Topic Last Modified: 2013-11-07

Note:
For details about hardware requirements, see Server hardware platforms.

Standard Edition and Enterprise Edition servers share the same software requirements.

Servers running Lync Server 2013, Enterprise Edition are intended for large organizations as the main organizational deployment. Enterprise Edition server is designed to scale to approximately 80,000 homed users per pool. Servers running Lync Server 2013, Standard Edition are intended for smaller organizations and remote locations from the main organization deployment. One pair of Standard Edition servers can support up to 5,000 users.. For details on the differences between Standard Edition servers and Enterprise Edition servers, see Deployment Overview.

Operating System Installation

Important:
Lync Server 2013 is available only in a 64-bit edition, which requires 64-bit hardware and a 64-bit edition of the Windows Server operating system. A 32-bit edition of Lync Server 2013 is not available with this release.

Standard Edition and Enterprise Edition server can use any of the following:

  • Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 or latest service pack

  • Windows Server 2012

  • Windows Server 2012 R2

Install the operating system software on the Standard Edition Server or Enterprise Edition Front End Server. Apply all updates in order to bring the operating system up to the latest update and required update level consistent with your organization’s standards. For more details about the operating requirements, see Server and tools operating system support in the Supportability documentation.

Additional Software for Lync Server 2013

In addition to the updates required for the operating system, Lync Server 2013 requires operating system roles, features, and software to operate. For details about the additional software that must be installed prior to publishing your topology and installing Lync Server 2013, see Additional software requirements in the Planning documentation.

Additional Software Necessary for All Server Roles

On all server roles, you must also make sure that Windows PowerShell command-line interface 3.0 and Microsoft .NET Framework 4.5 are installed.

Additionally, Windows PowerShell command-line interface 3.0 and Microsoft .NET Framework 4.5 are required on any computer where you will run the Lync Server administrative tools.

Windows PowerShell 3.0

Lync Server 2013 requires you to install Windows PowerShell 3.0 on each computer that will take part in your Lync Server topology. For details about installing Windows PowerShell 3.0, see Installing Windows PowerShell 3.0.

Note:
On Windows Server 2008 R2 with SP1, Windows PowerShell command-line interface 3.0 cannot be installed before installing Microsoft .NET Framework 4.5.

Microsoft .NET Framework 4.5

When you install Microsoft .NET Framework 4.5 on servers that will run Lync Server 2013 on Windows Server 2012 or Windows Server 2012 R2, you must perform one additional step. After .NET Framework 4.5 is installed, use Server Manager to install HTTP Activation.

To Install .NET 4.5 HTTP Activation on Windows Server 2012 or Windows Server 2012 R2

  1. From the Start menu, click Programs, then click Administrative Tools, then click Server Manager.

  2. In Server Manager, under Features Summary, choose Add Features.

  3. Expand .NET Framework 4.5.

  4. Select WCF Activation if it isn’t already selected. Then select HTTP Activation.

  5. Click Next and follow the prompts to finish the installation.