[This is pre-release documentation and subject to change in future releases. This topic's current status is: Milestone-Ready]

Topic Last Modified: 2010-07-14

The hardware and software requirements for edge components include those for the Microsoft Communications Server 2010 components, including Edge Servers and Directors, as well as those for other components, including reverse proxy servers, firewalls, and load balancers to be deployed the perimeter network to support external user access. For details about the components required to support external user access and supported topologies, see Components Required for External User Access.

Hardware and Software Requirements for Edge Servers and Directors

The operating system requirements for Edge Servers are the same as for the other Communications Server 2010 roles: the 64-bit edition of the Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2008 R2. In addition, the operating system must be configured for the Application Server role and be running the .NET Framework 3.5 SP1. Directors are internal components and installed as part of the internal network prior to deployment of Edge Servers. For hardware and software requirements for Directors, see Requirements for Director.

The following table shows the hardware requirements for Edge Servers.

Hardware System Requirements for Edge Servers

Hardware component Minimum requirement

CPU

One of the following:

  • 64-bit dual processor, quad-core, 2.0 GHz or higher

  • 64-bit 4-way processor, dual-core, 2.0 GHz or higher

Memory

12 GB recommended

Disk

Local storage with at least 30 GB free disk space

Network

2-port 1 Gbps network adapter (recommended)

Communications Server 2010 is available only in a 64-bit edition, so each Edge Server and Director requires one of the following operating systems.

  • The 64-bit edition of Windows Server 2008 Enterprise Edition with SP2 operating system, or the 64-bit edition of Windows Server 2008 Standard Edition with SP2 operating system.

  • The 64-bit edition of Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise operating system, or the 64-bit edition of Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard operating system.

Communications Server 2010 also requires installation of the following programs:

  • Microsoft .Net 3.5 SP1

  • Windows PowerShell version 2.0

Additionally, Communications Server requires the Microsoft Visual C++ 2008C redistributable, but it is automatically installed as part of the Edge Server installation.

Hardware and Software Requirements for Reverse Proxy Servers, Load Balancers, and Firewalls

Hardware and software requirements for reverse proxy servers, load balancers, and firewalls are dependent on the specific hardware and software used to deploy these components. For these hardware and software requirements, see the product documentation of the hardware and software that you chose to deploy for these components. For example, if you use Microsoft Forefront Threat Management Gateway 2010 for the reverse proxy server, see the system requirements for the Forefront Threat Management Gateway 2010 at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd896981.aspx.