Louisianas Interactive & Collaborative Research Network Kenneth Tanner Network Coordinator LSU Health Sciences Center – Shreveport

The network is comprised of … 12 Higher Educational Institutions, 12 Higher Educational Institutions, 72 H.323 Endpoints, 72 H.323 Endpoints, 13 Gatekeepers, 13 Gatekeepers, MCU, MCU, Data Collaboration Tool, and Data Collaboration Tool, and Use Internet 2 as backbone. Use Internet 2 as backbone.

In the beginning, …. NSF Grant: NSF Grant: Title: Video to the Desktop: A Louisiana Model Title: Video to the Desktop: A Louisiana Model Awarded $494,450 with $367,680 being matched for a total of $862,130. Awarded in Aug Awarded $494,450 with $367,680 being matched for a total of $862,130. Awarded in Aug Objective: Create an H.323 network for Louisianas researchers so they can participate in inter-institutional scientific sharing and strategic planning sessions Objective: Create an H.323 network for Louisianas researchers so they can participate in inter-institutional scientific sharing and strategic planning sessions Principal Investigators Principal Investigators Dr. Lee Bairnsfather, LSUHSC-S Dr. Lee Bairnsfather, LSUHSC-S Dr. Jerry Draayer, LSU Dr. Jerry Draayer, LSU Dr. Steve Landry, Univ. of Louisiana at Lafayette Dr. Steve Landry, Univ. of Louisiana at Lafayette

Grant Partners/Network Members: 1. Louisiana Board of Regents, 2. Louisiana State University, 3. LSU Agricultural Center, 4. LSU Health Sciences Center - Shreveport, 5. Louisiana Tech University, 6. Northwestern State University, 7. Southeastern Louisiana University, 8. Southern University, 9. Tulane University, 10. University of Louisiana at Lafayette, 11. University of Louisiana at Monroe, and 12. University of New Orleans

Equipment Selection: Based on Pilot H.323 Network Based on Pilot H.323 Network Grant to evaluate different vendor equipment. Grant to evaluate different vendor equipment. Some equipment evaluated included OnLAN MCU & Gateway, MCG-100, ViaVideo, Viewstation, Escort 25, Vigo, etc. Some equipment evaluated included OnLAN MCU & Gateway, MCG-100, ViaVideo, Viewstation, Escort 25, Vigo, etc. Took best equipment from Pilot Network & integrate into Production H.323 Network. Took best equipment from Pilot Network & integrate into Production H.323 Network. Decided on PolyCom endpoints, Radvision gatekeeper, and Accord MCU. Decided on PolyCom endpoints, Radvision gatekeeper, and Accord MCU.

Institution Equipment: 1 - Radvision ECS-100 Gatekeeper 1 - PolyCom Viewstation PolyCom ViaVideo LAN

Dial Schemes: Support two dial schemes: Support two dial schemes: VideNet & La. dial scheme. VideNet & La. dial scheme. La. Dial Scheme La. Dial Scheme Based on telephone dial structure Based on telephone dial structure Example number: Example number: Zone Prefix: Zone Prefix: Local Extension: 4645 Local Extension: 4645 Identical to person/room telephone number Identical to person/room telephone number VideNet number: VideNet number: Exit Zone Prefix: 0 Exit Zone Prefix: 0 Zone Prefix: Zone Prefix: Local Extension: 4645 Local Extension: 4645

Gatekeeper Network (La. Dial Scheme): Example Dial String: (Kenneths telephone number) Zone Prefix: Local Extension: 4645

Gatekeeper Network (VideNet): Example Dial String: Exit Zone Prefix: 0 Zone Prefix: Local Extension: 4645

Gatekeeper Network Summary:

Gatekeeper Network (ECS View):

Future Statewide Gatekeeper Configuration: Move from Meshed to Redundant Hierarchical Configuration Move from Meshed to Redundant Hierarchical Configuration

Shared Tools: PolyCom MGC-100 (MCU) PolyCom MGC-100 (MCU) PolyCom WebOffice (Data Collaboration Tool) PolyCom WebOffice (Data Collaboration Tool)

MCU Hub:

Backbone: Internet 2 used Internet 2 used Later called LearNet within Louisiana Later called LearNet within Louisiana

LearNet (not LeerNet) Note: Tulane Univ. is not connected to LearNet.

Network Management: PolyCom GMS 2.5 PolyCom GMS 2.5

Participation: Network Services Staff Network Services Staff Manage gatekeepers Manage gatekeepers Provided a ViaVideo, Provided a ViaVideo, By product By product H.323 experience, H.323 experience, Better relate to end user issues, and Better relate to end user issues, and Provides feedback on condition of network. Provides feedback on condition of network.

Participation: End Users End Users Researchers Researchers Overall usage low (ramping up) Overall usage low (ramping up) Feedback: Feedback: Ease of Use Ease of Use What other capabilities do they need? What other capabilities do they need? Quality/Reliability vs. H.320 Quality/Reliability vs. H.320 Maintaining Address Book/Directory Services Maintaining Address Book/Directory Services

Ongoing Activities – Security: Firewalls/NAT Firewalls/NAT PolyCom/Accord Firewall Solution PolyCom/Accord Firewall Solution Radvision/Ridgeway Radvision/Ridgeway Cisco Cisco Proxy Proxy Personal/Desktop Firewall Solutions Personal/Desktop Firewall Solutions

Ongoing Activities – Networking: Networking Modes: Networking Modes: DSL DSL Cable Modem Cable Modem Frame Relay Frame Relay Satellite Satellite Microwave Microwave RF RF T1 or Fractional T1 T1 or Fractional T1 QoS vs. Adding Bandwidth QoS vs. Adding Bandwidth

Ongoing Activities – Data Collaboration Data Collaboration Tools Data Collaboration Tools PolyCom WebOffice PolyCom WebOffice Tera Global Tera Global Features: Features: Whiteboard Whiteboard Full motion video (for displaying simulations) Full motion video (for displaying simulations) Data Sharing Data Sharing Focus/View Focus/View

Ongoing Activities – Troubleshooting Techniques: Techniques: Develop Techniques Develop Techniques Train support personnel Train support personnel Tools: Tools: Ping Ping Trace Route (Ping Plotter/Sam Spade) Trace Route (Ping Plotter/Sam Spade) VideNet Scout VideNet Scout

Future Plans Seamless connectivity between various independent H.323 networks within state. Seamless connectivity between various independent H.323 networks within state.

Future Plans Have other governmental agencies join. Have other governmental agencies join.

Future Plans Statewide Dialing Directory & MCU Calendar. Statewide Dialing Directory & MCU Calendar.

Future Plans Integration of H.323 VC and VoIP Integration of H.323 VC and VoIP IP Network

Experience: Technology is the easy part (exception – Firewall & QoS). Technology is the easy part (exception – Firewall & QoS). Difficulties include: Difficulties include: 1. Motivating some institutions to bring equipment online (gatekeeper), 2. Distribute equipment to the end user and to those who WILL USE IT! 3. Tell us they have distributed the Systems and provide us with contact information. 4. Working with LEC to get LearNet/Internet 2 access to some campuses. 5. Convincing people to keep desktop units ON.

Web Page: Network Capabilities & Description, Network Capabilities & Description, Equipment Used Equipment Used Users Guide Users Guide Contact List Contact List Dialing Directory Dialing Directory

In closing A unique learning experience I encountered a few months ago….

Lesson Learned: Be careful how you configure your end users H.323 systems. You never know what you might be EXPOSING your users to. Be careful how you configure your end users H.323 systems. You never know what you might be EXPOSING your users to.