Analog

Lync Server 2010 has introduced support for analog devices, which was a feature lacking from Office Communications Server 2007 R2. There are many scenarios where it is simply not possible to remove the requirement for analog devices such as with fax machines, PA systems, or elevator phones. These devices are all analog based and there is no equivalent in Lync Server 2010 to replace them.

To support these devices, an Analog Telephone Adapter (ATA) is required. Analog devices can be connected to an IP/PSTN gateway or survivable branch appliance that supports analog ports. On the server side, a SIP-enabled contact object is created to represent the analog device. Just like with a user account, a voice policy consisting of allowed PSTN usages can be assigned to the contact object and control the features that each analog device is allowed to use. Figure 28.11 demonstrates how analog devices are integrated with a Lync deployment through physical ports on an IP/PSTN gateway.

Figure 28.11 Analog Device Support

Because analog devices do not register to a Lync Front End pool, the IP/PSTN gateway or survivable branch appliance provides an interface to associate each analog port with a specified Line URI. Outbound calls from the port use the assigned Line URI, and inbound calls to the Line URI are routed to the associated port.