Windows Server 2008 R2 is still going to be a supported OS for Skype for Business.
Skype for Business requires the use of Window Server Fabric v2 (update via MS Updates) in order to provide it’s enhanced HA capabilities within the front-end pool. SQL Mirroring can still be used in this topology, but future waves will not have this functionality. SQL Mirroring is now deprecated and Microsoft prefers the use of SQL AlwaysOn available in SQL 2012. Enterprise deployments can still use SQL Server 2008 R2 SP2 but this has to be Enterprise Edition. Skype for Business will automatically upgrade Standard Edition servers to use SQL Express 2014.
This method will mean that there will be no Lync services available until all nodes in the pool have been upgraded.Īfter the upgrade of the front-end server has been complete, you must update the SQL stores in the normal way by running the Install-CSDatabase –ConfiguredDatabases –SQLServerFqdn commandlet like normal upgrades / patches. This is for topologies that have no access to additional pools or servers to move users across while their pool is upgraded. This scenario is an in-place upgrade of Lync 2013 to Skype for Business with user downtime. Scenario 4: Lync 2013 to Skype for Business (Offline Mode) The upgrade process needs to be carefully planned and downtime notice should be sent to users prior to the migration. This upgrade requires you to have additional investment in new servers (virtual or physical) in order to stand up Skype for Business and Lync 2010 side by side.
In this scenario you have a Lync 2010 topology with no OCS or 2013 coexistence. Scenario 3: Upgrade from Lync 2010 to Skype for Business You must first remove all 2010 servers from your topology before performing the in-place upgrade to Skype for Business. In this scenario you must first migrate all users to Lync 2013 and then perform an in-place upgrade to Skype for Business. Scenario 2: Lync 2010 + 2013 Coexistence to Skype for Business The following picture describes the upgrade procedure for this case
The other option of course is to perform an offline upgrade.
If this is not the case, you will need to add additional front-end capacity to the second pool or install a third pool temporarily. The upgrade assumes that the second pool has enough capacity to support users from the first pool as well as the users it is currently supporting. Scenario 1: Lync 2013 to Skype for Business In-Placeįor enterprise deployments this can be achieved with minimal downtime, but you need multiple pools.