We'll take a few moments to understand the process of remote user access...
When a user logs on from a remote location, he will go through am initial screening process before physically entering the secure realm of the LCS.
What I call the "secure realm" of your LCS is basically the part of the system that is sufficient in order to enable LOCAL user access. The rest of the system deals with security and availability.
There are two additions that you will have to implement:
- Install a Director.
- Install an Access Proxy.
After implementing these two additions, you will be left with a few additional definitions that will be performed on the Access Proxy and on the Forest (the enterprise edition server.)
Let's begin.
This guide assumes that you have the following configuration:
- An active directory server + DNS*
- An SQL server*
- An enterprise edition LC server 2005
*from what I have tested - you can run the SQL and the active directory on the same computer, but Microsoft warns about running the enterprise edition server on the same machine for security issues.
STEP ONE - INSTALLING THE DIRECTOR.
A Director is basically an installation of a standard edition server that hosts no users.
A) Log on to your server (the one you intend to install your director on). This computer should be a domain member - but not a Domain Controller.
B) Insert your LCS 2005 standard CD
C) Double click setup exe (or if you have auto launch enabled - it will just pop-up)
D) Click "Standard Edition Server".
E) Click "Install Files for Live Communications Server".
F) Follow the wizard as follows:
a. Choose your log file locations. (you can leave the default settings as they are)
b. Click Install
c. Once it finishes, and you click finish - you will be prompted to activate the server.
d. Click "yes"
e. Click "next"
f. Create the service account. (you may use an existing account as well...)
g. Make sure that the archiving agent is NOT ENABLED
h. DO NOT start the service after activation (first we have to edit the settings - although - you can always restart the service if you DID choose to start it.)
i. Continue the setup
j. View the log and see that you have "success" all across the board.
You can access the Director through the Live Communications MMC. Right click "My Computer" and choose "Management", expand "Services and Applications" and you will see "Microsoft Office Live Communications Server 2005".