Front End, Mediation, Monitoring, Archiving, Edge, Chat…with all these servers running, Lync Server 2013 must need a lot of database storage.
But how much is required? How many SQL Servers should a Lync administrator deploy?
Some of Lync requires a SQL Server database; some does not. But you’ll need to decide how many beforehand, because each SQL Server instance must be installed and available PRIOR to setting up their databases (via Topology Builder or PowerShell).
So let’s go through, server by server, and figure it out.
STANDARD EDITION
Standard Edition Front End Server
We start off easy. Standard Edition Server comes with its own database – SQL Server 2012 Express. It’s even auto-configured when you install Standard Edition Server.
SQL Server Instances Required (Minimum): 0
ENTERPRISE EDITION
Enterprise Edition Front End Server
Of course, Front End requires a SQL Server instance. It needs a place to store the back-end database. Next!
Mediation Server
A critical server, many admins debate whether to collocate Mediation Server on a Front End Pool, or place it standalone. However, you don’t need a separate SQL Server instance for it.
Monitoring & Archiving
Since both the Monitoring and Archiving Servers can be collocated on Front End in Lync Server 2013, they can use the same SQL Server as Front End. They will each have a database to themselves (and you should install SQL Server Reporting Services too, for Monitoring).
–Placing these databases on their own SQL server instead would provide an extra security layer, if properly configured. But for most small or mid-size deployments, it’s not necessary.
Director
Our friend the Director, standing guard against the tide of harmful access attempts. Since it has no users homed on it, it doesn’t really need its own database.
Persistent Chat
Persistent Chat stores your chat history, configuration and user provisions in a SQL database. You can install a second database to store compliance data, if you like. Both of these databases can reside in the same SQL Server instance as the Front End Server’s.
Edge Server
Remote access, enabling mobility…Edge Server must require a separate SQL Server for itself, right? To protect all that important connection data?
Well…Yes and No. Edge Server runs SQL Express Edition for a local CMS. Another instance of SQL Server is not required.
SQL Server Instances Required (Minimum): 1
(Reference: Server Collocation in an Enterprise Edition Front End Pool Deployment – TechNet Library)
Of course you can create multi-system SQL Server pools if you like. Or use mirroring, or clustering for higher availability. I’ll cover those later on.
Oh, one last thing! Remember that Lync Server 2013 requires you use Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 SP1, or Microsoft SQL Server 2012. Don’t forget!
How many SQL Server databases are you running in your Lync pools?
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