Live Communications Server 2005
Encyclopedia
Live Communications Server 2005 (LCS 2005), codenamed Vienna, is the second version of a SIP
based instant messaging
and presence
server after Live Communications Server 2003. LCS 2005 was first released in 2005, and was updated with new features with Service Pack
1 in 2006. LCS 2005 has been superseded by Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007.
clients to exchange IM
's and presence using the SIMPLE
protocol. The client also allows two clients to setup audio/video sessions, application sharing, and file transfer sessions.
The product was released in two editions, Standard Edition and Enterprise Edition. The Standard Edition uses a Microsoft SQL Server Desktop Engine (MSDE
) (included with the product) to store configuration and user data. Enterprise Edition uses a full version of Microsoft SQL Server
(purchased separately).
New features to this version compared to the 2003 release is the ability to leverage SQL
and remote user access.
Presence? Presence is conveyed as levels of availability to communicate.
Levels of presence support by LCS:
These presence levels are controlled manually and automatically. Automatic presence changes can be triggered by the following events:
The contact list is the list of users the end user has added to client software in order to facilitate the sending of IM's and for the monitoring the presence.
The watcher list is the list of other users that have added this user to their contact list.
clients to connect from the internet. This server role would be traditionally deployed in a DMZ
network. The server's job would be to scan the SIP traffic and only allow communication that the server had been configured to allow to traverse to the internal network. The traffic would be sent either directly to the internal Home Server or to a Director that would send the traffic to the appropriate home server, based on the user the message was destined to.
) encrypted link, allowing many remote clients to share a single communication channel.
stack with a custom code running on top of it. This allows 3rd parties to make a gateway server that could be used to communicate with a PBX or other internal telephony infrastructure without having to create a fully functioning SIP
stack.
Session Initiation Protocol
The Session Initiation Protocol is an IETF-defined signaling protocol widely used for controlling communication sessions such as voice and video calls over Internet Protocol . The protocol can be used for creating, modifying and terminating two-party or multiparty sessions...
based instant messaging
Instant messaging
Instant Messaging is a form of real-time direct text-based chatting communication in push mode between two or more people using personal computers or other devices, along with shared clients. The user's text is conveyed over a network, such as the Internet...
and presence
Presence information
In computer and telecommunications networks, presence information is a status indicator that conveys ability and willingness of a potential communication partner—for example a user--to communicate...
server after Live Communications Server 2003. LCS 2005 was first released in 2005, and was updated with new features with Service Pack
Service pack
A service pack is a collection of updates, fixes or enhancements to a software program delivered in the form of a single installable package. Many companies, such as Microsoft or Autodesk, typically release a service pack when the number of individual patches to a given program reaches a certain ...
1 in 2006. LCS 2005 has been superseded by Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007.
Overview
This product allows SIPSession Initiation Protocol
The Session Initiation Protocol is an IETF-defined signaling protocol widely used for controlling communication sessions such as voice and video calls over Internet Protocol . The protocol can be used for creating, modifying and terminating two-party or multiparty sessions...
clients to exchange IM
Instant messaging
Instant Messaging is a form of real-time direct text-based chatting communication in push mode between two or more people using personal computers or other devices, along with shared clients. The user's text is conveyed over a network, such as the Internet...
's and presence using the SIMPLE
SIMPLE
SIMPLE, the Session Initiation Protocol for Instant Messaging and Presence Leveraging Extensions, is an instant messaging and presence protocol suite based on Session Initiation Protocol managed by the IETF...
protocol. The client also allows two clients to setup audio/video sessions, application sharing, and file transfer sessions.
The product was released in two editions, Standard Edition and Enterprise Edition. The Standard Edition uses a Microsoft SQL Server Desktop Engine (MSDE
MSDE
Microsoft SQL Server Data Engine is a relational database management system developed by Microsoft. It is a scaled-down version of Microsoft SQL Server 7.0 or 2000 which is free for non-commercial use as well as certain limited commercial use...
) (included with the product) to store configuration and user data. Enterprise Edition uses a full version of Microsoft SQL Server
Microsoft SQL Server
Microsoft SQL Server is a relational database server, developed by Microsoft: It is a software product whose primary function is to store and retrieve data as requested by other software applications, be it those on the same computer or those running on another computer across a network...
(purchased separately).
New features to this version compared to the 2003 release is the ability to leverage SQL
SQL
SQL is a programming language designed for managing data in relational database management systems ....
and remote user access.
Presence? Presence is conveyed as levels of availability to communicate.
Levels of presence support by LCS:
- Online
- Busy
- Do not disturb
- Be right back
- Away
- In a Meeting
These presence levels are controlled manually and automatically. Automatic presence changes can be triggered by the following events:
- Locking the workstation -> Away
- Screen save launches -> Away
- User does not touch keyboard or mouse for a configured time -> Away
- User is in full screen mode -> Do not disturb
- A user is busy, according to the user's calendar on the Microsoft Exchange Server -> In a meeting
Dependencies
- Microsoft Active DirectoryActive DirectoryActive Directory is a directory service created by Microsoft for Windows domain networks. It is included in most Windows Server operating systems. Server computers on which Active Directory is running are called domain controllers....
- Storage of server configuration data
- Authentication
- Kerberos
- NTLMNTLMIn a Windows network, NTLM is a suite of Microsoft security protocols that provides authentication, integrity, and confidentiality to users....
- PKIPublic key infrastructurePublic Key Infrastructure is a set of hardware, software, people, policies, and procedures needed to create, manage, distribute, use, store, and revoke digital certificates. In cryptography, a PKI is an arrangement that binds public keys with respective user identities by means of a certificate...
- MTLSTransport Layer SecurityTransport Layer Security and its predecessor, Secure Sockets Layer , are cryptographic protocols that provide communication security over the Internet...
- used for server to server connections - TLSTransport Layer SecurityTransport Layer Security and its predecessor, Secure Sockets Layer , are cryptographic protocols that provide communication security over the Internet...
- optionally used for client to server connections
- MTLS
- Microsoft SQL ServerMicrosoft SQL ServerMicrosoft SQL Server is a relational database server, developed by Microsoft: It is a software product whose primary function is to store and retrieve data as requested by other software applications, be it those on the same computer or those running on another computer across a network...
- Storage of server configuration data
- User contact list
- User watcher list
Client Software
- Microsoft Office Communicator 2005
- Windows MessengerWindows MessengerWindows Messenger is a client by Microsoft that is included in the Windows XP operating system. Designed for use by corporate users as well as home users, it was originally created as a streamlined and integrated version of MSN Messenger...
Server Roles
Both editions of the server software can be installed into several distinct roles:- Home Server
- Director
- Access Proxy
- Branch Office Proxy
- Application Proxy
Home Server
In Standard Edition, this server role is designed to host data for the users. The user's data is stored in an SQL database on the backend server (on Enterprise Edition) or on the Home Server (on Standard Edition). The server stores each user's list of contacts and watchers.The contact list is the list of users the end user has added to client software in order to facilitate the sending of IM's and for the monitoring the presence.
The watcher list is the list of other users that have added this user to their contact list.
Director
This optional server role is designed to be a kind of traffic cop when you have more than one Home Server role deployed or when you are setting up for remote users to connect to the Home Server. This server does not host any of the user's data, but knows which server each user is homed on, and can therefore redirect or proxy the request.Access Proxy
This server role is required to allow remote SIPSession Initiation Protocol
The Session Initiation Protocol is an IETF-defined signaling protocol widely used for controlling communication sessions such as voice and video calls over Internet Protocol . The protocol can be used for creating, modifying and terminating two-party or multiparty sessions...
clients to connect from the internet. This server role would be traditionally deployed in a DMZ
Demilitarized zone (computing)
In computer security, a DMZ is a physical or logical subnetwork that contains and exposes an organization's external services to a larger untrusted network, usually the Internet...
network. The server's job would be to scan the SIP traffic and only allow communication that the server had been configured to allow to traverse to the internal network. The traffic would be sent either directly to the internal Home Server or to a Director that would send the traffic to the appropriate home server, based on the user the message was destined to.
Branch Office Proxy
This role is used to aggregate connections, from a branch office clients, across a single Transport Layer Security (TLSTransport Layer Security
Transport Layer Security and its predecessor, Secure Sockets Layer , are cryptographic protocols that provide communication security over the Internet...
) encrypted link, allowing many remote clients to share a single communication channel.
Application Proxy
This server role is designed to allow 3rd party developers to leverage the Live Communications Server SIPSession Initiation Protocol
The Session Initiation Protocol is an IETF-defined signaling protocol widely used for controlling communication sessions such as voice and video calls over Internet Protocol . The protocol can be used for creating, modifying and terminating two-party or multiparty sessions...
stack with a custom code running on top of it. This allows 3rd parties to make a gateway server that could be used to communicate with a PBX or other internal telephony infrastructure without having to create a fully functioning SIP
Session Initiation Protocol
The Session Initiation Protocol is an IETF-defined signaling protocol widely used for controlling communication sessions such as voice and video calls over Internet Protocol . The protocol can be used for creating, modifying and terminating two-party or multiparty sessions...
stack.