Configuring Services on the Cisco Unified Videoconferencing 3545 MCU
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About Services
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How to Create and Delete Services on the 3545 MCU
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How to Configure Advanced Management and Security for the 3545 MCU
About Services
A service can be regarded as a conference template. A service is the mechanism that defines the qualities and capabilities of a conference. A service is identified by its prefix. The service prefix number is incorporated into the conference ID to specify the service for the conference. A description of the service indicates the main attributes of the service or the target use for the service.
The MCU comes with several predefined services: one service for the SCCP protocol, one service for Cisco Unified MeetingPlace, and the remainder for audio and video conferencing. The predefined services are factory tuned to be suitable in most cases for audio and video calls. We recommend starting with these services and modifying them as necessary to suit your needs.
When using an SCCP service, these limitations apply:
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No support for presentation view (Duo Video and H.239)
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No support for T.120 data collaboration
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No support for H.235 encryption
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Maximum resolution supported is CIF
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Maximum call rate supported is 768 Kbps
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The G.722.1 and G.723 audio codecs are not available
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No support for conference PINs
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No support for dial out
How to Create and Delete Services on the 3545 MCU
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Creating a New Service
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Deleting a Service
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Creating a New SCCP Service
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How to Customize Services
Creating a New Service
Anew service has default settings which are suitable for most conferences and usually no further configuration is needed.
Procedure
Step 1
In the Administrator interface, on the sidebar, click MCU (if not already selected).
Step 2
Click the Services tab.
Step 3
Click Add.
The Automatic Service Definition dialog box appears.
Step 4
In the Service prefix field, enter a prefix for the service.
Note
The service prefix is used as part of the dialing plan of your enterprise. Ensure that the prefix does not conflict with other prefixes used in your network.
Step 5
In the Service description field, enter a description of the service in free text.
Step 6
Select one of the following options from the Service type field:
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Audio Only—Forces the conference to be audio-only.
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Desktop Video—Supports transcoding at bandwidth rates of up to 384 Kbps.
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HD/SD Continuous Presence—Supports transcoding at bandwidth rates of up to 4096 Kbps. Supports high definition continuous presence. Supports image size of up to 720p. Default when adding a new service.
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HD Switched Video—Supports switched high definition video at rates of up to 4096 Kbps.
Step 7
Click Upload.
Deleting a Service
Procedure
Step 1
In the Administrator interface, on the sidebar, click MCU (if not already selected).
Step 2
Click the Services tab.
Step 3
Click Delete.
Step 4
Click Yes in the message that appears.
The service is removed from the list of services.
Creating a New SCCP Service
Restrictions
Data collaboration and encryption configuration options are not available for SCCP services.
Procedure
Step 1
In the Administrator interface, on the sidebar, click MCU (if not already selected).
Step 2
Click the Services tab.
Step 3
Click Add.
The Automatic Service Definition dialog box appears.
Step 4
In the Service prefix field, enter a prefix for the service.
Step 5
Check SCCP service.
Step 6
In the Service description field, enter a description of the service in free text.
Step 7
Click Upload.
How to Customize Services
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About Customizing Services
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Configuring the Maximum Call Rate
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Configuring the Maximum Layout
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Configuring Standard Definition Advanced Video Settings
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Configuring Switched High Definition Advanced Video Settings
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Configuring Advanced Audio Settings
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Configuring Data Collaboration Support
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Configuring Presentation View
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Configuring Encryption Support
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Configuring PIN Settings
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Configuring Service Dial-out Policies
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Configuring Service Indication Settings
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Configuring Port Reservations and Limits
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Configuring Support for Far End Camera Control
About Customizing Services
You customize a service by first creating a new default service and then configuring your own settings in the Automatic Service Definition dialog box.
Configuring the Maximum Call Rate
You can configure the maximum call rate (bit rate) for audio and video. This is the maximum bit rate available for this service. This value represents the total bit rate of the voice, video and data streams combined, up to a maximum of 2 Mbps per call.
Procedure
Step 1
In the Administrator interface, on the sidebar, click MCU (if not already selected).
Step 2
Click the Services tab.
Step 3
Click Add.
The Automatic Service Definition dialog box appears.
Step 4
In the Max call rate field, select the maximum call rate for the voice, video and data streams combined.
Step 5
Click Upload.
Note
A minimum call rate is defined automatically for each service; this minimum call rate can be changed by an advanced administrative command.
In the case of the high definition service, if a user joins a conference at a call rate that is below the defined minimum for the service, the MCU will consider the call a standard definition call.
The maximum call rate is adjusted dynamically to the lowest maximum call rate of all the participants in a conference, as long as that rate is not below the minimum call rate.
Configuring the Maximum Layout
The Max Layout field indicates the video layout displaying the maximum number of participants to which the conference view expands.
The choice of layouts for the service depends on the type of processing mode. The default layout is 1+7 participants.
Procedure
Step 1
In the Administrator interface, on the sidebar, click MCU (if not already selected).
Step 2
Click the Services tab. Select the service you wish to configure and click Add.
The Automatic Service Definition dialog box appears.
Step 3
In the Max Layout field, a picture of the current maximum layout appears. Click Change to choose a new layout.
Note
The Change button is not active if HD Switched Video is the service type.
Step 4
In the Support image size up to field, select the maximum incoming picture format supported in conferences using this service.
Note
The Support image size up to field is not displayed if Audio Only or HD Switched Video is the service type.
For the HD/SD Continuous Presence service type, the maximum image size value must be 720p in order to support high definition. If 720p is not selected, high definition is not supported.
For SCCP services, only the CIF and QCIF options are available.
Step 5
Click OK.
Configuring Standard Definition Advanced Video Settings
In the Advanced Video Settings dialog box you can configure the video codec, video image size, participant layout options, theme and additional layouts for a particular service.
Procedure
Step 1
In the Administrator interface, on the sidebar, click MCU (if not already selected).
Step 2
Click the Services tab.
Step 3
Click Add.
The Automatic Service Definition dialog box appears.
Step 4
Click Advanced Video Settings.
The Advanced Video Settings dialog box appears.
Step 5
The Video Codecs section displays the choice of codecs that you prefer. The codecs are listed in declining order of preference with the most preferred codec listed first. Setting the codec priorities notifies the MCU and remote endpoints of your preferred video codecs. This is useful when more than one codec is supported by both sides. To select or change the codec priorities, follow these steps:
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To add a codec to the Available field, click it in the Selected field and then click Add. To remove a codec from the Available field, click it and then click Remove.
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To move a codec up the priority list, click it and then click Up. To move a codec down the priority list, click it and then click Down.
Step 6
In the Main (Participant) Layout section select the layout options you wish to define for this service.
Step 7
To display a welcome screen to user when that user connects to a conference, select Display welcome screen. For information on modifying the welcome screen, see the "Configuring Welcome Screen Settings" section.
Step 8
To configure automatic switching, select Enable auto switch and enter the interval in seconds. Auto switching allows participant images in the video layout periodically to change and display other conference participants according to the interval set.
Step 9
Select Dynamically change layout as participants join or leave to dynamically enlarge or reduce the displayed number of subframes.
Step 10
To configure removal of the self image, select Enable `No Self See'.
Note
The no self-see display is not available for high definition participants, even if the no self-see option is enabled.
Step 11
Select an option from the Display participants names field to show a participant's name at the bottom of each sub-frame.
Step 12
Select Slightly reduce image size for optimal TV display to change the display from PC screen mode to TV screen mode.
Step 13
From the Themes to use field, select a theme. Basic is the default.
Step 14
(Optional) In the Additional Layouts section, select Enable custom layouts to define custom layouts to maintain backward compatibility with previous product versions.
Step 15
(Optional) Click Settings to define the layout options in the Custom Layout Settings dialog box.
Note
If you select Support presentation view (H.239), one of the customized layouts must be Presentation layout.
Related Topics
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Configuring Welcome Screen Settings
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Configuring 3G Layout Settings
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Configuring Presentation View
Configuring Switched High Definition Advanced Video Settings
In the Advanced Video Settings dialog box you can configure the video codec, video image size, participant layout options, theme and additional layouts for a particular service.
Procedure
Step 1
In the Administrator interface, on the sidebar, click MCU (if not already selected).
Step 2
Click the Services tab.
Step 3
Select High Definition Switched Video in the Service type field.
Step 4
Click Add.
Step 5
Select HD Switched Video from the Service Type field.
Step 6
Click Advanced Video Settings.
The maximum call rate set in the Max call rate field of the Automatic Service Definition dialog box is displayed.
Step 7
Set a value in the Allow call rate drop down to option.
This option enables you to configure the minimum bandwidth to which the MCU lowers a conference to enable additional endpoints to join. This form of "downspeeding" contributes to a higher percentage of call completion on the network. Endpoints are prevented from joining a conference at a bandwidth rate below the value set in this option.
After downspeeding occurs, the MCU automatically raises the conference bandwidth rate when the endpoints participating at the lowest bandwidth rate leave the conference. For example, in a conference of endpoints communicating at 768 Kbps and a value of 512 Kbps configured in the Allow call rate drop to option, the MCU lowers the conference to 512 Kbps when an endpoint attempts to join the conference at 512 Kbps. If that endpoint later disconnects from the conference, leaving two endpoints capable of communicating at 768 Kbps, the MCU automatically increases the bandwidth of the conference back to 768 Kbps.
Step 8
Select a codec from the Codec field.
Note
H.264 must be a selected codec when the maximum layout definition is 720p.
Note
The no self-see display is not available for high definition participants, even if the no self-see option is enabled.
Step 9
(Optional) Select Enable auto-switch every n seconds and enter the required interval.
Step 10
(Optional) Select Enable lecturer mode to enable all participants to see the lecturer in full screen, while the conference lecturer sees all the other conference participants in the selected layout while speaking.
Step 11
Click OK.
Configuring Welcome Screen Settings
In the Main (participant) layout section of the Advanced Video Settings dialog box you can modify the appearance of the welcome screen.
Procedure
Step 1
In the Administrator interface, on the sidebar, click MCU (if not already selected).
Step 2
Click the Services tab. Select the service you wish to configure and click Add.
The Automatic Service Definition dialog box appears.
Step 3
Click Advanced Video Settings.
An Advanced Video Settings dialog box appears.
Step 4
Select Display welcome screen and click Settings.
Step 5
In the Welcome screen settings window, enter a welcome text and the length of time you want the welcome screen to appear.
Step 6
(Optional) Enter the string $CONF_DESCRIPTION to display the conference description in the welcome screen.
You define the conference description in the Conference Control web user interface at Create Conference > Conference Description.
If you do not define a conference description, the $CONF_DESCRIPTION string displays the conference ID by default.
Step 7
(Optional) Enter the string $CONF_ID to display the conference ID in the welcome screen.
Step 8
Click OK.
Configuring 3G Layout Settings
In the Additional Layouts section of the Advanced Video Settings dialog box you can configure the layout options for 3G videophone users.
Procedure
Step 1
In the Administrator interface, on the sidebar, click MCU (if not already selected).
Step 2
Click Services. Select the service you wish to configure and click Add.
The Automatic Service Definition dialog box appears.
Step 3
Click Advanced Video Settings.
An Advanced Video Settings dialog box appears.
Step 4
In the Additional Layouts section, select Enable 3G videophone layout to limit the layout for 3G videophone users.
Step 5
Click Settings to select the layout in the 3G Layout Settings dialog box.
Step 6
Click OK to return to the Automatic Service Definition dialog box.
Configuring Advanced Audio Settings
Transcoding between audio protocols enables the Cisco Unified Videoconferencing 3545 MCU to support communication between endpoints with different audio codecs. You configure service audio transcoding in the Audio Settings dialog box.
For a service, you can configure conference audio codec support and transcoding priorities. The MCU supports the following audio codecs:
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G.711 A/µ law—Toll quality at 64 Kbps (A-Law/mu-Law).
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G.722—High-quality audio at 64 Kbps.
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G.722.1—High quality audio at 24 Kbps or 32 Kbps using a digital sampling rate ranging from 50 Hz up to 7 kHz.
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G.723.1—Voice quality audio at 5.3 Kbps or 6.4 Kbps.
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G.728—Near toll quality audio at 16 Kbps.
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G.729—Audio at 8 Kbps.
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AAC-LC
Procedure
Step 1
In the Administrator interface, on the sidebar, click MCU (if not already selected).
Step 2
Click Services. Select the service you wish to configure and click Add.
The Automatic Service Definition dialog box appears.
Step 3
Click Advanced Audio Settings to modify audio settings.
The Audio Settings dialog box appears.
The Audio codec settings section displays the choice of codecs that you prefer for audio transcoding. The codecs are listed in declining order of preference with the most preferred codec listed first. Setting these priorities notifies the MCU and remote endpoints of your preferred audio codecs. This is useful when more than one codec is supported by both sides. To change these priorities, follow these steps:
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To add a codec to the Available field, click it in the Selected field and then click Add. To remove a codec from the Available field, click it and then click Remove.
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To move a codec up the priority list, click it and then click Up. To move a codec down the priority list, click it and then click Down.
Step 4
In the Audio packet size field, enter the minimum audio packet size.
Step 5
In the Number of speakers to mix concurrently field, enter the maximum number of speakers in a conference who can be heard at the same time. The value you enter is the number of loudest speakers for whom the audio stream is mixed and sent to all conference participants. For example, if you enter 4, the MCU mixes the audio stream of the four loudest speakers in the conference.
Step 6
In the Speaking duration to become `Active Speaker' field, enter the interval (in milliseconds) before the voice-activated video-switching mechanism displays a new active speaker in the video image. The default setting is 3000 milliseconds.
Step 7
Select Automatically mute participants who join the conference to have the MCU initially mute all participants joining the conference. Once the conference begins, the conference Moderator can unmute selected participants. This is useful for lectures.
Step 8
If you performed step 7, you can select Do not mute first conference participant to have the MCU mute all conference participants except the participant that joined the conference first.
Step 9
Click OK.
Configuring Data Collaboration Support
In the Data Collaboration section of the Automatic Services Definition dialog box you can configure the service to support T.120 data collaboration when the MCU works with a T.120 server.
Restrictions
To support T.120 data collaboration, you must register the IPVC-3540-DS T.120 (DCS) server with the MCU.
Data collaboration options are available only if the DCS server is registered with the MCU.
Data collaboration configuration options are not available for SCCP services.
Procedure
Step 1
In the Administrator interface, on the sidebar, click MCU (if not already selected).
Step 2
Click the Services tab. Select the service you wish to configure and click Add.
The Automatic Service Definition dialog box appears.
Step 3
Select Support T.120 data conferencing.
Step 4
If you performed step 3, you can select Allow access to data conferencing from MCU conference control.
Step 5
Click Upload.
Configuring Presentation View
In the Data Collaboration section of the Automatic Services Definition dialog box you can configure the service to support presentation view (H.239).
Procedure
Step 1
In the Administrator interface, on the sidebar, click MCU (if not already selected).
Step 2
Click the Services tab. Select the service you wish to configure and click Add.
The Automatic Service Definition dialog box appears.
Step 3
Check Support presentation view (H.239) and click Settings.
The Presentation View Settings dialog box appears.
Step 4
Choose H.263 or H.264 from the Presentation Video Codec field.
Step 5
In the Presentation Image Size field, choose the required image size. The default for H.263 is XGA. The default for H.264 is CIF.
Step 6
In the Presentation Frame Rate field, choose the required frame rate. The default for H.263 is 5 fps. The default for H.264 is 30 fps.
Step 7
Click OK.
Configuring Encryption Support
The Cisco Unified Videoconferencing 3545 MCU supports encrypted calls over IP networks. You can configure the service to be encrypted and the type of encryption required.
Restrictions
Encryption configuration options are not available for SCCP services.
The encryption conforms to the H.235 standard and supports the following encryption algorithms:
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DES: with an encryption key of 56 bits
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AES: with an encryption key of 128 bits
Encryption on the MCU can operate in one of these modes:
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Disabled—No encryption. The supported capability for this mode is Priority 1: no encryption.
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Best effort—This mode implements a "best effort" encryption algorithm. If an endpoint supports encryption, it connects in an encrypted way. If not, it connects without encryption. The supported capabilities for this mode are:
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Priority 1: AES 128
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Priority 2: DES 56
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Priority 3: No encryption
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Encryption required—This mode only connects encrypted calls. Encryption is either AES 128 or DES 56. Non-encrypted calls are not allowed to connect. The supported capabilities for this mode are:
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Priority 1: AES 128
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Priority 2: DES 56
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Strong encryption required—This mode only allows AES 128 encrypted calls. Endpoints that do not support AES 128 are not allowed to connect. The supported capability for this mode is Priority 1: AES 128.
These channels support encryption:
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Audio channel
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Video channel
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Far End Camera Control (FECC)
Note
All channels (audio, video, FECC, incoming, and outgoing) on the same call must have the same encryption levels. If the encryption on all channels cannot be achieved, the call disconnects.
Procedure
Step 1
In the Administrator interface, on the sidebar, click MCU (if not already selected).
Step 2
Click the Services tab. Select the service you wish to configure and click Add.
The Automatic Service Definition dialog box appears.
Step 3
In the Management and Security section, select Support encryption to enable encryption.
Step 4
From the Encryption mode field, select the type of encryption:
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Best effort
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Encryption required
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Strong encryption required
Step 5
Click Upload.
How to Configure Advanced Management and Security for the 3545 MCU
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Configuring PIN Settings
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Configuring Service Dial-out Policies
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Configuring Service Indication Settings
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Configuring Port Reservations and Limits
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Configuring Support for Far End Camera Control
Configuring PIN Settings
In the PIN Settings tab you can define a policy for the use of PINs for accessing a conference.
Procedure
Step 1
In the Administrator interface, on the sidebar, click MCU (if not already selected).
Step 2
Click Services. Select the service you wish to configure and click Add.
The Automatic Service Definition dialog box appears.
Step 3
Click Advanced Management and Security.
The Management and Security interface appears.
Step 4
Click PIN Settings.
Step 5
Select Force conference PIN protection if you want user to enter a PIN when creating or entering a conference using this service.
Step 6
Select Do not to ask for conference PIN when dialing-out to invitees if you want only dial-in participants to enter the conference PIN.
Step 7
Click OK.
Configuring Service Dial-out Policies
In the Dial-out tab of the Management and Security interface, for a service, you can define policies for invitation rights and auto reconnect and auto redial.
Procedure
Step 1
In the Administrator interface, on the sidebar, click MCU (if not already selected).
Step 2
Click Services. Select the service you wish to configure and click Add.
The Automatic Service Definition dialog box appears.
Step 3
Click Advanced Management and Security.
The Management and Security interface appears.
Step 4
Click Dial-out.
Step 5
In the Invitation rights section, select one of the options to define whether anyone can invite or only the Moderator can invite participants to the conference:
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Select Anyone can invite... if you want any user to be able to invite participants into the conference.
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Select Only the moderator can invite... if you only want users with Moderator-level access to invite participants into the conference.
Step 6
In the Re-dial and reconnect section, to define redial and reconnect policies follow these steps:
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Select Automatically redial invited participants... for the MCU to redial endpoints that fail to respond to conference invites.
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In the Number of redial attempts field, enter the number of redial attempts.
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In the Delay between retries (seconds) field, enter a number representing the number of seconds between each redial attempt.
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Select Automatically reconnect participants... for the MCU to automatically call disconnected terminals to attempt a reconnection. The MCU attempts reconnection three times.
Step 7
Click OK.
Configuring Service Indication Settings
In the Indications tab of the Management and Security interface, for a service, you can configure audio indications played to conference participants.
Procedure
Step 1
In the Administrator interface, on the sidebar, click MCU (if not already selected).
Step 2
Click Services. Select the service you wish to configure and click Add.
The Automatic Service Definition dialog box appears.
Step 3
Click Advanced Management and Security.
The Management and Security interface appears.
Step 4
Click Indications.
Step 5
Select First participant entry if you want a message played to the first participant entering a conference, informing the participant that they are the first one to enter.
Step 6
Select Participant entry if you want an audio indication played when any additional participant enters a conference.
Step 7
Select Participant exit if you want an audio indication played when any participant exits a conference.
Step 8
Select Conference termination if you want an audio indication played when a conference ends.
Step 9
Click OK.
Configuring Port Reservations and Limits
In the Port Reservation & Limits tab of the Management and Security interface, for a service, you can configure the number of ports to reserve when a conference starts.
Procedure
Step 1
In the Administrator interface, on the sidebar, click MCU (if not already selected).
Step 2
Click Services. Select the service you wish to configure and click Add.
The Automatic Service Definition dialog box appears.
Step 3
Click Advanced Management and Security.
The Management and Security interface appears.
Step 4
On the Port Reservation & Limits tab, make sure the High Definition is mandatory check box is unchecked (it is unchecked by default). If it is checked, the number of ports guaranteed is a set value (16) that is displayed in the Number of ports guaranteed (reserved) when a conference starts check box.
Note
The High Definition is mandatory check box only appears when a HD/SD Continuous Presence service type is selected and the picture resolution is configured to 720p.
Step 5
Select Number of ports guaranteed (reserved) when a conference starts. Enter the number of ports to reserve. The minimum value allowed is one port.
Note
Enter a number no larger than the maximum number of ports the platform can support.
Step 6
Select Allow conference to grow over guaranteed value if you want to allow the conference to grow dynamically beyond the number of ports you have defined in the Number of ports guaranteed (reserved) when a conference starts check box.
Step 7
Click OK.
Configuring Support for Far End Camera Control
In the FECC tab of the Management and Security interface, for a service, you can configure Far End Camera Control (FECC) data for managing the camera of endpoints at other locations.
Restrictions
FECC is not available for audio-only services.
Procedure
Step 1
In the Administrator interface, on the sidebar, click MCU (if not already selected).
Step 2
Click Services. Select the service you wish to configure and click Add.
The Automatic Service Definition dialog box appears.
Step 3
Click Advanced Management and Security.
The Management and Security interface appears.
Step 4
Click FECC.
Step 5
Select the check box to enable FECC support.
Step 6
Click OK.