Topic Last Modified: 2010-11-03

Microsoft SQL Server 2005 and Microsoft SQL Server 2008 have specific requirements when installing and deploying Microsoft Lync Server 2010. Because Windows and SQL Server define their security differently, logging in as an administrator in the Active Directory domain does not implicitly grant permissions for SQL Server. You must also be a member of the sysadmin entity on the SQL Server-based server you are configuring.

Permissions Required for Database and Lync Server Installation

The following options detail three permissions and group membership associations for installation of Lync Server files and SQL Server databases. Choose the scenario that best meets the requirements of your organization.

Permissions and Group Membership Associations

SQL Server or Lync Server role Role-Typical SQL Server permissions and group membership Role-typical Lync Server permissions and group membership Permissions outcome

Lync Server administrator

Must be granted membership of sysadmins SQL Server security group and member of the SQL Server local Administrators group

Must be a member of the RTCUniversalServerAdmins group

Lync Server administrator has the proper permissions to install both Lync Server and SQL Server databases.

SQL Server administrator

SQL Server sysadmin group member (or equivalent) and member of the SQL Server local Administrators group

Must be a member of the RTCUniversalServerReadOnly group

SQL Server administrator has the proper permissions to install both Lync Server and SQL Server databases.

Both administrators sharing installation duties

SQL Server administrator is member of sysadmins group (or equivalent) and member of the SQL Server local Administrators group

Lync Server administrator is member of RTCUniversalServerAdmins

The Lync Server administrator can install Lync Server, but cannot install the databases. The SQL Server administrator uses the Lync Server Management Shell and Windows PowerShell cmdlets provided by the Lync Server administrator to install the databases. The Lync Server Management Shell used by the SQL Server administrator is installed on the Front End Server. This eliminates the need to install the Lync Server administrative tools on the SQL Server-based server.