Louisiana’s Interactive & Collaborative Research Network

Kenneth TannerKenneth TannerNetwork CoordinatorNetwork Coordinator

LSU Health Sciences Center – ShreveportLSU Health Sciences Center – Shreveport

The network is comprised of …

12 Higher Educational Institutions,12 Higher Educational Institutions, 72 H.323 Endpoints,72 H.323 Endpoints, 13 Gatekeepers,13 Gatekeepers, MCU,MCU, Data Collaboration Tool, andData Collaboration Tool, and Use Internet 2 as backbone.Use Internet 2 as backbone.

In the beginning, ….

NSF Grant: NSF Grant: Title: Video to the Desktop: A Louisiana ModelTitle: Video to the Desktop: A Louisiana Model Awarded $494,450 with $367,680 being matched for a Awarded $494,450 with $367,680 being matched for a

total of $862,130. Awarded in Aug. 2000.total of $862,130. Awarded in Aug. 2000. Objective: Create an H.323 network for Louisiana’s Objective: Create an H.323 network for Louisiana’s

researchers so they can participate in inter-institutional researchers so they can participate in inter-institutional scientific sharing and strategic planning sessionsscientific sharing and strategic planning sessions

Principal InvestigatorsPrincipal Investigators Dr. Lee Bairnsfather, LSUHSC-SDr. Lee Bairnsfather, LSUHSC-S Dr. Jerry Draayer, LSUDr. Jerry Draayer, LSU Dr. Steve Landry, Univ. of Louisiana at LafayetteDr. Steve Landry, Univ. of Louisiana at Lafayette

Grant Partners/Network Members:1.1. Louisiana Board of Regents, Louisiana Board of Regents, 2.2. Louisiana State University, Louisiana State University, 3.3. LSU Agricultural Center, LSU Agricultural Center, 4.4. LSU Health Sciences Center - Shreveport, LSU Health Sciences Center - Shreveport, 5.5. Louisiana Tech University, Louisiana Tech University, 6.6. Northwestern State University, Northwestern State University, 7.7. Southeastern Louisiana University, Southeastern Louisiana University, 8.8. Southern University, Southern University, 9.9. Tulane University, Tulane University, 10.10. University of Louisiana at Lafayette, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, 11.11. University of Louisiana at Monroe, and University of Louisiana at Monroe, and 12.12. University of New Orleans University of New Orleans

Equipment Selection:

Based on Pilot H.323 NetworkBased on Pilot H.323 Network Grant to evaluate different vendor equipment.Grant to evaluate different vendor equipment.

Some equipment evaluated included OnLAN Some equipment evaluated included OnLAN MCU & Gateway, MCG-100, ViaVideo, MCU & Gateway, MCG-100, ViaVideo, Viewstation, Escort 25, Vigo, etc.Viewstation, Escort 25, Vigo, etc.

Took “best” equipment from Pilot Network & Took “best” equipment from Pilot Network & integrate into Production H.323 Network.integrate into Production H.323 Network.

Decided on PolyCom endpoints, Radvision Decided on PolyCom endpoints, Radvision gatekeeper, and Accord MCU.gatekeeper, and Accord MCU.

Institution Equipment:

1 - Radvision ECS-100Gatekeeper

1 - PolyCom Viewstation 128 5 - PolyCom ViaVideo

LAN

Dial Schemes: Support two dial schemes:Support two dial schemes:

VideNet & La. dial scheme.VideNet & La. dial scheme. La. Dial SchemeLa. Dial Scheme

Based on “telephone” dial structureBased on “telephone” dial structure Example number: 13186754645Example number: 13186754645 Zone Prefix: 1318675Zone Prefix: 1318675 Local Extension: 4645Local Extension: 4645 Identical to person/room telephone numberIdentical to person/room telephone number

VideNet number: 02447550509094645VideNet number: 02447550509094645 Exit Zone Prefix: 0Exit Zone Prefix: 0 Zone Prefix: 244755050909Zone Prefix: 244755050909 Local Extension: 4645Local Extension: 4645

Gatekeeper Network (La. Dial Scheme):

H.323 Terminals

H.323 Terminals

H.323 Terminals

H.323 TerminalsH.323 Terminals

Gatekeeper

Gatekeeper Gatekeeper

Gatekeeper

Gatekeeper

1318675

1225342

1225578

LSUHSC-SLSU

Board of Regents

Tulane Univ.

Southern Univ.

1225771

1504862

Example Dial String: 13186754645 (Kenneth’s telephone number) Zone Prefix: 1318675 Local Extension: 4645

Gatekeeper Network (VideNet):Example Dial String: 02447550509094645 Exit Zone Prefix: 0 Zone Prefix: 244755050909 Local Extension: 4645

Gatekeeper GatekeeperGatekeeper Gatekeeper

VideNet Master Gatekeeper

Gatekeeper

H.323 Terminals H.323 Terminals H.323 Terminals H.323 Terminals H.323 Terminals

Louisiana Interactive &Collaborative Research Network

Other VideNet Sites

Gatekeeper Network Summary:

H.323 Terminals

H.323 Terminals

H.323 Terminals

H.323 TerminalsH.323 Terminals

Gatekeeper

GatekeeperGatekeeper

Gatekeeper

Gatekeeper

VideNet MasterGatekeeper

Louisiana Higher EducationInstitutions

VideNet/Internet 2 Institutions

Institution

Institution

Institution

Institution

Institution

Other VideNet Institutions

Gatekeeper Network (ECS View):

Future Statewide Gatekeeper Configuration:

H.323 Gatekeeper

H.323 Gatekeeper

H.323 Gatekeeper

H.323 Gatekeeper H.323 Gatekeeper

H.323 Gatekeeper

H.323 Gatekeeper

H.323 Gatekeeper

Other Non LouisianaNetworks

675-XXXXLSUHSC-S

342-XXXXBoR

578-XXXXLSU

257-XXXXLa. Tech

280-XXXXUNO

568-XXXXLSUHSC-NO

482-XXXXULL

475-XXXXMcNeese St.

Area 318 Gatekeeper

La. Master Gatekeeper

Area 225 Gatekeeper Area 504 Gatekeeper Area 337 Gatekeeper

Master Gatekeepers

Move from Meshed to Redundant Hierarchical Move from Meshed to Redundant Hierarchical ConfigurationConfiguration

Shared Tools:

PolyCom MGC-100 (MCU)PolyCom MGC-100 (MCU) PolyCom WebOffice (Data Collaboration Tool)PolyCom WebOffice (Data Collaboration Tool)

MCU Hub:

Internet 2

La. Interactive & Collaborative Research NetworkOTM Network Operation Center in Baton Rouge

MCU Configuration

8 port 10/100 Mbps Switch

Cisco 3640Router

Accord MGC-100MCU

OC-3 (30M)

ASX-1000ATM Switch

ASX-1000ATM Switch

Internet 2Router

OC-3

OC-3

OC-3

H.323 TerminalNote: THE 3640 SEGMENT DOES NOT HAVE

COMMODITY INTERNET ACCESS!!

Backbone:

Internet 2 usedInternet 2 used Later called LearNet within LouisianaLater called LearNet within Louisiana

Internet 2

Institutional LAN

LearNETRouter

Router

Router

Commodity InternetLaNetRouter

LearNet (not LeerNet)

Internet 2

I2 Router

LSUHSC-S La Tech ULM

NSU

UNO

SELU

ULL

SU

LSU

BoR

Note: Tulane Univ. is not connected to LearNet.

Network Management:

PolyCom GMS 2.5PolyCom GMS 2.5

Participation:

Network Services StaffNetwork Services Staff Manage gatekeepers Manage gatekeepers Provided a ViaVideo,Provided a ViaVideo, By productBy product

H.323 experience,H.323 experience,Better relate to end user issues, andBetter relate to end user issues, andProvides feedback on condition of Provides feedback on condition of

network.network.

Participation:

End UsersEnd Users ResearchersResearchers

Overall usage low (ramping up)Overall usage low (ramping up) Feedback:Feedback:

Ease of UseEase of UseWhat other capabilities do they need?What other capabilities do they need?Quality/Reliability vs. H.320Quality/Reliability vs. H.320

Maintaining Address Book/Directory ServicesMaintaining Address Book/Directory Services

Ongoing Activities – Security:

Firewalls/NATFirewalls/NAT PolyCom/Accord Firewall SolutionPolyCom/Accord Firewall Solution Radvision/RidgewayRadvision/Ridgeway Cisco Cisco ProxyProxy Personal/Desktop Firewall SolutionsPersonal/Desktop Firewall Solutions

Ongoing Activities – Networking:

Networking Modes:Networking Modes: DSLDSL Cable ModemCable Modem Frame RelayFrame Relay SatelliteSatellite MicrowaveMicrowave RFRF T1 or Fractional T1T1 or Fractional T1

QoS vs. Adding BandwidthQoS vs. Adding Bandwidth

Ongoing Activities – Data Collaboration

Data Collaboration ToolsData Collaboration Tools PolyCom WebOfficePolyCom WebOffice Tera GlobalTera Global

Features:Features: WhiteboardWhiteboard Full motion video (for displaying simulations)Full motion video (for displaying simulations) Data SharingData Sharing Focus/ViewFocus/View

Ongoing Activities – Troubleshooting

Techniques:Techniques: Develop TechniquesDevelop Techniques Train support personnelTrain support personnel

Tools:Tools: PingPing Trace Route (Ping Plotter/Sam Spade)Trace Route (Ping Plotter/Sam Spade) VideNet ScoutVideNet Scout

Future Plans

Seamless connectivity between various Seamless connectivity between various “independent” H.323 networks within state. “independent” H.323 networks within state.

Louisiana Interactive & CollaborativeResearch Network

LSU Health Sciences CenterNew Orleans

LSU Agricultural CenterNetwork

Louisiana Department of Healthand Hospitals

InterconnectSeamlessly

Future Plans

Have other governmental agencies join. Have other governmental agencies join.

Future Plans

Statewide Dialing Directory & MCU Statewide Dialing Directory & MCU Calendar.Calendar.

Future Plans

Integration of H.323 VC and VoIPIntegration of H.323 VC and VoIP

IP Network

Experience: Technology is the easy part (exception – Firewall & Technology is the easy part (exception – Firewall &

QoS). QoS). Difficulties include:Difficulties include:

1.1. Motivating some institutions to bring equipment online Motivating some institutions to bring equipment online (gatekeeper),(gatekeeper),

2.2. Distribute equipment to the end user and to those who Distribute equipment to the end user and to those who WILL USE IT!WILL USE IT!

3.3. Tell us they have distributed the Systems and provide us Tell us they have distributed the Systems and provide us with contact information.with contact information.

4.4. Working with LEC to get LearNet/Internet 2 access to Working with LEC to get LearNet/Internet 2 access to some campuses.some campuses.

5.5. Convincing people to keep desktop units ON.Convincing people to keep desktop units ON.

Web Page:

Network Capabilities & Description,Network Capabilities & Description, Equipment UsedEquipment Used User’s GuideUser’s Guide Contact ListContact List Dialing DirectoryDialing Directory

In closing

A unique learning experience I encountered a few months ago….

Lesson Learned:

Be careful how you configure your end Be careful how you configure your end user’s H.323 systems. You never know user’s H.323 systems. You never know what you might be EXPOSING your users what you might be EXPOSING your users to.to.