e/pop Web
Conferencing
System
Requirements
 Server Hardware Requirements
User Requirements
Bandwidth Requirements
Summary:
e/pop Web Conferencing software is a client/server application. The host and presenter (client) software requires Internet Explorer, v5.0 or later. Participants (client) need only a web browser. There are no slide pre-processing, virtual machine, or other client applications to install.
The minimum server requirement is Windows 2000 or later, 1.2+ Ghz clockspeed, and 256 MB RAM available for this application. There are NO server software prequisites such as databases and web servers! The server MUST have port 80 available. WiredRed recommends leaving the default port settings as is for trial evaluation. All presenters and participants must have IP routing access to the server, and the conferencing server must be on a static IP address (note: can be physical or mapped, but definitely must be static). For external conferencing, the server must be located in the
DMZ, co-location facility, or if behind the firewall, the firewall must have port 80 open, for in-bound and out-bound communication, and allow ActiveX (recommended, but not required). These settings should apply to/from the conferencing server only.
Please see below for additional information and recommended system requirements. Contact
WiredRed for assistance with configurations that do not allow ActiveX, require
cross-platform support, or over 100 concurrent users.
Users and Roles:
Please note the different types of users and their roles.
|
User Types |
Roles |
| Server |
All
web conferences
require a server where all conference sessions are hosted. The
server is responsible for routing all conference activity between users.
The server also makes it possible to do application sharing, desktop
sharing and remote control between users at different private IP
addresses.
Note: e/pop Web Conferencing requires TCP Port 80,
and defaults to a short list of additional ports. See Server page below
for details. |
Host
|
The Host is the user that
created the virtual conference room and is
responsible for managing the entire session including features and
privileges. |
Presenter
|
Presenters are
allowed to share any document, PowerPoint presentation, or application and activate desktop sharing. The
audio and video features are only usable if authorized by the host. |
| Participant |
Participants are
users who only have rights to view the presentation.
The audio and video features are only usable if authorized by the host. |
Server Hardware Requirements
The e/pop Web Conferencing server is the heart of all conference sessions. It is responsible for routing all conferencing traffic between users. The WiredRed Real-Time routing engine has been highly optimized over many years of use, it is capable of routing large amounts of traffic without encountering CPU bottlenecks. System performance is generally governed by the bandwidth available to each user.
Please contact WiredRed Sales for site planning assistance regarding applications with over 100 concurrent users, and/or if have you questions or concerns about these requirements.
Minimum Requirements
- Pentium 3
- 1.2 GHz CPU
- 256 MB RAM
- 10 MBit Network card
- A static TCP/IP address or a routable host name. The address or host name must be routable for all intended participants. For details, see
Routing Requirements below.
- Windows 2000 Server w/SP2
Recommended Requirements (50 concurrent users)
- Pentium 4
- 1.8 GHz
- 512 MB RAM
- Fast disk subsystem
- 100 MBit NIC or better
Hardware components compatible with Windows Servers
Note: Each connected user will use approximately 1 MB of RAM. Based on this information the different Windows Server OSes will support:
- Windows 2000 Server:
Standard Edition - up to 250 simultaneous connected users
Enterprise Edition or Better - up to 500 simultaneous connected users
- Windows Server 2003:
Web Edition - up to 50 simultaneous connected users
Standard Edition - up to 250 simultaneous connected users
Enterprise Edition or Better - up to 500 simultaneous connected users
The use of
desktop
operating
systems for
e/pop server
applications
(e.g.,
Windows XP),
Windows 2003
64 bit
versions and
all
operating
systems in
beta release
are not
supported by
WiredRed.
Note: e/pop Web Conferencing is SMP enabled and will take advantage of multiple processors.
User Requirements
Host / Presenter
Minimum
- Pentium 4
- 1.4 GHz
- 256MB RAM
- 100 MBit Network card
- Video card
- Valid TCP/IP address
- Windows 2000 w/SP3, Windows XP and Windows 2003
- Microsoft® PowerPoint® 97 and above for presentations (optional)
Recommended
- Pentium 4
- 2 GHz
- 512MB RAM
- 100 MBit Network card
- USB or Firewire webcam (video conference) *
- Sound card w/speakers & microphone (audio conference) **
- Accelerated video card ***
- Valid TCP/IP address
- Windows 2000 w/SP3, XP and 2003
- Microsoft® PowerPoint® 97 and above for presentations (optional)
- Internet Explorer 5 and up.
Participant
Minimum
- Pentium 3
- 800 MHz
- 128 RAM
- 10/100 MBit Network card
- Valid TCP/IP address
- Windows 95 SR2, 98, ME, NT4 (SP3), 2000, XP & 2003
- Internet Explorer 5
Recommended
- Pentium 4
- 1.4 GHz
- 512 RAM
- 100 Mbit Network card
- USB 2.0 or Firewire web cam (video conference) *
- Sound card w/speakers & microphone (audio conference) **
- Valid TCP/IP address
- Windows 2000 & XP
- Internet Explorer 5
* The e/pop conferencing client (ActiveX) can select most Windows compatible video devices. WiredRed recommends web cams that are USB 2.0 or Firewire compatible because they reduce the load on the CPU. In addition, PC video capture cards and other video devices that include Windows DirectX/DirectShow device drivers, version 9.0 or later are supported, providing an interface to virtually any standard video device.
** All sound cards listed as 'compatible' to Sound Blaster (SB) Live or better will work with the e/pop audio conferencing feature. These are typically non SB sound cards manufactured after the year 2000 because they offer a more advanced recording and playback functionality. There are, however, exceptions where some older sound cards will work with our audio conferencing technology.
*** Due to the technical limitation of some video cards, the desktop acceleration feature works best with NVidia chipset video cards.
Please note the list of sound card manufactures is quite large so it is not possible for WiredRed to list every compatible sound card on the market.
|
Bandwidth Requirements
The amount of bandwidth users require is based on the features selected during the conference. As a guide, WiredRed has compiled some information to help users determine the amount of bandwidth they need.
Please contact WiredRed if there any questions or concerns about the requirements below.
| Bandwidth Requirements for Presenters & Participants |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Document
and PowerPoint®
Sharing |
|
|
|
| Desktop & Application sharing |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Bandwidth Requirements for e/pop Server |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Document
and PowerPoint® Sharing |
|
|
| Desktop & Application sharing |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Background information about e/pop Web Conferencing
PowerPoint Sharing
Generally a PowerPoint file is 500 KB to 4 MB per presentation. With e/pop Web Conferencing the file is sent to the server by the presenter, and then from the server to all participants. Thereafter, only slide change commands are relayed via the server. PowerPoint sharing can be done on dial-up connections (56kbps or less). For sizing purposes, use 8 kbps for presenters and participants (average PowerPoint presentation size divided into 1 hour). Key note, after initial PPT transmit, traffic is very low.
Application, Browser & Desktop Sharing
Generally same bandwidth as "remote control." For sizing purposes, use up to 300 kbps for presenters and participants, while under load (user activity). Traffic is much less "lumpy" than PowerPoint sharing, but there are long periods of no activity and no traffic.
Video Conferencing
Approximately 256 kbps for 320x240 at 20-30 frames/second (H263+ codec); and approximately 56 kbps for 176x144 (small) at 1-5 fps. For sizing purposes, use 256 kpbs for standard conferencing, 320x240, 6 fps, for presenters and participants (i.e., a good user experience). Traffic is normally sustained during a video conference.
Note: e/pop is easily capable of boardroom quality video conferencing using industry standard web cams. When set at full size, 640x480, 30 fps, allow for approximately 384-512 kbps. IT administrators can limit this capability.
WARNING! DSL and other asymmetric internet services may not offer full 256 kbps on the uplink; presenters that use video (i.e., that encode and transmit video to the web conferencing server) must have full 256 kbps or better for a quality video conferencing experience.
Facts about bandwidth
Bandwidth is measured in two areas. First, the amount of bandwidth available for downloads (a.k.a. downstream), and second the amount of bandwidth available for uploads (a.k.a. upstream). There is a sizable difference between the amount bandwidth available upstream and downstream. This is based on several factors:
- The type of connection a user is using such as 56k, Cable, DSL, Frame, T1 or T3.
- The variation to the type of service offered by the provider example iDSL, ADSL, SDSL. In general Cable Modem and DSL connections typically have fast downstream (around 1Mbps) but relatively slow upstream
(200 kbps).
A user behind a T1 connection on the other hand will most likely have 1.5 Mbps downstream and as much as 1 Mbps upstream. Although these figures are typical, they are not consistent with providers. As as general rule, the best way to obtain this information is to consult the provider and ask them for this information.
Routing Requirements
The Host, Presenter and all Participants must have IP routing to the Server. In addition, the e/pop Web Conferencing Server requires port 80 to be open and dedicated to the conferencing application. The conferencing server also defaults to a short list of additional ports, and listens to them all. WiredRed strongly recommends leaving the default list of ports as is (especially for trial purposes). Please contact WiredRed for assistance with adding ports (for production conferencing servers).
For employee-only conferences, the server is placed behind the firewall. For conferencing with external participants, WiredRed recommends placing the server in the DMZ. If the server is placed behind the firewall, to allow external conferencing, then the port(s) mentioned above must be open. The port setting must allow inbound and outbound traffic, and must allow ActiveX. In addition, the firewall must be configured to allow TCP sockets to stay active long enough for the 'keep alive' packets to reset the timer in the firewall. Note: customers can make additional port settings that restrict the above settings to specifically the conferencing server only, thereby protecting the integrity of their border security policies.
Please contact WiredRed for assistance with routing requirements and firewall settings.
|
