MGC 25 Getting Started Guide Version 9.0.
Trademark Information Polycom®, the Polycom “Triangles” logo, and the names and marks associated with Polycom’s products are trademarks and/or service marks of Polycom, Inc., and are registered and/or common-law marks in the United States and various other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Patent Information The accompanying product is protected by one or more U.S. and foreign patents and/or pending patent applications held by Polycom, Inc. © 2010 Polycom, Inc.
Regulatory Notices United States Federal Communication Commission (FCC) Canadian Department of Communications (EC) Part 15: Class A Statement. This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Test limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference when the equipment is operated in a commercial environment.
Regulatory Notices Russian Communication Certificate MGC-25 complies with the Russian Ministry of Communication requirements stated in certificate OC/1-MM-15.
Table of Contents Before You Begin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1 System Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1 Safety Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2 General Site Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 Placement of the System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
MGC-25 Getting Started Guide Defining an MCU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-7 Connecting to an MCU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-8 Configuring the Network Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-9 Network Configuration Wizard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-9 Modifying Network Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-16 Conference Types . . . . . . . . . .
Changing the Layout in a Continuous Presence Conference 5-25 Defining a New Audio Conference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1 Defining a New Audio Only Entry Queue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1 Defining an On Going Audio Conference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5 Defining a New Audio Only Meeting Room . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-9 Defining a New Video Conference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-1 Defining a New Video Entry Queue . . . . . . .
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1 Before You Begin This Getting Started Guide provides information on installation and basic operation of your MGC-25. For more information on defining and running conferences, defining IVR services and managing the system, refer to the MGC Manager User’s Guide Volumes I & II and the MGC Administrator’s Guide included with the system. References to the relevant chapters of these guides are included throughout this Getting Started Guide.
MGC-25 Getting Started Guide Safety Requirements For your protection, please read these safety instructions completely before operating the equipment. • • • • • • • • • • • • 1-2 Look carefully for potential hazards in your work area: moist floors, ungrounded power cables, frayed power cords, missing safety grounds and so forth. Locate the main circuit breaker within the room. Locate the emergency power OFF switch within the room. Never assume that power is disconnected from a circuit.
Chapter 1 - Before You Begin General Site Requirements This section describes the requirements your site must meet for the safe installation and operation of the system. Placement of the System Place the MGC-25 on a hard, flat surface such as a desktop or mount it on a rack. For more information, see Chapter 2, “Installing the MGC-25 in a Rack” on page 2-8. The airflow of the MGC-25 is from front to back. Be sure that the areas in the front and back of the system are clear for proper ventilation.
MGC-25 Getting Started Guide MGC-25 Specifications Table 1-1 lists the specifications of the MGC-25 unit. Table 1-1: MGC-25 Unit Specifications Physical Height 2U (88.
Chapter 1 - Before You Begin Table 1-1: MGC-25 Unit Specifications External Communications Data rates 6 Kbps–1920 Kbps (E1) Network interfaces ISDN: T1 PRI, E1 PRI, Multirate ISDN (H0), NFAS, Leased Lines: T1/E1 T1-CAS lines H.
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2 Hardware Description and Installation Be sure to follow the safety precautions on page 1-2 before installing your system. Hardware Description Front Panel The MGC-25 front panel includes an LCD Display window which indicates system and network statuses.
MGC-25 Getting Started Guide Rear Panel The MGC-25 rear panel includes interfaces for two PRI connections, two LAN connections, one Control LAN connection, a power cable, power switch, cooling fan and interfaces for Polycom Support personnel. Dongle The Polycom MGC-25 Dongle is a hardware key that is installed in the parallel port on the rear panel. This device contains configuration and licensing data that is necessary for your system to function.
Chapter 2 - Hardware Description and Installation MGC-25 LCD Display Window Open the panel door to access buttons for scrolling through the LCD screens and configuring the system. Working With the LCD Display Window The LCD display window enables you to configure the MCU IP address and view system status information without connecting to any external device. The first time you use the MGC-25, the IP Configuration screen is displayed.
MGC-25 Getting Started Guide System Idle Display When there are no actions being performed via the LCD Display or no alarms detected, the following information is displayed: • Product Name • IP Address • Configuration Name • Active Alarms Status This display is shown whenever there have not been any actions performed via the LCD Display for 30 seconds. Main Menu To access the Main Menu from the System Idle display, press any button.
Chapter 2 - Hardware Description and Installation Active Alarms To access the Active Alarms, select the first option from the MGC-25 Main menu. If there are no active alarms, selecting the Active Alarms option shows the System Idle display. To scroll vertically through the Active Alarms, press the right ( ) button to highlight the scroll bar and then use the up/down ( / ) buttons to scroll.
MGC-25 Getting Started Guide Table 2-1: Alarms Shown in the LCD Display Window Alarm Type Description Control LAN errors L - Link Down - There is no signal from the network. N - Normal To return to the Main Menu, use the left/right ( / OK option, and then press the Select ( ) button. ) buttons to highlight the Net Status The Net Status display lists all network links with their available statuses. If there are no active alarms, selecting the Net Status option shows the System Idle display.
Chapter 2 - Hardware Description and Installation To save the values and reset the system, use the left/right ( / ) buttons to select OK, and then press the Select ( ) button. Alternatively, to return to the Main Menu without saving changes, use the left/right ( / ) buttons to select Cancel, and then press the Select ( ) button. The OK option appears only if a component has been modified.
MGC-25 Getting Started Guide Hardware Installation Installing the MGC-25 in a Rack There are two methods to install the system in a rack: • Install brackets supplied by the rack manufacturer on each side of the rack on which the MGC-25 is placed. Secure the system by fastening four screws to the rack on the front panel. Place the system on brackets that have been installed according to rack manufacturer specifications • Install a shelf supplied by the rack manufacturer.
Chapter 2 - Hardware Description and Installation Placing the MGC-25 on a Desktop Place the system on a secure, flat and clean surface and avoid placing anything on top of the system.
MGC-25 Getting Started Guide Powering Up the System 1. Make sure the power cable is connected to the system and to a grounded power outlet. 2. Press the power switch to “1” to start the system. On the front panel of the MGC-25 the power indicator LED and the LCD Display Window flash. The system startup may take up to five minutes. Wait at least 10 seconds between turning the system off and turning it on.
3 Initial System Setup Initial IP Configuration Installing the MGC Manager Starting the MGC Manager Defining an MCU The MGC-25 requires basic configuration before you can start running conferences. Initial IP Configuration The system is shipped with a default IP address: 129.254.4.8. Whenever the system is turned on, the system checks the IP address. If the currently defined IP address is 129.254.4.
MGC-25 Getting Started Guide 2. Start by modifying the IP Address. Using the Left/Right buttons, move to the desired number to modify. Left/Right Buttons 3. Using the up/down buttons, modify the number. The number value range is 0-255. To scroll through the numbers by tens, keep the button pressed. Up/Down Buttons 4. After modifying a component, press the Right arrow button to move to the next component to modify. Press the Left arrow button to return to a previous component. 5.
Chapter 3 - Initial System Setup Installing the MGC Manager Initial IP Configuration Installing the MGC Manager Starting the MGC Manager Defining an MCU Connecting to an MCU To set up conferences and to control the MGC unit you must install the MGC Manager software on a PC. Up to 30 MGC Manager-enabled PCs can be connected to each MGC-25. A single MGC Manager-enabled PC can manage multiple MGC systems. During the installation, default Reservation templates are installed.
MGC-25 Getting Started Guide 4. Click Yes to agree to the terms of the agreement or No to exit the installation. If you clicked Yes, the Welcome window opens. 5. Click Next. The User Information screen opens. 3-4 6. Enter your name and the name of your company in the appropriate boxes. For a standard installation, enter Polycom in the Serial box. 7. Click Next. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation process.
Chapter 3 - Initial System Setup At the end of the installation procedure, the Setup Complete window opens. 8. Click Finish. The MGC Manager software is now installed on your computer.
MGC-25 Getting Started Guide Starting the MGC Manager Initial IP Configuration Installing the MGC Manager Starting the MGC Manager The MGC Manager can connect to several MGC units simultaneously. The first time you run the MGC Manager application, or when a new MCU is added to your configuration, you must first define each MCU’s IP address and listening port number.
Chapter 3 - Initial System Setup Defining an MCU Initial IP Configuration To define a new MCU: 1. In the Browser pane, right-click the MCU Network icon, and then click New MCU. Installing the MGC Manager The Add MCU dialog box opens. Starting the MGC Manager Defining an MCU Connecting to an MCU Configuring the Network Services 2. In the Name box, enter the name of the MCU, using up to 20 characters (no comma, period or semicolon). Specify a name that clearly identifies the MCU. 3.
MGC-25 Getting Started Guide Connecting to an MCU Initial IP Configuration Installing the MGC Manager Starting the MGC Manager Once the MCU connection parameters are defined, the MGC Manager can be connected to all defined MCUs simultaneously. The MGC Manager allows you to set up conferences, make reservations, monitor On Going Conferences and perform other activities on several MCUs. The MGC Manager reports the status of each MCU connection. To connect the operator workstation to an MCU: 1.
Chapter 3 - Initial System Setup Configuring the Network Services Initial IP Configuration If no Network Services have been configured, depending on your system configuration, an appropriate Network Configuration dialog box is automatically displayed. • If your system is configured to work with both IP and ISDN, the Network Configuration Wizard dialog box is displayed. This section describes the configuration of both IP and ISDN Network Services.
MGC-25 Getting Started Guide You can start the configuration process in any order, by clicking the appropriate Network button. To route Meet Me H.323 dial-in participants to their conferences, some gatekeepers require configuration of an IP Network Service prefix. If your gatekeeper requires the definition of a prefix, configure it in the gatekeeper before you define the IP Network Service. To configure the IP Network Service: 1. In the Network Configuration Wizard window, click the IP button.
Chapter 3 - Initial System Setup 2. Define the following parameters: Table 3-1: IP Configuration Parameters Field Description IP Service Name Enter a name using up to 20 characters, or use the default name (IP Default Service). Obtain IP Address Automatically (DHCP) Select this check box to use a DHCP server for automatic assignment and tracking of IP addresses to the conference devices.
MGC-25 Getting Started Guide Table 3-1: IP Configuration Parameters (Continued) 3-12 Field Description DNS Server IP Address If DNS – Specify was selected, this field is mandatory. Enter the IP address of the primary DNS server to be used for name translation. Local Domain Name Enter the domain name where the MCU is installed. The name of the domain includes the host part of URL or URI, for example, polycom.com.
Chapter 3 - Initial System Setup Table 3-1: IP Configuration Parameters (Continued) Field Description Domain Name or IP Address Conferences and Entry Queues can be registered in the proxy in the format user@host. for example, EQ1@polycom.com. When dialing to a conference or Entry Queue, the SIP server expects to receive the host either as domain name or as an IP address. 3. Click OK. If your system supports only IP networks, a confirmation message is displayed. 4. Click OK to confirm.
MGC-25 Getting Started Guide The ISDN Configuration dialog box opens. 2 4 3 5 6 7 3-14 2. In the ISDN Service Name box, enter a name or use the default name (ISDN Default Service). 3. Select the PRI 1A check box to define the parameters of the first ISDN span. 4. If a second span is connected to the MCU, select the PRI 1B check box. 5. From the Line Type drop-down list; select either T1 (usually in the U.S), or E1 (usually in Europe). 6.
Chapter 3 - Initial System Setup 9. Click OK. The Network Configuration dialog box closes and the new Network Services appear in the Network Services list. These Network Services automatically set as the default services. The following icons are used to indicate the Network Service types: Table 3-2: IP Network Service Icons Icon Description The Network Service supports both SIP and H.323 connections. The Network Service supports only H.323 connections. The Network Service supports only SIP connections.
MGC-25 Getting Started Guide Modifying Network Services To make changes in the IP and ISDN configurations, right-click the MCU and select Fast Configuration Wizard. The Network Configuration Wizard window opens. To change IP configurations click the IP button. To change ISDN configurations click the ISDN button. For information regarding the configurable fields in the relevant dialog boxes see “Network Configuration Wizard” on page 3-9.
4 Conference Types Different conference types are available according to their initiation modes: reservationless conferences and scheduled conferences. On-demand Conferences (Reservationless Conferencing) Reservationless conferencing enables you to immediately start and connect to On Going conferences from your endpoint, with no advanced scheduling.
MGC-25 Getting Started Guide database application whether a conference with a specific Numeric ID may be started. This is the method used with Windows Messenger and Office Communicator to initiate multipoint Video or Audio conferences. For more information about Ad Hoc conferencing, see the MGC Manager User’s Guide, Volume II, Chapter 3. Meeting Rooms Meeting Rooms are conferences created once, with no starting date or time, no reserved resources and it can be activated as many times as required.
Chapter 4 - Conference Types Video Conference Attributes There are four general types of video conferences: • Video Switching - A conference in which all participants use the same video and audio formats. Whenever a participant starts to speak, the participant appears on all endpoints in full screen display as the conference is a voice activated video switching conference.
MGC-25 Getting Started Guide Entry Queue An Entry Queue is a special routing lobby that is used for routing participants to their target conferences. One or several dial-in numbers are assigned to the Entry Queue, and they are used by callers to all conferences. Once callers are connected to the Entry Queue, they are routed and connected to the target conferences if they provide the appropriate conference IDs and passwords (optional).
5 Basic Operation This chapter describes how to start, monitor and manage On Going Conferences. Reservation Templates A Reservation template includes the conference parameters, such as the conference media (audio, video), video session type, line rate, video protocol and other video parameters, IVR and more. The reservation can include the conference participant parameters.
MGC-25 Getting Started Guide Starting a Conference You can start an On Going Conference from one of the default Reservation templates provided with the system, or you can define a new On Going Conference. For more details about defining new conferences, see “Defining a New Audio Conference” on page 6-1 or “Defining a New Video Conference” on page 7-1. To start an On Going Conference from a default Reservation template: 1. Connect to an MCU. For more details, see “Connecting to an MCU” on page 3-8. 2.
Chapter 5 - Basic Operation 4. Right-click the icon of the appropriate Reservation template to start, and then click Start Immediately. If more than one MCU is connected, select the name of the MCU to run the conference from the pop-up list. The conference begins and appears in the list of On Going Conferences. If no participants were defined in the Reservation template, the conference starts but contains no participants.
MGC-25 Getting Started Guide Viewing the Conference Dial-in Properties The dial-in numbers and passwords needed to enter a conference, including IP Network Prefixes and Numeric IDs appear in the MGC Manager Status pane. To view the list of On Going Conferences and their dial-in numbers: Expand the MCU tree, and then click the On Going Conferences icon. The list of On Going Conferences with their Numeric IDs and dial-in numbers are displayed in the Status pane.
Chapter 5 - Basic Operation Connecting to a Conference/Entry Queue Defined dial-in participants can connect to any conference by dialing the conference dialing string (ISDN, H.323 or SIP). The MCU identifies their CLI or IP address (as defined in the participant properties) and routes them to the appropriate conference. Dial-out participants must be defined in the conference.
MGC-25 Getting Started Guide For example, if the IP Network Service prefix is 27, the conference Numeric ID is 1478 and the conference name is ‘MARKETING’, the participant can dial 271478 or 27MARKETING. IF the Entry Queue name is EQ1 and its numeric ID is 3000, the participant can dial 273000 or 27EQ1 to access the MR. IF only 27 is dialed, participants are be routed to the default Entry Queue (if one is defined). When no gatekeeper is present, H.
Chapter 5 - Basic Operation Monitoring On Going Conferences You can monitor conferences and perform various operations while conferences are running. Monitoring involves viewing the status of On Going Conferences and the status of their participants. Three levels of monitoring are available with the MGC Manager: • General Monitoring - You can monitor the general status of all the On Going Conferences and their participants in the MGC Manager main window.
MGC-25 Getting Started Guide Monitoring a Conference When you click a conference icon, the conference appears in the Status pane. However, to get more details regarding the conference and participants statuses or to monitor several conferences simultaneously, it is advised to monitor the conferences in the Monitor pane. Automatic Monitoring of conferences is available. For details, see the MGC Manager User’s Guide, Volume I, Chapter 5.
Chapter 5 - Basic Operation The Participant Monitoring Filter dialog box opens. 4. Select the appropriate check boxes that indicate the statuses to monitor. The following statuses can be selected: Table 5-1: Participant Statuses to be Monitored Filtering Option Description Faulty participant Participants who have problems connecting to the conference. Participants Requesting Assistance Participants who have requested the operator’s assistance and have yet to be assisted by the operator.
MGC-25 Getting Started Guide The conference and participant details appear in the Monitor pane. The Status and Monitor panes take the form of a table. Each row represents a conference or a participant. Each column represents a parameter that is being monitored. The Conference Name, Status, Phone#, Connection Type, Retries Left, Channel# and Bonding fields also appear in the Status pane.
Chapter 5 - Basic Operation 2. Expand the On Going Conference or Reservation to list its participants. The participants are listed below the conference or Reservation. Different icons are used to indicate the participant roles and their connection status. For details, see the MGC Manager User’s Guide, Volume I, Chapter 5. To list the participants in the Status pane: 1. Expand the On Going Conferences or Reservations tree. 2.
MGC-25 Getting Started Guide Participant Level Monitoring In addition to the data that appears in the Status and the Monitor panes, you can view detailed information about the connection parameters and status of each of the conference participants. This is especially useful if there is a problem during the connection of the participant to the conference. To check the properties of a participant: • In the Status pane, the Browser pane or the Monitor pane, double-click the participant icon.
Chapter 5 - Basic Operation Operations Performed During On Going Conferences The following operations can be performed during On Going Conferences: • Adding a new participant to a conference • Connecting/Disconnecting participants • Muting/Unmuting participants • Locking/Unlocking the conference • Changing the conference duration • Terminating the conference manually • Changing the Video Layout in a Continuous Presence conference Additional operations performed during On Going Conferences are
MGC-25 Getting Started Guide To define a new participant in a conference: 1. List the On Going Conferences. 2. Right-click the icon of the conference to which to add a participant, and then click New Participant. Alternatively, click the conference icon, and then click the New Participant button on the Conference Toolbar. The Properties - Identification dialog box opens. ISDN/Telephone Participant 5-14 H.
Chapter 5 - Basic Operation SIP Participant The Identification parameters change according to the selected Interface Type. 3. In the Name box, enter the participant’s name. 4. For video participants using H.221 aggregation, enter the phone numbers separated by semicolons. For example, for a 2B participant: 9251921;9251922. If using Bonding (both numbers are the same), enter the number once. Example: 9251921. 5. In the Connection Type box, select Dial-out if the MCU/operator calls the participant.
MGC-25 Getting Started Guide b. If you are defining an H.323 participant: In the Participant IP box, enter the IP address of the participant’s endpoint. Alternatively, in the Alias Name field, enter the Alias of the endpoint as registered with the gatekeeper and then select the Alias Type. Only H323 ID (digits and letters) and E.164 (only digits) are supported. Use this option if a gatekeeper is defined in the H.323 Network Service. c.
Chapter 5 - Basic Operation 3. Click the Participants tab to add participants to the conference. The Properties - Participants dialog box opens. Select this check box to designate an operator- controlled dial-out conference connection. 4. In the Pre-Defined Participants list, select the participants to add and then click the >> button. 5. Alternatively, you can define a new participant by clicking the New button.
MGC-25 Getting Started Guide Making Dial-Out Connections When the Dial-Out Manually option is selected for the conference, the operator connects the dial-out participants to the conference. Also when a participant is disconnected from the conference, you can reconnect the participant to the conference. To manually establish a Dial-out connection: • In the Monitor pane, Status pane or Browser pane, right-click the participant icon, and then click Connect Participant.
Chapter 5 - Basic Operation Disconnecting Participants When a participant does not need to continue in a conference, you can disconnecting or delete the participant. When you disconnect a participant, the resources assigned to the participant remain allocated and the participant’s parameters remain in the system memory. This allows you to reconnect the participant if necessary.
MGC-25 Getting Started Guide To delete a participant: 1. In the Monitor pane, Status pane or Browser pane, right-click the participant icon, and then click Delete. Alternatively, click the Participant icon, and then click the Delete button on the Participant Toolbar. A confirmation dialog box appears. 2. Click YES to confirm, or NO to cancel the operation.
Chapter 5 - Basic Operation To mute a participant using MGC Manager: • In the Monitor or the Status pane, right-click the participant icon, and then click Mute Audio to mute the audio signal, or click Mute Video to mute the video signal. Alternatively, click the Participant icon and then click the Mute Audio button or Mute Video button on the Participant Toolbar. The menu changes to UnMute Audio, or UnMute Video (respectively).
MGC-25 Getting Started Guide To Lock or Unlock a conference: • Right-click the conference icon, and then click Lock Conference or Unlock Conference. Alternatively, click the Conference icon, and then click the Lock button or Unlock button on the Conference Toolbar. Changing the Conference Duration It is often necessary to extend the duration of a conference or terminate a conference before its scheduled completion time. The conference can be extended either manually or automatically or terminated.
Chapter 5 - Basic Operation To change the duration of an On Going Conference: 1. In the Browser, Monitor or Status panes, right-click the conference icon, and then click Properties. The Conference Properties dialog box opens. 2. Click the Scheduler tab. 3. Modify the conference Ending Time.
MGC-25 Getting Started Guide 4. Click OK. The Conference Properties dialog box closes. The conference’s duration is changed. Terminating a Conference Manually You can manually end the conference before its scheduled end time. Usually, you will use this option when all the participants disconnected from the conference, or if the meeting organizer has requested it. To terminate a conference manually: 1. In the Browser, Monitor or Status panes, right-click the On Going Conference, and then click Terminate.
Chapter 5 - Basic Operation Changing the Layout in a Continuous Presence Conference You can select a particular Video Layout (that is a specific arrangement of video windows on the screens) or Auto Layout during On Going Continuous Presence conferences. 1. In the Browser pane, expand the On Going Conference list. 2. Right-click the On Going Conference icon, and then click Properties. The Conference Properties dialog box opens. 3. Click the Video Sources tab.
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6 Defining a New Audio Conference The following entities can be defined for Audio Only conferencing: • Define an Audio Only Entry Queue • Define an On Going Audio Only Conference • Define an Audio Only Meeting Room Defining a New Audio Only Entry Queue An Audio Only Entry Queue is used to rout Audio Only participants to Audio Only conferences, and it is usually defined in Audio Only MCUs. Video Entry Queues can be used by Audio Only participants in a unified conferencing environment.
MGC-25 Getting Started Guide The Entry Queue Properties dialog box opens. 6-2 3. In the Name box, specify a name for the Entry Queue using up to 20 characters. 4. In the Numeric ID box, enter a unique per MCU number (default length is four digits), or leave this field empty to let the NCU assign one when the Entry Queue definition is completed. 5.
Chapter 6 - Defining a New Audio Conference 9. If you selected the IP Only option, you can select the Entry Queue to be Encrypted, and you can select the audio algorithm to use by VoIP participants to connect to the target conference. For Ad Hoc Entry Queue definition, see the MGC User’s Guide, Volume II, Chapter 3. 10. Add a dial-in number to the Entry Queue by clicking the plus [+] button. Dial-in numbers are relevant to ISDN and T1-CAS participants only. 11.
MGC-25 Getting Started Guide The New Entry Queue is added to the Meeting Rooms, Entry Queues & SIP Factories list. To set the Audio Only Entry Queue as the default Entry Queue, see Chapter 7, “Creating an On Going Video Conference” on page 7-6.
Chapter 6 - Defining a New Audio Conference Defining an On Going Audio Conference The following procedure describes the main parameters required to define an Audio conference without Encryption. For a detailed description of all parameters, see the MGC Manager User’s Guide VoicePlus Edition, Chapter 2. To define a new On Going Audio Conference: 1. Expand the MCU tree. 2. Right-click the On Going Conferences icon, and then click New Conference. The Conference Properties - General dialog box opens.
MGC-25 Getting Started Guide The MCU can be set to Audio Look & Feel mode in which all video related parameters are hidden in all dialog boxes and menus. This is intended for Audio bridges. The Audio Look & Feel mode is set in the Options menu. For more details, refer to the MGC Administrator's Guide, Chapter 5. 3. If Audio Look & Feel is not set for the MCU in the Media box, select Audio to define an Audio Only conference and hide the video properties.
Chapter 6 - Defining a New Audio Conference 10. Click the Settings tab. The Properties - Settings dialog box opens. Parameters in the Conference Properties - Settings dialog box are grouped in two main panes: General Settings and Media Settings. By default, only the Basic parameters in these panes are displayed when you first open the dialog box. You can click the Advanced (>>) button to view and modify the additional settings.
MGC-25 Getting Started Guide 13. If you want to set up advanced parameters, click the Advanced button on either pane. For more information, see the MGC Manager User's Guide VoicePlus Edition, Chapter 2. 14. Click the Participants tab to add predefined participants to the conference. For more information, see Chapter 5, “Adding a Participant to a Conference” on page 5-13. If you are defining a dial-in conference with only undefined participants, this step may be skipped. 15.
Chapter 6 - Defining a New Audio Conference Defining a New Audio Only Meeting Room A Meeting Room is a conference reservation without allocated resources, whose default duration is set to 2 hours. A Meeting Room is created once, and can be activated as many times as required. To define a New Meeting Room: 1. Expand the MCU tree. 2. Right-click the Meeting Rooms, Entry Queues & SIP Factories icon, and then click New Meeting Room. The Conference Properties - General dialog box opens. 3.
MGC-25 Getting Started Guide 6-10 5. Usually Meeting Rooms include undefined participants. However, it is possible to add defined participants from the Pre-Defined Participants list, by selecting the participants and then clicking the >> button. Alternatively, you can define a new participant by clicking the New button. 6. In the Min Participants box, define the total number of participants for which the system reserves resources.
Chapter 6 - Defining a New Audio Conference 9. Select the Limited Sequences check box, to limit the number of times that the Meeting Room can be activated. If this check box is cleared, the Meeting Room can be activated an unlimited number of times. 10. In the Number of Occurrences field, determine the number of times the Meeting Room can be activated: 1 means that the conference can be activated once, and then it will be deleted from the system.
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7 Defining a New Video Conference The following entities can be defined for Audio Only conferencing: • Define a Video Entry Queue • Start an On Going Video Conference • Set up a Video Meeting Room Defining a New Video Entry Queue You can create several Entry Queues, each with a different set of parameters, to match the parameters of target conferences.
MGC-25 Getting Started Guide To define a new Video Entry Queue: 1. Expand the MCU tree, right-click the Meeting Rooms, Entry Queues and SIP Factories icon and then click New Entry Queue. The Entry Queue Properties dialog box opens. 7-2 2. In the Name box, assign a name to the Entry Queue using up to 20 characters. 3. To manually assign the Numeric ID, enter the required value in the Numeric ID box. To automatically assign the Numeric ID, complete the Entry Queue definition and save it to the MGC.
Chapter 7 - Defining a New Video Conference 4. In the Entry Queue Service box select a predefined Entry Queue Services that will be used to play audio messages and prompts to participants waiting in the Entry Queue. Leave this field blank to use a default Entry Queue Service, if one is defined. 5. In the Target Conferences area: a. Select the IP Only check box to create an IP Only Entry Queue, whose target conferences are IP Only conferences and will enable the connection of IP participants only. b.
MGC-25 Getting Started Guide The new Entry Queue is added to the Meeting Rooms, Entry Queues & SIP Factories list. Setting an Entry Queue as Default A default Entry Queue can be defined for the MCU, regardless of the dialed IP card. The new default Entry Queue can be either a video Entry Queue or an Audio Only Entry Queue.
Chapter 7 - Defining a New Video Conference Creating a Target Conference from an Entry Queue You can create a new On Going conference or Reservation with the same parameters as the Entry Queue. This is especially useful for Video Switching conferences, since their parameters must be the same as those of the Entry Queue. The Entry Queue Access and Meet Me Per Conference options are automatically selected for this conference. To create a target conference from an Entry Queue: 1.
MGC-25 Getting Started Guide Creating an On Going Video Conference The following procedure describes the main parameters required to set up a Video Conference. For a detailed description of all parameters, see the MGC Manager User’s Guide, Volume I, Chapter 4. To create an On Going video Conference: 1. Expand the MCU tree, right-click the On Going Conferences icon and then click New Conference. The Conference Properties - General dialog box opens. 7-6 2. In the Name box, enter the conference name. 3.
Chapter 7 - Defining a New Video Conference 4. In the User Defined Fields boxes, enter the requested information (if required). 5. Change the Conference’s Duration if required. 6. In the Supported Network box, select the appropriate network types that will be used to connect participants to the conference. Select IP to allow only IP participants to the conference. 7. In the Video Session area, select Video Switching, Transcoding or Continuous Presence.
MGC-25 Getting Started Guide 12. Optional. In the Web/Chairperson Password box, enter the chairperson password (if this option is enabled in the IVR Service assigned to the conference). 13. Click the Settings tab. The Properties - Settings dialog box opens. The parameters described here are the Basic parameters. The Advanced parameters are usually not changed from their default values. For more information about these Advanced parameters, see the MGC Manager User’s Guide, Volume I, Chapter 4. 14.
Chapter 7 - Defining a New Video Conference connect participants to the conference at this line rate or lower, according to their individual capabilities. In a Conference On Port (COP), select the estimated highest transfer rate common to all participants. In this mode, all conference participants must use the same video parameters. In order to maintain a minimum video quality for a Conference On Port, there is a minimum threshold line rate that participants must support in order to connect with video.
MGC-25 Getting Started Guide Conference Properties - General tab. For more information about COP, see “Video Conference Types” on page 4-3. 19. To force all participants to use encryption, select the Encryption check box. For details about Encryption and encrypted conferences, see the MGC Manager User's Guide, Volume II, Chapter 1. 20. The Dual Stream mode and the Audio Algorithm are advanced features.
Chapter 7 - Defining a New Video Conference Alternatively, select the Auto Layout check box to have the system automatically and dynamically display layouts with the appropriate number of display windows according to the number of connected video participants. 24. In a Continuous Presence conference, you can add visual effects, such as borders and colors, to the video layouts display on the endpoints. For more details, see the MGC Manager User’s Guide, Volume I, Chapter 4.
MGC-25 Getting Started Guide Defining a New Video Meeting Room A Meeting Room is a conference reservation without resource allocation, whose default duration is set to 2 hours. To define a New Video Meeting Room: 1. Expand the MCU tree. 2. Right-click the Meeting Rooms, Entry Queues & SIP Factories icon, and then click New Meeting Room. The Conference Properties dialog box opens. 3.
8 MGC-25 Management Tools Various management tools are available to the MGC-25. For details on other management tools, see the MGC Administrator’s Guide. MGC-25 Resources Report The Resource Report displays the number of ports that can be allocated to participants and the number of ports that are currently assigned to On Going Conferences, soon-to-begin reservations and Meeting Rooms. To view the MCU resources: 1. Right-click the MCU icon, and then click Resource Report.
MGC-25 Getting Started Guide The Resource Report dialog box opens. The following information is displayed: Table 8-1: Resource Report Total Participants Display 8-2 Column Description Total The total number of participants that can be supported by the system. Assigned The number of participant resources that are currently assigned to On Going Conferences and soon-to-begin (within 5 minutes) reserved conferences.
Chapter 8 - MGC-25 Management Tools Table 8-1: Resource Report Total Participants Display 2. Column Description Port-Unit Allocation Method (continued) • Terminal - The system always starts the unit allocation from the first free unit on the first card. This mode may be problematic when there is one faulty unit (especially if it is the first or second) that prevents the system from running conferences. However, this should be the selected mode when debugging the system.
MGC-25 Getting Started Guide changes. Resources are shown by their actual port numbers, listing both the Assigned or Available number of ports. IP In the IP section of the Resources Report, both non-encrypted and encrypted participants are grouped together. For example, if one encrypted and one non-encrypted participants using a line rate of 128 Kbps attend a conference, the resource report displays the sum of the used resources of both participants together.
Chapter 8 - MGC-25 Management Tools Table 8-2: Resource Report - Details (Continued) Field Description IP Participants IP Participants - VOIP The number of participant resources that are assigned/available for IP participants of connection rates up to 64 Kbps. IP Participants - 128, 384, 768, E1 The number of participant resources that are assigned/available for IP participants of connection rates of 128, 384, 768 Kbps and E1 respectively.
MGC-25 Getting Started Guide MCU System Configuration You can view the overall MGC-25 system configuration. The system configuration information indicates the total number of ISDN and IP ports licensed for the system, the number of PRIs connected to the system, and whether the system is configured to support conferencing, gateway sessions and/or video. To view the MGC-25 system configuration: • Right-click the MCU icon, and then click System Configuration.
Chapter 8 - MGC-25 Management Tools The System Configuration dialog box opens. The following information is displayed: Table 8-3: System Configuration Field Description Configuration Name The name of the type of configuration purchased. Total Number of Participants from all rates The total number of participants that can connect to the system simultaneously from all network types.
MGC-25 Getting Started Guide Table 8-3: System Configuration (Continued) 8-8 Field Description IP - Max IP Participants according to rates The total number of participants that can connect to the system per connection rate. Each row represents total system capacity. For example, according to the configuration above, a maximum of 16 VOIP (64 Kbps) participants can connect to the system simultaneously.
Chapter 8 - MGC-25 Management Tools MCU Card Management The following task may be performed to manage the MCU cards: • Listing the installed modules • Viewing the module parameters • Listing the cards units and options • Displaying the Faults Report • Resetting MCU The MCU must be connected in order to perform the above tasks. For details, see Chapter 3, “Connecting to an MCU” on page 3-8. Listing the Installed Cards The MGC-25 can contain several cards.
MGC-25 Getting Started Guide The MGC-25 can contain several cards, as listed in Table 8-4: Table 8-4: MGC Cards Card Function NET2 Network Interfaces between the MGC unit and the ISDN or T1 CAS network. IP Network Interfaces between the MGC unit and the LAN network. MUX+ Multiplexes and demultiplexes audio and data information, performs channel aggregation and video processing in Video Switching conferences. AUDIO7 Performs audio compression, decompression, bridging and DTMF tones.
Chapter 8 - MGC-25 Management Tools Table 8-5: MCU's Cards Status Field Description Slot Displays the slot icon and number; a white icon indicates an empty slot and a green icon indicates an occupied slot. Type Displays the type of card that occupies the slot. The following card types are available, as listed in Table 8-4. Clock This field is valid only for Net-2 cards. It indicates which Network card/span is used as the Master Clock.
MGC-25 Getting Started Guide Viewing Module Parameters Each card is automatically identified by the system, as well as the versions of the programs embedded in it. These parameters can be viewed in the card Properties - Card Settings dialog box. You may want to view the card parameters, disable one or more of the card's units, or modify the card configuration. To view any card parameters: • Right-click the slot containing the card, and then click Properties.
Chapter 8 - MGC-25 Management Tools The system indicates the physical slot in which the card is inserted, the card's type, hardware version and serial number as identified by the MCU's software. When the MCU is updated with a new software version, the current card configuration definitions are automatically copied and the new configuration files are loaded to the card during the software download process. The Status box displays all the error messages related to the card.
MGC-25 Getting Started Guide MCU Faults Report The Faults function records faults related to the MCU that are encountered during operation. To view the Faults list: 1. Right-click the MCU icon, and then click Faults. The Faults window opens.
Chapter 8 - MGC-25 Management Tools The following columns appear in the Faults report: Table 8-6: Faults Columns Field Description Time Lists the date and time that the fault occurred. This column also includes the icon indicating the fault Level. The Levels and their icons are detailed in the Level field. Category Lists the type of fault. The following categories may be listed: • File - the fault is caused when a problem is detected in one of the files stored on the MCU's hard disk. Category (cont.
MGC-25 Getting Started Guide Table 8-6: Faults Columns 2. Field Description Code Indicates the code of the problem, according to the fault category. A list of codes per category can be found in Appendix A of the MGC Administrator’s Guide. Description When applicable, displays a more detailed explanation of the cause of the problem. You can save the Faults report to a text file. To do so, click the Save to file button. The Save As dialog box opens. 3.
Chapter 8 - MGC-25 Management Tools Reset MCU The Reset MCU function is used to reset the MCU when there are substantial changes to the MCU hardware, or when there are problems with the MCU. If a reset is performed while running On Going Conferences, at the end of the MCU Startup, these conferences are automatically restored with all the defined participants in “Standby” state, and will be reconnected to the conference.
MGC-25 Getting Started Guide 8-18
A Appendix A: Default Templates Five default Reservation templates are installed with the MGC Manager: • Audio (Default-Audio) • COP (Default_COP) • Video (Default_Video) • Software Continuous Presence (SW CP) • Video Switching (Video-Switch) This appendix lists the values of the fields in the default templates. For a detailed description of the fields, refer to the MGC Manager User’s Guide, Volume I, Chapter 4.
MGC-25 Getting Started Guide Default-Audio - Conference Template Properties Parameter Value General Name Default_Audio Duration 2:00 Hours Billing (empty) Entry Queue Access Yes Meet Me Per Conf. Yes Conf.
Appendix A: Default Templates Parameter Value Msg Service Name (empty - the default service is selected) VTX 1000 No On Hold No Enable Invite No SilenceIT No Label [None] Conference Lock No Mute ‘Meet Me’ Parties No Start Conf. Requires Chairperson Yes Terminate After Chairperson Exits Yes Auto Termination Yes Before First Join 25 Min After Last Quit 5 Min (disabled) Audio Alg.
MGC-25 Getting Started Guide Parameter Value Allow undefined Participants Yes (disabled) Min Participants 3 Max Participants Auto Pre-Defined Participants File (as previously selected) Dial-Out Manually No Meet Me Per Conf Meeting Room - Limited Sequences No (disabled) Meet-Me Service (empty) Recording Enable Recording A-4 No
Appendix A: Default Templates Default_COP - Conference Template Properties Parameter Value General Name Default_COP Duration 2:00 Hours Billing (empty) Entry Queue Access No Meet Me Per Conf. Yes Conf.
MGC-25 Getting Started Guide A-6 Parameter Value Video Rate In/Out (empty - disabled) Msg Service Type None Conference On Port Yes Encryption No SilenceIT No (disabled) VTX 1000 No Chair Control None Cascade None T120 Rate None FECC/LSD Rate None Label [None] Conference Lock No Mute ‘Meet Me’ Parties No (disabled) Start Conf.
Appendix A: Default Templates Parameter Value End Time Alert Tone Yes - 5 Min Exit Tone/Roll Call announcement Yes Talk Hold Time 1.
MGC-25 Getting Started Guide Parameter Value Speaker Notation Yes Auto Layout No Video Layout 5+ Same Layout Yes (disabled) Lecture Mode [None] Meet Me Per Conf Meeting Room - Limited Sequences No (disabled) Meet-Me Service (empty) Recording Enable Recording A-8 No
Appendix A: Default Templates Default_Video - Conference Template Properties Parameter Value General Name Default_Video Duration 2:00 Hours Billing (empty) Entry Queue Access No Meet Me Per Conf. Yes Conf.
MGC-25 Getting Started Guide A-10 Parameter Value Video Rate In/Out (empty - disabled) Msg Service Type None Conference on Port No Encryption No SilenceIT No (disabled) VTX 1000 No Chair Control None Cascade None T120 Rate None FECC/LSD Rate None Label [None] Conference Lock No Mute ‘Meet Me’ Parties No (disabled) Start Conf.
Appendix A: Default Templates Parameter Value End Time Alert Tone Yes - 5 Min Exit Tone/Roll Call announcement Yes Talk Hold Time 1.
MGC-25 Getting Started Guide Parameter Value Speaker Notation Yes Auto Layout No Video Layout 5+ Same Layout No Lecture Mode [None] Meet Me Per Conf Meeting Room - Limited Sequences No (disabled) Meet-Me Service (empty) Recording Enable Recording A-12 No
Appendix A: Default Templates Software CP - Conference Template Properties Parameter Value General Name SW CP Duration 2:00 Hours Billing (empty) Entry Queue Access No Meet Me Per Conf. Yes Conf.
MGC-25 Getting Started Guide A-14 Parameter Value Video Rate In/Out (80 Kbps / 320 kbps- disabled) Msg Service Type None Conference on Port No (disabled) Encryption No SilenceIT No (disabled) VTX 1000 No (disabled) Chair Control None (disabled) Cascade None (disabled) T120 Rate None FECC/LSD Rate None Label [None] Conference Lock No Mute ‘Meet Me’ Parties No (disabled) Start Conf.
Appendix A: Default Templates Parameter Value End Time Alert Tone Yes - 5 Min Exit Tone/Roll Call announcement Yes Talk Hold Time 1.
MGC-25 Getting Started Guide Parameter Value Speaker Notation No (disabled) Auto Layout No (disabled) Video Layout 2 Same Layout Yes Lecture Mode [None] (disabled) Meet Me Per Conf Meeting Room - Limited Sequences No (disabled) Meet-Me Service (empty) Recording Enable Recording A-16 No
Appendix A: Default Templates Video-Switch - Conference Template Properties Parameter Value General Name Video-Switch Duration 2:00 Hours Billing (empty) Entry Queue Access No Meet Me Per Conf. Yes Conf.
MGC-25 Getting Started Guide A-18 Parameter Value Video Rate In/Out (empty - disabled) Msg Service Type None Conference on Port No (disabled) Encryption No SilenceIT No (disabled) VTX 1000 No Chair Control None Cascade None T120 Rate None FECC/LSD Rate None Label [None] Conference Lock No Mute ‘Meet Me’ Parties No (disabled) Start Conf.
Appendix A: Default Templates Parameter Value End Time Alert Tone Yes - 5 Min Exit Tone/Roll Call announcement Yes Talk Hold Time 1.
MGC-25 Getting Started Guide Parameter Value Speaker Notation No (disabled) Auto Layout No (disabled) Video Layout 1 (full screen) Same Layout Yes Lecture Mode [None] Meet Me Per Conf Meeting Room - Limited Sequences No (disabled) Meet-Me Service (empty) Recording Enable Recording A-20 No
