How do I configure a video endpoint on the MUSC network?

What is an Endpoint?

An endpoint, often called a codec, is a standalone device that can place and receive video calls. The best way to think about it is a telephone with the ability to do video. Endpoints come in many shapes and sizes. Some may be small enough to put on your desk and have their camera, speakers and screen all integrated in to one stand-alone device. Other endpoints are designed to be integrated in to conference and classroom scenarios, with TVs, cameras and microphone spread throughout the room.

How do I connect an endpoint (Cisco, Polycom or others) to the MUSC network?

The first step involves registering the codec’s (or endpoint as we often call it) MAC address to the network on the NST Wiki

To register your codec/endpoint to the gatekeeper, you need to set the gatekeeper on your endpoint. To do this enter the name gatekeeper.musc.edu in the address field. You also need to register a phone number (E164) to your unit. This can be the same number as your office phone or conference room number. It needs to be in a 10-digit format with no dashes, and be associated with a valid on-campus phone number. For example, only 843792xxxx or 843876xxxx numbers will work. If you do not format your number correctly, the gatekeeper will reject your registration.

In addition to a phone number, it is useful to register an H.323 Name on your unit. Choose something descriptive such as MUH405 Conference Room. This section is not required, but is highly recommended. This name will be seen when you place calls to other endpoints, and is just like the Caller-ID name on a telephone.

What is an E164?

An E164 is a number that an endpoint can be reached it, just like a phone number. In fact, all units on campus use phone numbers to connect to each other, such as 843-792-9700. They are not the same phone numbers as the one on your phone, so if you already have a phone on campus, you can re-use that number for your endpoint.

What is a Gatekeeper (also know as VCS (Video Communication Server) Internal Control/External Expressway)?

• One that is in charge of passage through a gate.

• One who monitors or oversees the actions of others.

• One who controls access to something, such as information or services

In H.323-compliant networks, a central point of control in a zone. Endpoints may communicate directly, in either a unicast or a multicast environment, if no gatekeeper is present. If a gatekeeper is present, all endpoints in its zone must register with it.The gatekeeper performs the function of admission control, determining if devices are authorized to connect and if there is sufficient bandwidth to support the call. Gatekeepers serve to translate LAN addresses into IP or IPX addresses, as defined in the Registration/Admission/Status (RAS) specification. Gatekeepers also can act to route H.323 calls through gateways, if necessary, and monitor the network bit rate capacity, with the ability to deny access to a session if programmable bandwidth thresholds have been reached or exceeded.

Gatekeeper: Video Communication Server (VCS)
Border Controller: VCS Expressway

You can logon to either the Gatekeeper or Border Controller to check registrations with the USER: regcheck and PASSWORD: nst.