing customers. The Lync Server 2010 can talk to OCS 2007 clients however Lync clients cannot talk to the OCS Server 2007 R2. This means that customers during their transition could adopt Lync Server 2010 and continue to use OCS 2007 clients. But if they try to use the new clients with the older OCS 2007 R2 server, they won't interoperate.

What are the major management differences in features between Lync and OCS?
Lync introduces a new management server for Microsoft's UC and collaboration platform. The server is called Central Management Server, and it removes settings for Live Communications Server and Office Communications Server from Active Directory so customers don't have to change the AD schema. The new server is meant to make deployment less daunting.

How does Lync improve on 911 capabilities? Lync supports E911 so emergency responders can fix the location of callers using Lync. OCS did not support E911. This feature is beneficial to those in North America.

What is a Survivable Branch Appliance? Lync Server 2010 has the capability to switch the WAN links used to carry communications among branches of a business. If the primary IP link fails, the Survivable Branch Appliance reconnects the branch with the outer world via the traditional public switched phone network. These gateways are made by third parties such as Audiocodes, Dialogic, NET, to name a few.
And lastly, What are the alternatives? Microsoft competes with the likes of Avaya, Cisco and IBM in unified communications. Lets be honest here - when it comes to collaboration - Microsoft out performs the other vendors and the PBX vendors are mainly focused on.....well the PBX itself.