In the enterprise environment, Microsoft Messenger for Mac and Office Communications Server combine to provide various components, both in a single-domain topology and in a federatedTwo or more organizations that are linked by using Office Communications Server 2007. After you add a federated contact to your Contact List, you can communicate with the contact by using any communication mode that is available in both organizations. network.
 | Single-domain topology |
The simplest deployment is a single-domain topology. This is typically deployed in a small organization, proof of concept study, or test environment. The following figure presents a sample deployment of a single-domain topology.
Single-domain topology
Active Directory Office Communications Server 2007 uses Active Directory as its account database. It relies on Active Directory to authenticate users and to keep track of external contacts, computers, and other network resources.
Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 Standard Edition Office Communications Server 2007 Standard Edition is a good choice in a small organization where enterprise-level capacity and performance are not required. The Standard Edition server is a single, stand-alone instant messaging (IM) and presence server.User data is stored in the Microsoft Data Engine (MSDE) database on the same server. A Standard Edition server supports up to 15,000 concurrent connections.
Note Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 Enterprise Edition Office Communications Server 2007 Enterprise Edition is a good choice for a large organization or if you must have more scalability. When you use the Enterprise Edition and the Office Communications Server 2007 Back-End Database together, they form an enterprise pool. Enterprise Edition manages client connections, presence, and other real-time communication features, such as IM. Office Communications Server 2007 Back-End Database runs Microsoft SQL Server 2000 SP3a, which can be clustered. More than one Enterprise Edition server can work with the same Office Communications Server 2007 Back-End Database.
Macintosh computer that is running Messenger for Mac 7 Microsoft Messenger for Mac 7 is a real-time communications client for corporate Macintosh users. With a corporate account, users in the same organization communicate by using IM, audio, and video through Office Communications Server 2007. Users can also use IM, audio, and video to communicate with external partners in federated networks. In addition, because the client is presence-enabled, online status shows whether a user is connected to a network and available to communicate in real time.
Session Initiation Protocol Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), an application layer protocol, helps create, modify, and end sessions, such as audio/video calls and multimedia distribution, between participants.
Address Book Service Address Book Service provides global address list information from Active Directory to the Messenger for Mac client. It was introduced with Live Communications Server 2005 SP1 as an optional application to be installed and managed separately. With Office Communications Server 2007, Address Book Service is mandatory. It is installed at the same time as other front-end server components.
User Replicator The User Replicator updates the user database to synchronize with Active Directory. The Address Book Service uses information that is provided by User Replicator to update information from the global address list.
| Federated network |
A user can add federated contacts to his or her Microsoft Messenger for Mac contact list. By using this new feature, a user can collaborate with contacts outside the organizational boundaries through instant messaging, real-time audio calls, and video calls.
Note Audio and video in a federated network are available only if the other organization is using Office Communications Server 2007.
Example of a federated network
Perimeter network The perimeter network provides an additional layer of security between the corporate network and the external network.
Edge server If you want to allow for users in your organization to communicate with contacts outside your internal network by using your Office Communications Server 2007 deployment, you have to deploy one or more edge servers. You install edge servers in your perimeter network (also known as screened subnet) so that users who are outside your organization’s firewall are authorized before they obtain access to Office Communications Server. To deploy Microsoft Messenger for Mac in a federated network, you must have the following edge servers.
Access Edge Server Access Edge Server is necessary for external or remote users to collaborate with Office Communications Server users within your organizations. The Access Edge Server handles all Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) traffic across the corporate firewall. It handles only the SIP traffic that is required to establish and validate connections. It does not handle data transfer, nor does it authenticate users.
Audio/Video Edge Server The A/V Edge Server enables users to share audio and video with external users who are in a federated network. It provides a single trusted connection point through which incoming and outgoing media traffic can securely traverse network address translators (NATs) and firewalls. All users are authenticated both for access to the enterprise and use of the firewall traversal service that the A/V Edge Server provides. To send media into the enterprise, an external user must be authenticated and must have an authenticated internal user agree to communicate.
