Table Of Contents

Managing Network Topologies in Resource Manager

How to Create a Network Topology with Device Islands

Adding a Device Island

Modifying Device Island Settings

Removing Connectivity Between Device Islands

Removing a Device Island

Viewing IP and ISDN Network Topologies

Modifying Your Network Topology View

Managing Network Topologies in Resource Manager

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This section is for Organization Administrators.

•How to Create a Network Topology with Device Islands

•Viewing IP and ISDN Network Topologies

•Modifying Your Network Topology View

How to Create a Network Topology with Device Islands

IP network topology is the foundation of intelligent resource allocation. It allows Resource Manager to model the video network by recording distance and bandwidth between device islands (IP locations where central and essential devices such as gatekeepers, MCUs, and gateways are placed) and to perform least-cost or best-performance routing over the IP network. An IP endpoint is also associated with its nearest device island when the endpoint is configured. This information is used by Resource Manager to determine the best gatekeeper, MCU, and gateway resources to reserve and schedule for any call.

ISDN network topology intelligently manages ISDN/PSTN network connectivity and cost, gateway numbers, and PSTN/ISDN endpoint numbers that are assigned to ISDN device islands (similar to IP Network Topology). This allows Resource Manager to perform least-cost routing over the ISDN network according to the topology configuration.

Within the same ISDN device island, PSTN/ISDN least-cost routing is also performed based on country codes, area codes of gateway numbers, and PSTN/ISDN endpoint numbers. Costly telephone or PSTN/ISDN line-usage is reduced by selecting the least costly gateway resources via telephone number.

•Adding a Device Island

•Modifying Device Island Settings

•Removing Connectivity Between Device Islands

•Removing a Device Island

Adding a Device Island

In a large distributed deployment, create a device island for each location containing network devices, such as MCUs, gateways, and endpoints. The Resource Manager monitors the bandwidth limitations and distance between each of the device islands.

In a multi-zone deployment where each Cisco IOS H.323 Gatekeeper has its own zone prefix, define a device island for each zone and assign the Cisco IOS H.323 Gatekeeper and the MCU/gateways registered to that Cisco IOS H.323 Gatekeeper to the same device island.

The IP Topology tab displays distance and bandwidth information for all device islands within your video meeting network.

•Distance—The distance between the specified device islands relative to all other configured islands on the organization LAN. This setting is used to find and allocate the best available resources. The Distance value is a weight factor (from 1 to 100) that describes relative network delay between two device islands. The larger the distance, the larger the round trip delay caused by the network between two device islands. The distance should be an attribute proportional to the network delay. One logical way to model delay is to "ping" the connection between the two LANs and use the average delay results.

•Bandwidth—The bandwidth connection (in Kbps) between specified device islands. This setting is used in bandwidth control during resource allocation. The Bandwidth field represents the connection bandwidth (in Kbps) between any two device islands that can be used for video meetings. This is defined by the narrowest section of bandwidth, usually one of the outgoing connections from the LAN.

The ISDN Topology tab displays distance and cost information for all device islands within your PSTN/ISDN network.

•Cost—The cost of a PSTN/ ISDN call between the specified device islands relative to all other configured islands on the organization PSTN/ISDN network. This setting is used to find and allocate best available resources.

Procedure

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Step 1 Click Network Management in the sidebar menu.

Step 2 Click Add.

An empty grid containing a single row appears. The row includes all of the existing device islands displayed in columns.

Step 3 For device islands on an IP network, enter the required distance and bandwidth in each column.

Step 4 For device islands on an ISDN network, enter the required distance and cost in each column.

Step 5 Click OK to save your changes.

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Modifying Device Island Settings

Procedure

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Step 1 Click Network Management in the sidebar menu.

Step 2 Modify the distance and bandwidth in the appropriate cell.

Step 3 Click OK to save your changes.

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Removing Connectivity Between Device Islands

Procedure

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Step 1 Click Network Management in the sidebar menu.

Step 2 Delete the distance and bandwidth values for the required device island pair.

Step 3 Click OK to save your changes.

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Removing a Device Island

Procedure

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Step 1 Click Network Management in the sidebar menu.

Step 2 Click the X above the device island that you want to delete.

The Reassign Device Island window appears if there are network devices currently assigned to this device island.

Step 3 Select the device island you want to reassign the devices to, and then click OK.

Step 4 Click OK in the Network Management screen to save your changes.

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Viewing IP and ISDN Network Topologies

The Network Management section is hidden by default.

Procedure

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Step 1 Open the Resource Manager Configuration Tool.

Step 2 Go to System Configuration > UI Settings.

Step 3 Select the IP Topology and ISDN Topology fields.

Step 4 Click Network Management in the sidebar menu of the Resource Manager web user interface.

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Modifying Your Network Topology View

Procedure

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Step 1 Click Network Management in the sidebar menu.

Step 2 Click Display Locations.

Step 3 Use the arrows to move the device islands that you want to display from the Available Locations column to the Assigned Locations column.

Step 4 Click Search.

Step 5 The selected device islands appear in the grid display.

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