Microsoft Lync Server 2013 Unleashed

The most comprehensive, realistic, and useful guide to Microsoft Lync Server 2013, today’s leading Unified Communications system.

Four expert Lync consultants and implementers bring together in-the-trenches guidance for all facets of planning, integration, deployment, and administration. The authors introduce Microsoft Lync Server 2013, outline what it can do, and review the key improvements Microsoft has made in this version.

They cover every form of communication Lync Server can manage, including IP voice, instant messaging, audio/video conferencing, web conferencing, and more. You’ll find expert guidance on planning infrastructure, managing day-to-day operations, server roles, multi-platform clients, security, troubleshooting, and much more.

Microsoft Lync Server 2013 Unleashed contains a new section on Office 365 and Lync Online, a chapter covering coexistence between on-premise and Office 365 Lync deployments, and another introducing Lync online configuration and administration.

Throughout, the authors combine theory, step-by-step configuration instructions, and best practices from real enterprise environments. They identify common mistakes and present proven solutions and workarounds. Simply put, they tell you what works--and show how it’s done.

Detailed information on how to…
• Plan for any type of deployment, from simple to highly complex--including virtualized environments
• Walk step-by-step through installation, and understand important new changes in the installation process
• Overcome obstacles to successful migration from older versions of Lync or Microsoft Office Communications Server
• Manage server roles, including Front End, Edge, Monitoring, Archiving, and Director roles
• Efficiently administer Lync Server 2013 through the Lync Server Management Shell
• Leverage Lync Server 2013’s significantly improved capabilities as a PBX replacement and videoconferencing solution
• Integrate Lync with third-party video platforms, voice/video gateways, and cloud services
• Evaluate the option of providing Lync services through Microsoft Office 365 hosting
• Make the most of Lync Server 2013’s dramatically upgraded web, mobile, and desktop clients

Alex Lewis, MCITP, CISSP, has a mixed background in telecommunications, IT, and consulting, with more than 15 years of experience. He has worked with the Lync family of products since the Exchange 2000 instant messaging service and a number of other solutions, including Cisco, Avaya, Nortel, Shoretel, and NEC. He has worked with a wide range of environments from small organizations to large enterprises requiring complex or custom communications solutions, and he is responsible for architecting and implementing some of the largest Lync deployments in the world. Alex is a strong believer in the power of business and technology alignment using technological solutions to reduce costs and drive revenue and leveraging Communications Enabled Business Processes (CEBP) to accelerate business success. Including titles on Active Directory and Exchange, and two on Lync, Alex has participated in writing eight books from 2004 to present. He is currently principal consultant at Modality Systems, a boutique international consulting firm focused on Microsoft unified communications. He loves a challenge and brings a wealth of experience to each new engagement. In his spare time Alex enjoys scuba diving with sharks and beach volleyball.

Tom Pacyk is one of only a few people worldwide to hold both the Microsoft Certified Master certification and the Microsoft Most Valuable Professional award for Lync Server. Tom works as a Principal Systems Architect at ExtraTeam and is currently based in Chicago, Illinois. He began his career as a systems administrator and has moved into working as a consultant for the past seven years, designing and implementing collaboration solutions for large and small customers. His Unified Communications work began with the original Exchange 2000 instant messaging service, and he has been involved with implementations of every version of the product up to Lync Server 2013. Outside of work Tom runs a blog related to Microsoft Lync and Exchange topics, and he enjoys writing thrilling nonfiction books such as this one.

David Ross, MCITP, VCP, CCEA, CCSP, has more than 14 years of experience in IT consulting, the majority of which has been spent playing the lead architect role on network design and implementation projects throughout the San Francisco Bay area. David is currently acting as a principal engineer for Convergent Computing, and he develops hybrid solutions involving multiple vendor technologies for organizations of all sizes. Specialties for David include Active Directory, Exchange, Lync, Citrix technologies, virtualization solutions using VMware vSphere and Microsoft Hyper-V, and Cisco routing, switching, and security technologies.

Randy Wintle is a Unified Communications Architect specializing in planning, architecture, and implementation of enterprise unified communications solutions. Randy has an exceptional track record for driving success on large enterprise deployments of Microsoft OCS and Lync Server 2010. He has successfully guided several large organizations in their development of strategies to enhance their business through Microsoft UC solutions. Randy is both a Microsoft Certified Master and a Microsoft MVP for Lync Server 2010, a rare combination and evidence of his technical prowess and recognition as an industry expert. Randy frequently participates in community and Microsoft-sponsored technical events. He helped develop the Microsoft training and certification programs for Lync and OCS. Randy has been previously published in the book Microsoft Lync Server 2010 Resource Kit. He has also contributed to many online whitepapers and has a very successful UC blog.