1. September 12, 2006 WebEX and Collaborative Tools Strategy Meeting Sheila Cisko1 WebEX & Collaborative Tools Strategy Meeting Sheila Cisko

2. September 12, 2006 WebEX and Collaborative Tools Strategy Meeting Sheila Cisko 2 Current collaboration services & tools - ESnet ESnet Collaborative Services provides:  Ad-Hoc H.323 (IP) video conference services, including H.239  Streaming video  Audio conference services, audio gateway to IP services Pros:  ad-hoc connections (no scheduling) - users self-serve  H.323 systems use built-in echo cancellation for quality audio  H.239 supported service (88X) – video & data aka People + Content  free to DOE project-related users  automatic streaming available on 88X service  call-in telephone gateway to video service  Skype can be used

3. September 12, 2006 WebEX and Collaborative Tools Strategy Meeting Sheila Cisko 3 Current collaboration services & tools - ESnet (cont) Cons:  Windows-centric desktop H323 clients (cost ~$200) Mac & Linux H.323 clients are open source; lack H.239 support  For now…  Home use can encounter firewall or NAT problems  telephone calls are long distance (California)  no meeting management tools Ie., calendar, agenda server, meeting info users self-serve  H239 support requires new conference room hardware majority of FNAL room systems are at end-of-life product cycle

4. September 12, 2006 WebEX and Collaborative Tools Strategy Meeting Sheila Cisko 4 Current collaboration services & tools - VRVS Mixed technology (Mbone tools, H.323) video conferencing bridging system Pros:  Inexpensive for desktop users  Cross platform OS  Meeting tools such as calendar & email notification Cons:  Poor audio quality due to free desktop tools w/o echo cancellation  Less robustness & reliability than other technologies  Troubleshooting is more difficult

5. September 12, 2006 WebEX and Collaborative Tools Strategy Meeting Sheila Cisko 5 Current collaboration services & tools - Audio conferencing services Services available from:  ECS (free service, but long distance calls)  FNAL operators (budget code)  AT&T, other Pros:  Simple  Ubiquitous Cons:  Requires resource scheduling  Trailing edge technology

6. September 12, 2006 WebEX and Collaborative Tools Strategy Meeting Sheila Cisko 6 Current Collaboration Services & tools - WebEX Pros:  Ease of use is very high (browser-based) Supported across all platforms  Sharing & showing applications  Telephony solution dials back to users regardless of location (home vs office) Cons:  cost  proprietary Will not interconnect with existing ECS, VRVS tools High potential to be a dead end on the technology evolution path

7. September 12, 2006 WebEX and Collaborative Tools Strategy Meeting Sheila Cisko 7 Future Collaboration Services & tools ECS – funded by DOE/OS  Current H.323 infrastructure being upgraded to latest technology H.239 service Hardware to be refreshed on four-year budget cycle But expansion of existing services will be by subscription or petition to Program Managers  Cisco/ Latitude audio & data conferencing hardware should be under procurement soon Will provide WebEX-like capabilities VRVS/ EVO – funded by DOE/NSF/Hosted by Caltech ECS & VRVS services can interconnect, interoperate now and are complementary  with additional development and additional resources ease of use will improve Future collaboration solutions will converge desktops, meeting rooms, phone, VoIP, IM, HD, and other emerging technologies

8. September 12, 2006 WebEX and Collaborative Tools Strategy Meeting Sheila Cisko 8 Standards Soup – what is H323 with H239? Desktop H323 & aux cam presentation Desktop PVX H239 Content Window H239 Room system - single monitor H239 Room system – dual monitors Images ECS/M. Pihlman

9. September 12, 2006 WebEX and Collaborative Tools Strategy Meeting Sheila Cisko 9 Concerns Users’ requirements:  reliability & robustness  ease of use  audio quality  seamless communication from meeting room, desktop (including streaming) and/or telephone (domestic and international) Technical considerations:  interoperability and interconnectivity with existing & future tools  centralized solutions for HENP users for support, operational and development  international telephone calls (in- versus out-bound dialing)

10. September 12, 2006 WebEX and Collaborative Tools Strategy Meeting Sheila Cisko 10 Investigating technology groups ESnet Remote Collaboration Working Group (RCWG)  members include national DOE labs, ESnet, VRVS/EVO, CERN, labs in France  RCWG Update to ESCC http://cd-docdb.fnal.gov/cgi- bin/ShowDocument?docid=1652http://cd-docdb.fnal.gov/cgi- bin/ShowDocument?docid=1652 LHC/ILC users include FNAL CD & PPD et al LHC Computing Grid – Requirements and Technical Assessment Group12 (RTAG) Report on collaborative tools released April 2005  http://muondoc.home.cern.ch/muondoc/rtag12/ http://muondoc.home.cern.ch/muondoc/rtag12/ Services such as VRVS, Access Grid, ViDe Others

11. September 12, 2006 WebEX and Collaborative Tools Strategy Meeting Sheila Cisko 11 New collaboration@FNAL web pages Web pages include  room descriptions with peripherals and scheduling information  ECS Ad-Hoc & VRVS guides  audio conferencing information  desktop H323 collaboration guides  troubleshooting guides and faq http://computing.fnal.gov/ videoconferencing/

12. September 12, 2006 WebEX and Collaborative Tools Strategy Meeting Sheila Cisko 12 Collaboration from FNAL Conference Rooms Created conference room- centric instructions  Provided binders for each room include guides and instructions information also on web will send bi-annual emails to room stake holders for content accuracy Few departments or sections providing technical support or regular oversight of room and a/v peripherals