[Videoconferencing] ECS and EVO (videoconferencing) changes

[Andrew Daviel]

There have been changes in both ECS (H223) and EVO video systems in the 
last couple of months:

=======================
ECS:

On July 21, ECS (es.net) upgraded the gatekeeper that we use. Previously, 
we could call sites point-to-point directly by ip number, or via ECS 
using GDS, and we could join conferences by entering 
numbers like 8212345.

Since the upgrade, we can no longer call sites directly by ip number.
We can call other ECS-registered sites using their E164 or GDS number, 
but I believe that no-one here has done that or understands it.

I have submitted a trouble ticket to ECS. Meanwhile, I am disabling the 
gatekeeper on our Viewstations (H223 sets). This means that you cannot
join any ECS conferences. I ham hoping for a resolution from ECS to 
restore the original behaviour.

- if anyone has opinions about which state is better (no ECS, or no 
point-to-point) or whether we should leave some sets in each state, 
please contact me.

Possible ip changes:

- we had thought of moving the viewstations to a new VLAN, to get less 
network noise and improved QoS. This would mean changing ip 
addresses, breaking addressbook entries (but not GDS) and documentation.
While we can fix those onsite, there may be addressbooks offsite and
ip addresses saved in personal email, notes etc. which would be affected.

How disruptive a change would this be ? Or does everyone set up
conferences via email using the current documentation ?


==================
EVO:

On June 28, EVO switched the default client to version 2.0. This has a 
new video client which uses GL hardware for improved performance. We 
had issues where the GL libraries were not properly configured with our 
dual-head cards. Also, the new client was compiled with gcc 4.1 and will 
not run on older (pre-SL5) systems such as the one curently in ISAC2 223.
There is a fallback non-GL video client base on the older EVO 1.5, which 
should start automatically if GL is not available.
EVO 1.5 itself is also still available from the EVO startpage.

ISAC 222 video room:
EVO 2.0 works with GL. This should now be the default.
EVO 2.0 non-GL crashes
EVO 1.5 works (I believe)

ISAC2 223:
EVO 2.0 non-GL works. Should be the default.
EVO 2.0 GL crashes (SL4.4 system)
EVO 1.5 works

MOB main conference room:
EVO 2.0 works with GL. This should be the default.
EVO 2.0 non-GL works.
EVO 1.5 works

Auditorium:
EVO 2.0 non-GL works. Click "camera" in video window to transmit as for
   EVO 1.5 - "transmit video" icon in Koala does not work.
EVO 2.0 GL does not work. Matrox video card does have GL support. Ticket
   open.
EVO 1.5 works

For desktop users, GL may be supported depending on your video card.
The command "glxgears -info" should work, and should display information 
about GL support. Note that MESA emulation is not enough for ViEVO to 
work with GL.

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