Quick start

These instructions are for the quick installation and testing of the Vinteo VCS server.

Preparing the network

When deploying a server inside the corporate network behind NAT and FW, the following settings have to be made: Server settings

Basic tab

On the Settings page, under the Basic tab, check and set the ports required for operation:

• H323 - TCP: 1720, TCP: H225/245 change from 1024-65000 to 20000-65000 (the port range can be changed by limiting the number to what you need);
• SIP - 5060;
• save your settings.

Network Interface Settings tab

On this tab, after the first launch and login to the web-interface, enter the settings that were set up through the command line during the installation of the Vinteo VCS server, add the DNS-server address and save the settings. If you use two or more network interfaces, it is recommended to use the first interface eth0 for access to the server from external network, and the second interface for local network clients. Routing of local clients to and from external clients is done on the "Routes" tab. When adding an interface, the server must be restarted after saving the settings. After restarting, the second interface should have Up status.

NAT Tab

On this tab write in "External IP" field external address of server, mark required protocols to work through NAT - H.323 and/or SIP. Write the local networks as given in the example on the page, each on a new line. Set the RTP port range (default is 20000-65000). Save your settings.  

FireWall and NAT settings

For the server to work properly through the external network, it is necessary to arrange passing of traffic in both directions on the ports which have been set above in the server settings. The table shows the default values:

Port	Protocol	Assignment
22	TCP/UDP	SSH for Support Services, if required
443	TCP/UDP	For Web services
1719	UDP	H.323 Registration, Logon and Status (RAS)
1720	TCP	H.323 - Call Signalling (H.225)
3478	UDP	STUN needed for WebRTC (not effective with symmetric NAT)
5060	TCP/UDP	SIP
5061	TCP	SIP TLS signaling
1024-65000	TCP	H.323 (H.225/245) If not changed as above (20000-65000)
20000-65000	UDP	Media (RTP/RTCP)

Server and client preparation

Setting up

For a quick start, the settings on the "Basic" tab, "Anonymous settings" pages and adding test Accounts are required.
1.To work with registered H.323 subscribers, go to "Settings" => to the "Main" tab and enable the "Internal Gatekeeper" server;

2. Be sure to check the date and time;
3. Under "Other Settings" enable the "Allow Group Calls" option, it will allow any authorised WS type subscriber to transfer point-to-point calls to multi-party conference mode and make "Group Calls";
4. Save the settings;
5. Go to the tab "Connect Anonymous", set the bandwidth for HD 1.5Mbps, for FHD 2.5Mbps and enable the item "Create Anonymous Rooms", adjust the other items as preferred and save the settings. This item allows Accounts, having previously agreed among themselves on conference date/time/number, to start and conduct video conferences independently without any moderation and webcasting. Anonymous conferences are not displayed in the general peep on the "Conferences" page, but only on the main page in the "Anonymous conferences" indicator, where they can be forced to end. Once checked, it can be switched off if it is not required for further work;
6. check that there is nothing in the list of allowed codecs (right column) by default, this means that all codecs from the left column are allowed;
7. save the settings.

Note

Codec sequence in lists

Correct sequence of codecs in both settings for anonymizers and subscribers' cards is of great importance for normal server operation with large fleet of terminal models. Audio codecs go from "best" to "worst" first, then video codecs with the same selection criteria. For anonymizers using Vinteo Desktop, web-client and Vinteo mobile app without authorization on the server, the list of codecs for anonymizers should include Opus audio codec and H.264 and VP8 video codecs. The following are examples of universal lists with the correct sequence of codecs:
1. For anonymous:

• aac_ld
• opus
• g7221_48_32
• g7221_32_32
• g7221_24_32
• g7221_32
• g7221_24
• g7221_16
• g722
• ulaw
• h264
• h263pp
• h263p
• h263
• h261
• vp8

2. For codecs in subscriber cards

• aac_ld
• opus
• g7221
• g722
• ulaw
• h264
• h263pp
• h263p
• h263
• h261

Creating Subscriber accounts on the server

To create subscribers, go from Home => Subscribers => List page. In the window that opens, use the buttons to create a subscriber or a group of subscribers. This description will provide a brief algorithm for creating two subscribers of WS and H.323 type using individual settings for each. A more detailed description can be found by following this link. To add a new subscriber, click on the "Add New Subscriber" button. In the modal window that opens, make the following settings:

1. select "Type" - "WS";
2. if you want to change the number of this subscriber, which is his name during authentication, the number is created automatically in increments of +1;
3. enter his name/alias;
4. change the generated password, if necessary or generate it anew.
5. enter the subscriber's email, his authentication and settings data will be sent to him after his settings are completed;
6. subscriber's maximum resolution when connecting;
7. maximum channel width;
8. the subscriber's maximum resolution for point-to-point connection;
9. adding a subscriber.

Add the following participants with H.323 and SIP types in the same way. The default codec set is often suitable for most modern terminals. For Polycom VSX6000 terminals, add h263p and h.263 after H.264 codec. "Basic" settings for SIP and H.323 type subscribers are identical to WS, the differences start at the "Advanced" tab.

Conference and Accounts handling

Create a test conference

Click the "Add new conference" button on the "Conferences" page.

In the Create New Conference dialog box, enter "1000" in the "Number" field. In the "Description" field, enter "Test". Click the "Add" button.

Go to the conference settings by clicking on the "(1000) Test" line in the conference list.

In the conference settings, under "Conference properties" in the "Settings" tab, activate the "Open conference" option and press the "Save" button.

Click the "Off" button in the "Control" tab to start the conference. In the start-up confirmation dialogue, press the "Confirm" button.

Activating the Webcast

To test the Webcast feature, follow the steps below:

1. Enter the Webcast settings from the "Conference Management" page;
2. Copy the "Temporary webcast link" to the clipboard;
3. Save the settings if you made changes;
4. Switch on the webcast, the colour of the key will change to orange;

5. Paste the copied link into your browser's address bar and follow it; 6. Click on the screen or click on the icon to start the broadcast playback. You will see the broadcast from the conference, with the main broadcast playback controls open at the bottom of the window.

Accounts connection

Vinteo Desktop Account

An authorized Vinteo Desktop client can dial the same number in the dialing line to make a call to the public conference with the specified above number "1000". He can also call any authorised party with a point-to-point connection by dialing e.g. the number "101" given to a Polycom RPD subscriber with H.323 type.

Polycom RealPresence Mobile Account

An authorised Polycom RPD subscriber also only needs to dial the number of the conference or VinteoDesktop subscriber (100) created and make the call.

Calling subscribers from a conference

To call registered subscribers from the server, enter the created conference: "Home" => "Conferences" => line in the list "(1000) Test".

1. Press the "Add new subscriber" button;
2. Select the registered subscribers "100" and "101" in the modal window,
3. Activate the "Call Participant" item;
4. Press the "Add" button.

As the "Call Participant" item has been enabled, after clicking the "Add" button, they will be added to the invitee list and immediately called into the conference, if not enabled, you will have to call them one by one from the invitee list via the Participant Management functionality.

1. Drop down the participant control panel;
2. Call the participant.

Lecturer mode must be switched on, as it is not active by default and participants can see all speakers, including themselves, in the layout.

Adding callers who are not invited

If the authorized subscribers are called into a closed conference and they are not in the list of invited subscribers, you need to go to page "Conference management": tab "Management". Perform the following actions:

1. Open the pop-up window on the top right;
2. Press the caller icon;
3. Confirm the addition of the caller to the conference call

Working with the audio channel of the participants

To quickly mute a participant's microphone, double click/click on the participant's microphone with the left mouse button, the inner margin of the active participant's substrate will turn black.

Working with layouts

The general layouts for conference participants are managed from the "Layout" tab. This page allows you to configure the overall conference mosaic, select the desired layout, position the participants on the screen, define system positions for the lector or scrolling participants, etc.

Auto mode selects layouts from both layouts below as the conference fills up with participants.

Auto equal mode is the first type of layout that divides the overall screen into equally sized panels displaying the number of participants depending on the total number of participants in the conference. In this layout type, with the default settings, the participants taking the lector role remain in their positions, provided that the number of participants does not exceed the dimensionality of the layout. Auto focus" mode is the second type of layouts that allows participants to see the speaker in a larger panel in relation to others, automatically matching the layouts to the number of participants in the conference. Auto focus is enabled by default and uses both layouts as the conference fills up with participants.

The "Layouts" page displays the selected mosaic on the top left, below there are layouts templates available for selection. On the right side of the page are the panel assignment elements, the button to set all positions in auto and the position (panel) search field. To define the value of the panel, simply place the cursor in the field of the corresponding panel, after which a list of available values and participants will appear, in this list the connected participants are highlighted and sorted in green for easy selection. Field of the set in panel contains element of search which leaves in the list of accessible values, only those values which have partial or full coincidence, search occurs on number of the participant, on a name of the participant and on ip-address of the participant. After selecting a layout or defining a panel value, the "Save" button should be pressed to put the changes into effect.

Checking the operation of anonymous conferences

If the "Create anonymous rooms" function is active, perform the following actions:

1. Dial an arbitrary conference number from the software terminal of the first subscriber, e.g. "4000". A connection to the anonymous conference number 4000 will be established; 2. Carry out the same actions from the terminal of the second subscriber, as well as from the next necessary to check connection. All subscribers who dialed "4000" will get into a conference with the same number which was created by the first subscriber. Moderation and Webcasting of anonymous conferences is not possible.

Checking the operation of "Group Calls"

"Group Calls" are only available to authorised WS subscribers with the right to this action, via the Vinteo Desktop application.

1. Add callers with numbers 101 and 102 to the VD record book;
2. Select the numeric keypad icon in the sidebar navigator;
3. Click on "Group Call";
4. Tick the checkboxes of the participants created in point "1". Participants who are ready to make the call will be marked with a green dot;
5. click "Call";
6. A temporary type conference will be created on the server (marked with a clock icon in the "Type" column) with an available number selected from the pool of numbers for the conference, and the selected participants will be invited there;
7. The initiator of this conference has moderator rights and will have access to the participant control panel in the VD application. In addition to the basic controls there, the moderator can also grant or delegate moderation rights to other participants;
8. The last moderator concludes the conference.