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Videoconferencing in the UK

Videoconferencing in the UK. David Bailey University of Bristol. Overview. Videoconferencing is now much more “mature” Systems used by UK HEP groups Studio based “Desktop” based Facilities used MCUs etc. Feedback from users. Tools and Technologies. All technologies are in use

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Videoconferencing in the UK

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  1. Videoconferencing in the UK David Bailey University of Bristol

  2. Overview • Videoconferencing is now much more “mature” • Systems used by UK HEP groups • Studio based • “Desktop” based • Facilities used • MCUs etc. • Feedback from users David Bailey - HTASC Meeting June 2003

  3. Tools and Technologies • All technologies are in use • ISDN H.320 • VIC/RAT (VRVS) • H.323 (VC over IP) • Streaming video (RealPlayer) • Trend is clear however • Reduction of ISDN in favour of IP based solutions when possible • Large sites still use ISDN, but costs for small institutes are too high • IP solutions are now much more reliable David Bailey - HTASC Meeting June 2003

  4. Tools and Technologies • Streaming video mainly used to webcast plenary sessions of e.g. experiment collaboration meetings • No remote audience interaction with speakers/participants • Allows for online storage and replay of presentations • Useful for reference after the event David Bailey - HTASC Meeting June 2003

  5. Studio Based Systems • Most universities/sites have central, studio based facilities • Not dedicated to HEP • May be very busy • Not always convenient • University may charge for use • All support ISDN • An ad hoc survey of HEP sites seems to suggest that use of these facilities is falling in favour of group/desktop systems David Bailey - HTASC Meeting June 2003

  6. Desktop Systems • Hardware Codecs • Many groups have Zydacrons • 350/360 H.323 • Only one group has an ISDN board • Also lots of ViaVideos • Software issues here: • v3.0 seems to break interoperability with many other systems • v2.2 seems OK • Microphones/Speakers • Range from headsets to Polyspans David Bailey - HTASC Meeting June 2003

  7. MCUs • Much use of ESnet services • CDF regular users • HERA experiments • No problem reports about service • More recently, JVCS service launched in UK • New H.323/IP service • ISDN and IP/ISDN gateway http://www.jvcs.video.ja.net • Kit must pass their QA tests before you can use the service • Really aimed at studio systems • Desktop hardware codecs at low end of acceptable • No software codecs allowed • System does include rate-matching though David Bailey - HTASC Meeting June 2003

  8. UK Campus facilities • Some sites have their own MCU • Glasgow • Heavily used for teaching • H.323/ISDN gateway • UCL • H.323 MCU • Used by Grid project (with booking in advance) David Bailey - HTASC Meeting June 2003

  9. Experience • ESnet • CDF have used DCS successfully via H.323 gateway for a long time • Also using H.323 ad hoc facility • JVCS • Early days yet • No large-scale experience but early adopters responses have been positive despite QA requirements David Bailey - HTASC Meeting June 2003

  10. Experience • VRVS • Used at CERN • DESY also beginning to use it for meetings • H.323 mode has compatibility problems with Zydacron and ViaVideo v3.0 • User responses • Mixed • Some groups find it OK • Others have given up using it altogether • Seems that once a system has been set up and made to work then everything is OK • Problems occur when trying to set up machines from scratch each time • Comments made that it’s very hard to diagnose where a problem is – local or somewhere down the line David Bailey - HTASC Meeting June 2003

  11. Experience • One or two comments from heavy users about purely phone conferences • PC to display slides • Conference phone+call • although cost issues for conference calls • BarBar meetings often held this way David Bailey - HTASC Meeting June 2003

  12. Access Grid • Not much to report • AG nodes starting to appear • Some people have tried it • No feedback yet David Bailey - HTASC Meeting June 2003

  13. Issues • Firewalling • Not yet a nationwide problem • Will become increasingly so as universities move to default deny firewall policies • No UK wide solution as yet • Individual sites working with their infrastructure people • Firewall policy may be outside direct control of HEP groups • This is a worry going forward David Bailey - HTASC Meeting June 2003

  14. Issues • Data Sharing • Most (if not all) VC solutions offer data sharing • Desktop/Window sharing for example • Not widely used • Standards? Interop • Some use Netmeeting, others have browser-based Java applets • No recommendations as yet David Bailey - HTASC Meeting June 2003

  15. Summary • VC is working for HEP in the UK • Some glitches, annoyances • Current recommendation to groups is ViaVideo • Zydacron no longer recommended • Warning about v2.0/v3.0 ViaVideo compatibilty • H.323 IP based conferencing is becoming dominant • Ad hoc H.323 would be nice, but how simple to implement? • Concerns about firewalling going forward David Bailey - HTASC Meeting June 2003

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