Line: 1 to 1 | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Video Conferencing: H323 | ||||||||
Line: 97 to 97 | ||||||||
Incoming calls: use extension 8950 (0141-330-8950 or international +44-141-330-8950) and respond to the voice prompt with the last 6 digits of our station address i.e 215454, followed by the "#" key. ISDN users may be able to append the station address as 215454 to the called number. | ||||||||
Changed: | ||||||||
< < | Outgoing calls: if you wish to use this facility, contact one of the SystemAdministrators in the first instance. Keep in mind that external calls are chargeable, and any significant costs accrued would be charged to the computing service and billed-back to us: there is no proper procedure in place for this, so we need to liaise with their staff if this feature is needed. Internal calls can normally be dialled by 9xxxx where xxxx is the internal extension number (extensions beginning with 0 cannot be reached this way). | |||||||
> > | Outgoing calls: if you wish to use this facility, contact one of the ITManagement in the first instance. Keep in mind that external calls are chargeable, and any significant costs accrued would be charged to the computing service and billed-back to us: there is no proper procedure in place for this, so we need to liaise with their staff if this feature is needed. Internal calls can normally be dialled by 9xxxx where xxxx is the internal extension number (extensions beginning with 0 cannot be reached this way). | |||||||
General Notes |
Line: 1 to 1 | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Added: | ||||||||
> > |
Video Conferencing: H323Users can connect from a Microsoft Windows desktop in their office or lab using either a Polycom ViaVideo camera with associated software (ViaVideo 5.1.1, which is free), or a USB web camara and a copy of Polycom PVX software (which needs a license key).
H323 in room 450The configuration of the PVX software is stored within each users profile. A user should therefore only have to proceed through the initial configuration steps once. The station is accredited to more than one H.323 gatekeeper facility, as well as being used for point-to-point without a gatekeeper. Use with a gatekeeper requires appropriate configuration, which is quite fiddly if done manually, and for this reason a number of startup scripts have been provided, which will set the station's gatekeeper-related parameters correctly and then start-up the main application (PVX). These scripts are on the desktop as well as in the Start menu. Additional requirements for ESnet or for the Glasgow gatekeeper are covered below.
Initial setup (one-off setup per user)
Point to PointOnce the PVX software has been started, other H323 users can be contacted by using their IP address or your IP address.
For repeat calls to the same address, it is convenient to use the "Directory" (= address book) to store the call details, and to initiate the calls from there.
Esnet (ECS) H.323
This section describes the use of the group videoconferencing station in room 450, with ESnet (that is, the ESnet ECS, http://www.ecs.es.net If you have not previously used the system, please first follow the initial user H323 configuration advice above to get the PVX software basically configured for your purposes. Then return here for the additional details.
Configuration startup scriptIn order to set the gatekeeper configuration appropriately for ESnet, it is recommend to use the appropriate startup script (from the desktop or Start menu) which has been prepared for the purpose. Manual configuration of the gatekeeper parameters in the PVX software is fiddly and not especially recommended, but for reference it can be done (or at least verified) as follows...
Manual configuration/verification, if required
If GK registration is unsuccessful, re-check the above settings and if necessary, seek advice. Try putting the gatekeeper button to Off and back to Specify and use the Apply button. Beware: this software misleadingly uses the error report The gatekeeper has rejected the system's attempt at registration for various kinds of gatekeeper registration failure, including the failure to receive any kind of response from the gatekeeper. If you get this error report immediately, it might indeed be a gatekeeper rejection (check the relevant settings), but if you get it only after some delay, it is more likely that in fact no response was received. If all was well, you should now be able to close the settings and call your ESnet conference address. If you regularly use the same conference, use the Directory (address book) to keep a note of it for convenient re-use.
Available Esnet ECS H.323 facilities are shown at http://www-staff.es.net/~mikep/adhoc/adhocuse.html
Glasgow GatekeeperThe PPE video station is authorised to use the Glasgow H.323 gatekeeper. (In practice, at present, PPE users rarely need this, but the present page serves as reference documentation for using it.) If you have not previously used the system, please first follow the initial H323 configuration advice above to get the PVX software basically configured for your purposes. Then return here.
Configuration startup scriptIn order to set the gatekeeper configuration appropriately for the Glasgow campus gatekeeper, the recommendation is to use the appropriate startup script (desktop or Start menu) which has been prepared for the purpose. Manual configuration of the gatekeeper parameters in the PVX software is fiddly and not especially recommended, but for reference it can be done (or at least verified) as follows...
Manual configuration/verification, if required
If GK registration is unsuccessful, re-check the above settings, and if necessary seek advice. Try putting the gatekeeper button to Off and back to Specify and use the Apply button. Beware: this software misleadingly uses the error report The gatekeeper has rejected the system's attempt at registration for various kinds of gatekeeper registration failure, including the failure to receive any kind of response from the gatekeeper. If you get this error report immediately, it might indeed be a gatekeeper rejection (check the relevant settings), but if you get it only after some delay, it is more likely that in fact no response was received.
When successful, the station can then use the Glasgow gatekeeper's facilities, as well as participating in the global H.323 dialling initiative (GDS, see e.g http://www.wvn.ac.uk/support/h323address.htm
JANET videoconferencing services
The station can certainly be used with the JVCS OnDemand conference facility http://www.jvcs.ja.net/ondemand/
Global Dialling Scheme (GDS) note
It may be noted that the ESnet facilities are also reachable via global dialling numbers (GDS), as mentioned on http://www-staff.es.net/~mikep/adhoc/adhocuse.html
H323/ISDN/phone gatewayWhile configured to the Glasgow gatekeeper, the station also has access to/from an ISDN gateway, which makes it technically feasible to access to/from ISDN(H.320) videoconferencing, as well as the ordinary telephone network. This facility should be regarded as being in pilot status, so, if users have a requirement for a prolonged session or an important meeting, they should make themselves known so that we can liaise with the appropriate campus staff. OUTGOING CALLS ARE CHARGEABLE at university telephone rates. Incoming calls: use extension 8950 (0141-330-8950 or international +44-141-330-8950) and respond to the voice prompt with the last 6 digits of our station address i.e 215454, followed by the "#" key. ISDN users may be able to append the station address as 215454 to the called number. Outgoing calls: if you wish to use this facility, contact one of the SystemAdministrators in the first instance. Keep in mind that external calls are chargeable, and any significant costs accrued would be charged to the computing service and billed-back to us: there is no proper procedure in place for this, so we need to liaise with their staff if this feature is needed. Internal calls can normally be dialled by 9xxxx where xxxx is the internal extension number (extensions beginning with 0 cannot be reached this way).
General Notes
Running the Polycom PVX software in full screen mode is not recommended. This produces jerky video. Instead of running in full screen mode, resize the window by dragging at the bottom right corner of the If you wish/need to restart the PVX application, note that although the application window closes almost immediately, the software takes up to around 10 seconds to shut down, and restarting it before it has properly shut down will cause unpredictable problems.
ESnet And NattingThere are known issues with using the ESnet H.323 facility from behind a NAT router. With sufficient commitment, it may be possible to find a way around these in a particular case, although this cannot be guaranteed. In brief:
-- AndrewPickford - 27 Feb 2009 |