[Videoconferencing] Should we buy our own H323 MCU ?

[Andrew Daviel]

(MCU - "multiple calling unit", aka. bridge)

Background:

Although 2 of our H323 video sets (Polycom Viewstations) can host up to 3 
connections, normally we route all our video conferences through the 
ESnet MCUs at LBL. (http://www.ecs.es.net/ecs_reg/index.html)

This generally requires that endpoints be registered with the ESnet 
gatekeeper (on our sets, a password-protected administrative option, not 
a per-call setting). ESnet policy requires that the user be working on 
DOE-funded research, which I interpret as "some user at the site must be 
part of a collaboration that includes a DOE-funded user" to register, 
and "the user must be part of a collaboration that includes a DOE-funded 
user" to place a call. All I can find online is the general AUP
at http://www.es.net/hypertext/esnet-aup.html
which says:
"Acceptable use of ESnet includes ... Video conferencing among Office of 
Science investigators and their collaborators or facilities for use 
between or among other organizations."

The infrastructure at ESnet includes a gatekeeper and multiple Codian 
MCUs managed and maintained by ESnet, which are connected to GDS
(http://commons.internet2.edu/gds.html)

There is also an MCU at BCnet which we can use. It is not part of GDS, 
and requires booking. We have never used it significantly.

None of these MCUs are HD (High-Definition) capable, though an HD 
endpoint can connect using legacy settings - just as an HD set can 
connect to a legacy set. We currently have no HD sets at TRIUMF, although 
we are considering a purchase.

(EVO is a totally separate system which does not use MCUs. There is a 
path within the EVO client to allow EVO calls to connect to ESnet 
conferences). (http://evo.caltech.edu)

I believe we should be able to have an ESnet conference with an 
additional 2 non-registered sites, but only in ISAC2 room 223.

Any GDS site should also be able to take part in an ESnet conference, 
with any of our endpoints.


Discussion:

If we bought our own MCU, we could host multipoint conferences of more 
than 4 participants with no policy restrictions. This has been requested 
by one group.
I am told that a bare MCU (no gatekeeper) does not require much 
administration or setup.

New HD-capable (future proofed) MCUs are seriously expensive (> $100,000 
according to one source). New non-HD Codians (like ESnet have now), maybe 
$40k. A used/refurbished Radvision MCU may be had for about $1000. Like 
ESnet used to have - it won't do transcoding so the conference runs as 
the speed of the slowest endpoint. If I understand properly, that (a used 
one) would let us have maybe a 4-site conference from any of our 
endpoints at 768kbps, or an 8-site conference at 384k, or a 12-site 
conference at 128k. And

As it happens, I have just been talking with Intercol (reseller trying to 
sell us stuff) who offer an outsourced bridging solution. Either 
$1800/month for 4 lines unlimited ad-hoc, or $36/hour/line for a booked 
meeting, using HD-capable MCUs that can also bridge to ISDN or regular 
phone.

Question:

Is there any interest in either of these (buying an MCU, or outsourcing) ?
We might be able to get a Radvision on the maintenence budget.


-- 
Andrew Daviel, TRIUMF, Canada
Tel. +1 (604) 222-7376  (Pacific Time)
Network Security Manager