Exchange 2000 Conferencing Server Yoav Land VP Technologies – Unitech Microsoft Regional Director.

Exchange 2000Exchange 2000 Conferencing Server Conferencing Server

Yoav LandYoav LandVP Technologies – UnitechVP Technologies – UnitechMicrosoft Regional DirectorMicrosoft Regional Director

State of Conferencing TodayState of Conferencing Today User-to-user solutions are limitedUser-to-user solutions are limited

Difficult to schedule conferences and Difficult to schedule conferences and locate other userslocate other users

Meeting scheduler can’t leave meetingMeeting scheduler can’t leave meeting Only 2 video clients at a timeOnly 2 video clients at a time No bandwidth managementNo bandwidth management

Server solutions fall shortServer solutions fall short Users have to know network topologyUsers have to know network topology No bandwidth management, load No bandwidth management, load

balancing, or failoverbalancing, or failover H.323 video software doesn’t scale wellH.323 video software doesn’t scale well

CComponentsomponentsCMS – Conference Management Service

coordinates and manages conferencing technologies and

resources, and tracks and controls access to conferences. Conference Technology Provider

Data Conferencing Provider-Data Conferencing Provider is a conferencing technology based on the T.120 protocol stack that provides collaboration tools such as those found in Microsoft NetMeeting®. Data Conferencing Provider provides a T.120 multipoint control unit for data conferencing clients.

Video Conferencing Provider –Video Conferencing Provider is a conferencing technology that provides video and audio conferences over multicast-enabled IP networks. Video Conferencing Provider also provides an H.323 bridge that allows H.323

conferencing clients to participate in audio and video conferences.

T.120 multipoint control unit (MCU) –The T.120 MCU service runs as a component of Data Conferencing Provider and provides network connections between participants in a data conference.

Multicast Address Dynamic Client Allocation Protocol (MADCAP) –

Configure the DHCP server to provide Multicast addresses.

Conference calendar mailbox –

A conference calendar mailbox is an Exchange 2000 mailbox that stores the definitions and structure of all conferences

Conference resources –

Conference resources are Exchange 2000 mailboxes that conferencing clients invite when scheduling an online meeting. The conference properties, including the resource

used, are stored in the conference calendar mailbox.

H.323 bridge –

The H.323 bridge permits NetMeeting clients that are unable to connect directly to multicast conferences to

connect through a H.323 unicast session.

Codec –

A codec (coder/decoder) is any technology for encoding and decoding data.

Voice, Data, Video ConferencingVoice, Data, Video Conferencing

Outlook 2000 integration for easy Outlook 2000 integration for easy schedulingscheduling

Data conferencing server (T.120 protocol)Data conferencing server (T.120 protocol) Application sharing, whiteboarding, chatApplication sharing, whiteboarding, chat Support for any T.120 client Support for any T.120 client

IP-Multicast audio-video conferencingIP-Multicast audio-video conferencing Support for H.323 clientsSupport for H.323 clients

Conference Management ServiceConference Management Service Coordinates conferencing resourcesCoordinates conferencing resources Efficient network utilizationEfficient network utilization

Make virtual meetings easy & reduce travelMake virtual meetings easy & reduce travel

Conferencing ServerConferencing Server Conference Management ServiceConference Management Service

End users can easily schedule meetings from End users can easily schedule meetings from Outlook and join with a single clickOutlook and join with a single click

Administrators can manage network with Administrators can manage network with tools for load balancing, failover, and network tools for load balancing, failover, and network bandwidth restrictionbandwidth restriction

Data ConferencingData Conferencing Managed T.120-based server for Managed T.120-based server for

“NetMeetings” with multiple T.120 clients“NetMeetings” with multiple T.120 clients Audio/Video ConferencingAudio/Video Conferencing

Multiple simultaneous video users via IP-Multiple simultaneous video users via IP-Multicast (using TAPI 3.0 in Windows 2000)Multicast (using TAPI 3.0 in Windows 2000)

Windows 2000 SP1 adds support for Windows 2000 SP1 adds support for Exchange Conferencing bridge to H.323 Exchange Conferencing bridge to H.323 clientsclients

ECS ComponentsECS Components

Conference ClientConference ClientConference ClientConference Client

Outlook 2000Outlook 2000Outlook 2000Outlook 2000

T.120T.120T.120T.120Active XActive XActive XActive X

Web BrowserWeb BrowserWeb BrowserWeb Browser

Exchange 2000 Conference SeverExchange 2000 Conference SeverExchange 2000 Conference SeverExchange 2000 Conference Sever

ConferenceConferenceManagement Service (CMS)Management Service (CMS)

ConferenceConferenceManagement Service (CMS)Management Service (CMS)

ConferenceConferenceCalendarCalendarMailboxMailbox

ConferenceConferenceCalendarCalendarMailboxMailbox

ConferenceConferenceResourceResource

ConferenceConferenceResourceResource

ConferenceConferenceResourceResource

ConferenceConferenceResourceResource

ConferenceConferenceResourceResource

ConferenceConferenceResourceResource

VideoVideoConferenceConference

ServiceService

VideoVideoConferenceConference

ServiceService

Data Data ConferenceConference

Service (DCS)Service (DCS)

Data Data ConferenceConference

Service (DCS)Service (DCS)

T.120 MCUT.120 MCUH.323 MCUH.323 MCU

BridgeBridge

T.120 MCUT.120 MCUH.323 MCUH.323 MCU

BridgeBridgeT.120 MCUT.120 MCUH.323 MCUH.323 MCU

BridgeBridge

T.120 MCUT.120 MCUH.323 MCUH.323 MCU

BridgeBridgeT.120 MCUT.120 MCUH.323 MCUH.323 MCU

BridgeBridge

T.120 MCUT.120 MCUH.323 MCUH.323 MCU

BridgeBridge

Conference Mgmnt ServiceConference Mgmnt Service

Unified conferencing client Unified conferencing client experienceexperience

Platform for conference managementPlatform for conference management Control meeting lifetimeControl meeting lifetime Support Conference Technology Support Conference Technology

Providers (data, telephone, audio/video)Providers (data, telephone, audio/video) Integrated reservation and calendaringIntegrated reservation and calendaring

Management of Meeting ResourcesManagement of Meeting Resources Scheduling - Publish free/busyScheduling - Publish free/busy Refer client to conferencesRefer client to conferences

Data ConferencingData Conferencing Integrated into Conference Integrated into Conference

Management ServiceManagement Service T.120 multi-point control unit (MCU) T.120 multi-point control unit (MCU)

Application sharing, whiteboarding, Application sharing, whiteboarding, chatchat

Server broadcast data to clientsServer broadcast data to clients Conference persistenceConference persistence

Additional servicesAdditional services Topology creation, bridging firewallsTopology creation, bridging firewalls Automatic MCU load-balance/fail-overAutomatic MCU load-balance/fail-over Access control, security, encryptionAccess control, security, encryption

Audio/Video Conferencing Audio/Video Conferencing Integrated with Conference Integrated with Conference

Management ServiceManagement Service Multi-party audio-video conferencingMulti-party audio-video conferencing Participants choose to broadcast Participants choose to broadcast

their audio and videotheir audio and video Participants receive, mix and render Participants receive, mix and render

all other participantsall other participants Meeting size limited by client Meeting size limited by client

ECS ScalabilityECS Scalability

Conference Management ServiceConference Management Service Central, Per Site, or Hybrid Central, Per Site, or Hybrid

Site 1Site 1 Site 2Site 2

Site 3Site 31,500 1,000

2,000

CMSCMS

CMS

CMS

CMS

DCS uses dynamic DCS uses dynamic intelligent topology creation intelligent topology creation for every data conference. for every data conference. Based on complex Based on complex algorithm.algorithm.

1 MCU = 500 data 1 MCU = 500 data users (approx)users (approx)

MCUs MCUs

MCUs

Multiple MCUs / Site (Multipoint Control Units) Multiple MCUs / Site (Multipoint Control Units)

More ECS ScalabilityMore ECS Scalability Uses Multicast IP TechnologyUses Multicast IP Technology

What is multicast?What is multicast? Many hosts sharing single IP to act Many hosts sharing single IP to act

as one hostas one host Unicast data is sent based on Unicast data is sent based on

number of participantsnumber of participants Multicast data is sent ONCEMulticast data is sent ONCE

Greatly enhances Video/Audio Greatly enhances Video/Audio performance while reducing performance while reducing bandwidth usagebandwidth usage

MADCAP - Multicast Address Dynamic Client Allocation ProtocolMADCAP - Multicast Address Dynamic Client Allocation Protocol

NetMeeting & Exchange NetMeeting & Exchange Server 5.5Server 5.5

User1

User2

User3

User4

User5

User0

IdenticalData

IdenticalData

ECS 2000ECS 2000

User0

Data Conferencing Server

IP Multicast ConferencingIP Multicast Conferencing

Router 4Router 4

User3User3

User1User1

User2User2

User5User5

User6User6Router 5Router 5

User4User4

Router 1Router 1Router 2Router 2

Router 3Router 3

ECS ResiliencyECS Resiliency

Exchange 2000 IntegrationExchange 2000 Integration Place conferencing objects in separate Place conferencing objects in separate

storage group storage group Active/Active clusteringActive/Active clustering

Automatic MCU Fail-OverAutomatic MCU Fail-Over Backup Inactive CMSBackup Inactive CMS

MCUsMCUs

CMSCMS

Backup Backup CMSCMS

Multiple MCUsMultiple MCUs

Scheduling ConferencesScheduling Conferences Scheduling a meeting (Outlook 2000)Scheduling a meeting (Outlook 2000)

Open Outlook 2000 and select “this is an Open Outlook 2000 and select “this is an online meeting using”…drop down to online meeting using”…drop down to Exchange Conferencing ServerExchange Conferencing Server

Check free/busy for the virtual meeting room Check free/busy for the virtual meeting room (“conference resource”)(“conference resource”)

If available, Exchange adds conference If available, Exchange adds conference resource to invitationresource to invitation

When user sends invitation, resource is When user sends invitation, resource is reserved and URL for conference is included reserved and URL for conference is included in invitationsin invitations

Joining a meetingJoining a meeting When meeting reminder pops up, click on When meeting reminder pops up, click on

“join meeting” button“join meeting” button Browser pulls up Web page with conf info, Browser pulls up Web page with conf info,

embedded NM control, and multi-party videoembedded NM control, and multi-party video

Recap client experienceRecap client experience

What if no Outlook 2000?What if no Outlook 2000? Scheduling a meetingScheduling a meeting

Applications such as Outlook Web Access, Applications such as Outlook Web Access, previous versions of Outlook, Exchange 5.0 previous versions of Outlook, Exchange 5.0 client, send meeting request to conference client, send meeting request to conference resourceresource

If conference resource is available, Exchange If conference resource is available, Exchange sends email acknowledgement accepting sends email acknowledgement accepting reservation and providing conference URLreservation and providing conference URL

Joining a meetingJoining a meeting When meeting reminder pops up, click on When meeting reminder pops up, click on

“join meeting” button“join meeting” button Browser pulls up best possible client interface Browser pulls up best possible client interface

(depends on browser, OS, and version of NM)(depends on browser, OS, and version of NM) If no meeting reminder, click on URL from If no meeting reminder, click on URL from

email and browser will pull up best possible email and browser will pull up best possible clientclient

Conferencing ComponentsConferencing Components

IISIIS

Exchange ConferenceExchange ConferenceManagerManager

VideoVideoDataDataResources & Resources & ConfigurationConfiguration

Active DirectoryActive Directory

Conf. Conf. CalendarCalendar

Free Free BusyBusy

Conf. Conf. RoomsRooms

ExchangeExchange

Client Client ComponentsComponents

T.120T.120MCUsMCUs

OtherOtherServicesServices

Schedule Schedule ConferenceConference

T.120 client T.120 client NetMeetingNetMeeting

““Join” Join” ConferenceConference

Client PCsClient PCs Other Other clientsclients

MADMAD-CAP-CAP

MMC MMC Snap-insSnap-ins

Cert.Cert.ServerServer

OtherOther

Client Access Client Access PagesPages

VideoData

Conf. Calendar Conf.

Rooms

Client Access Pages

Deployment ConsiderationsDeployment Considerations Exchange 2000 Conferencing Server Exchange 2000 Conferencing Server

requires one Windows 2000 and requires one Windows 2000 and Exchange 2000 ServerExchange 2000 Server

Customers can run a mixed Customers can run a mixed NT4/Exchange 5.5 and NT4/Exchange 5.5 and Win2K/Exchange 2K environmentWin2K/Exchange 2K environment

CMS server can support thousands CMS server can support thousands of users and should be centralizedof users and should be centralized

Data MCUs and H.323 bridges should Data MCUs and H.323 bridges should be deployed based on conferencing be deployed based on conferencing demanddemand

CMS PlacingCMS Placing Only 1 active CMS per Windows 2000 siteOnly 1 active CMS per Windows 2000 site May or may not have CMS on each siteMay or may not have CMS on each site

How many users conferencing on each site?How many users conferencing on each site? What is the purpose of the site? What is the purpose of the site? Do you have multicast connectivity between Do you have multicast connectivity between

sites?sites?

Should setup separate site for Internet Should setup separate site for Internet conferencingconferencing

Place CMS on separate box than Place CMS on separate box than Exchange and DHCP serverExchange and DHCP server

Tip:Tip: The Video Conferencing Service will not function properly if The Video Conferencing Service will not function properly if installed on same box as your active DHCP server. Therefore, installed on same box as your active DHCP server. Therefore, place CMS on separate box if you plan on video conferencing.place CMS on separate box if you plan on video conferencing.

MCU PlacementMCU Placement Wherever you have lots of usersWherever you have lots of users

Users usually connect to closest MCU Users usually connect to closest MCU

On subnetsOn subnets How much traffic is acceptable? How much traffic is acceptable?

On sitesOn sites At both ends of a slow linkAt both ends of a slow link Setup Internet focused MCUSetup Internet focused MCU

InternetInternet

‘‘External’ client External’ client connectionconnection

Public focusedPublic focusedT.120 MCUT.120 MCU

NET-C focusedNET-C focusedT.120 MCUT.120 MCU

NET-CNET-C

Clients connections are load-balanced across MCU farmClients connections are load-balanced across MCU farm

NET-A or NET-A or NET-B NET-B

focusedfocusedT.120 MCUsT.120 MCUs

NET-BNET-BNET-ANET-A

ConferenceConferenceManagerManager

BackboneBackbone

Data MCU DeploymentData MCU DeploymentSampleSample

CMS & CMS & IISIIS LANLAN

RouterRouter

RouterRouter

RouterRouter

RouterRouter

ClientsClients

ClientsClients

ClientsClients

Subnet BSubnet B

Subnet ASubnet A

RouterRouterCMSCMS& IIS& IIS

MCUMCU

MCUMCU

MCUMCUMCUMCU

Subnet CSubnet C

Single Site – Backbone TopologySingle Site – Backbone Topology

CMS & CMS & IISIIS LANLAN

RouterRouter

RouterRouter

RouterRouter

RouterRouter

ClientsClients

ClientsClients

ClientsClients

ClientsClients

MCUsMCUs

MCUsMCUs

ClientsClients

MCUsMCUs

ClientsClients

Subnet 1Subnet 1Subnet 3Subnet 3

Subnet 2Subnet 2

Single Site – Hub & SpokeSingle Site – Hub & Spoke

RouterRouter

RouterRouter

RouterRouter

WAN/InternetWAN/Internet

CMS & CMS & IISIIS

MCUMCUMCUMCU

CMS & CMS & IISIIS

MCUMCU

MCUMCU

CMS & CMS & IISIIS

MCUMCU

MCUMCU

Site 1Site 1

Site 2Site 2

Site 3Site 3

Multi Site TopologyMulti Site Topology

Fully Functional Conferencing:Fully Functional Conferencing:

Windows 2000 on all ECS Servers (CMS Windows 2000 on all ECS Servers (CMS and MCUs)and MCUs)

Network multicast capableNetwork multicast capable Windows 2000 on clientsWindows 2000 on clients Multicast enabled routersMulticast enabled routers

Exchange 2000 in domainExchange 2000 in domain Certificate ServerCertificate Server Clients must have:Clients must have:

Windows 2000Windows 2000 Outlook 2000Outlook 2000 ActiveX® and Java™ capable browsersActiveX® and Java™ capable browsers NetMeeting® 3.1NetMeeting® 3.1 Audio/Video equippedAudio/Video equipped

Or, Configure DownOr, Configure Down For non-Outlook 2000 usersFor non-Outlook 2000 users

Scheduling conf. takes a few more Scheduling conf. takes a few more steps steps

For non-Windows 2000 clientsFor non-Windows 2000 clients Multicast not available Multicast not available Must enable H.323 bridge = reduced Must enable H.323 bridge = reduced

videovideo For Exchange 5.5 usersFor Exchange 5.5 users

2-way AD connector to replicate to 5.52-way AD connector to replicate to 5.5 To check your routersTo check your routers

Use multicast diagnostics tool in Use multicast diagnostics tool in Windows 2000 ResKitWindows 2000 ResKit

CMS ServiceCMS Service Have a backup CMS server in the siteHave a backup CMS server in the site Create your Calendar Mailbox and Create your Calendar Mailbox and

resources in a separate MDB for fast resources in a separate MDB for fast backup/restorebackup/restore

Make sure your Calendar Mailbox Make sure your Calendar Mailbox server has fast connection with CMSserver has fast connection with CMS

Create a separate conferencing site Create a separate conferencing site accessible from the Internetaccessible from the Internet

T.120 MCU ServersT.120 MCU Servers Always have MCUs on both sides of Always have MCUs on both sides of

a slow linka slow link Putting MCUs in specific subnets Putting MCUs in specific subnets

and assigning visibility restrictions and assigning visibility restrictions is a tradeoff between performance is a tradeoff between performance and reliabilityand reliability

MADCAP ServersMADCAP Servers Have backup MADCAP serversHave backup MADCAP servers Split scopes between two or more Split scopes between two or more

serversservers Configure video resources to Configure video resources to

request addresses from all the request addresses from all the MADCAPs with the same class of MADCAPs with the same class of scopescope

Conference ResourcesConference Resources Naming:Naming:

Distinguish from physical rooms, e.g. Distinguish from physical rooms, e.g. “Virtual Meeting Room (10)”“Virtual Meeting Room (10)”

Indicate site, e.g. “Redmond Virtual Indicate site, e.g. “Redmond Virtual Videoconference (5)”Videoconference (5)”

Create several resources of each type Create several resources of each type with different sizeswith different sizes

You may name resources according to You may name resources according to scenarios, e.g. “Corporate broadcast scenarios, e.g. “Corporate broadcast resource”resource”

Create audio-only resource if video is Create audio-only resource if video is not important and bandwidth is limitednot important and bandwidth is limited

Priorities for “next” ECSPriorities for “next” ECS Conference recordingConference recording Unified client for ad-hoc and Unified client for ad-hoc and

scheduled conferencesscheduled conferences Integration of Presence/Instant Integration of Presence/Instant

Messaging (groups of IM users)Messaging (groups of IM users) Broader B-to-B conferencing Broader B-to-B conferencing

capabilitiescapabilities Better integration with Windows Better integration with Windows

Media TechnologyMedia Technology

Resource SlideResource Slide http://www.microsoft.com/exchange/http://www.microsoft.com/exchange/

productinfo/conferencing.htmproductinfo/conferencing.htm ConceptsPlanning.chm on the ECS ConceptsPlanning.chm on the ECS

CDCD Exchange 2000 SDKExchange 2000 SDK http://www.faqs.org/rfcs/rfc2365.htmlhttp://www.faqs.org/rfcs/rfc2365.html

ECS SummaryECS Summary Exchange 2000 Conferencing Server Exchange 2000 Conferencing Server

(ECS) is a vast improvement over(ECS) is a vast improvement overtoday’s point-to-point conferencingtoday’s point-to-point conferencingand competitive server solutionsand competitive server solutions

ECS is optimized both for knowledge ECS is optimized both for knowledge workers and IT managers:workers and IT managers: Knowledge workers can easily set up Knowledge workers can easily set up

scheduled or ad-hoc meetings across their scheduled or ad-hoc meetings across their teams and enterprisesteams and enterprises

IT managers can easily manage conferencing IT managers can easily manage conferencing resources and enable reliable, scalable resources and enable reliable, scalable conferencing for their whole companyconferencing for their whole company