Is Lync 2013 compatible with Domain Function Level and Forest Function Level 2016?

Question

We are in the process of upgrading our DC and want to raise the DFL/FFL to 2016. We started a project to migrate to Skype Server 2015 but will have to wait till sometime next year for that project to start.

Do we have to wait on raising the Domain Function Level and Forest Function Level for the Skype project? I cannot find documentation on any DFL above 2012r2 and Lync 2013.

Thanks for you help.

Answer 1

Hi @Topf, Jonathan ,

From the documentation: Active Directory Domain Services support in Lync Server 2013, the minimum Domain Functional Level / Forest Functional Level is 2003.
The minumum domain functional level for introducing the first 2016 domain controller is also 2003.

It is not officially known whether it will work or not, because there are no documentations or claims for this, this usually means that Microsoft probably have not tested this scenario.

From some of my customer experience it has worked just fine.

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(If the reply was helpful please don't forget to upvote or accept as answer, thank you)

Best regards,
Leon

Answer 2

@Topf, Jonathan ,

As Leon Laude said, there is no official document related to this scenario. Whether it will work or not, is not officially known because MSFT claims not to have tested this scenario.

I have a quick test in my environment. It can work well.

It recommends you do a test before deploying to the product environment.

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