1. Mconf web conferencing: An Open Source Multi-conference System
Presented by Kasandra Isaac
SANReN Engineer

2. Points of discussion Advantages/Disadvantages of video conferencing
4 groups of video conference systems
SA NREN’s goal with video conferencing offering
The spectrum of video conferencing solutions
What is Mconf?
Why web conferencing?
Solutions explored?

3. Points of discussion…cont.
Why Mconf web conferencing?
Mconf features
How to access the service
Who can use it?
Rules of use
Possible future developments

4. Video conferencing traits
Advantages
Saves Time and Money
Sharing Information is Easy
Facilitates long-distance Programs
Increased productivity across dispersed workforces and teams
Support for environmental initiatives – reduces carbon footprint

5. Video conferencing traits
Advantages
Improved hiring and retention of top talent as teams can now be dispersed
Sustainable competitive advantage – share knowledge more widely, resulting in faster and more informed decisions that reduce the time to market for new products and services.

6. Video conferencing traits
Disadvantages
Technical Problems
Lack of Personal Interaction
High cost of Setup

7. 4 groups of Video conference Systems
1. Room: Hardware, eg. Polycom, Lifesize, Vidyo

8. 2. Telepresence: Cisco telepresence

9. 3. Desktop: Installs and launches system on computer eg
3. Desktop: Installs and launches system on computer eg. Vidyo, Zoom, Skype

10. 4. Web: Run within a browser: Adobe Connect, Big Blue Button, Mconf
4. Web: Launches from within your browser eg. Adobe Connect, BBB, Mconf
4. Web: Run within a browser: Adobe Connect, Big Blue Button, Mconf

11. The SA NREN’s goal
To facilitate research and education collaboration initiatives through video conferencing systems:
Vidyo (300 concurrent user licences available for a year)
Mconf web conferencing
Two systems are currently available to cater for the majority of video conferencing collaboration needs
Choice available to users

12. What is Mconf? A research collaboration tool that is web based
It can also be set up as a room based video conferencing system
Open source conferencing system for web and mobile devices (Beta phase)
Distance education, Remote meetings, Broadcasting events
Based on Big Blue Button web conferencing
Began as a research project at PRAV: Projects in Audio and Video, Brazil
Development funded by Brazilian NREN, RNP

13. Why web conferencing?
Browser based application – No download or plug-in required for basic participation in a meeting
WebRTC audio technology (latest video conferencing technology craze)
Will replace current Adobe Connect installation that was a trial installation hosted by SANReN

14. Technology Selection Criteria for Selection:
Proven in Use: By trial, Success of other NRENs, Functionality
Maintenance and Support
Ease of Use
Ease to take into production
Cost

15. Solutions explored Many… Adobe connect Jamvee Blackboard collaborate
Skype
Google hangouts
Commercial products were not a viable solution..
Open source: BigBlueButton and Mconf

16. Why Mconf web conferencing?
Compares well with Adobe connect use and features
Mconf modified for R&E use in the Brazilian NREN community
Open source – No licensing cost for use
Excellent support from Mconf Development team
R&D Project investment by Brazilian NREN, RNP
Opportunity available to collaborate with the Brazilian NREN, RNP
Opportunity to contribute to development of Mconf due to open-source nature

17. Mconf’s distinguishing features
1. Mconf’s web portal
Provides access to Mconf web conferences
Allows users to create and participate in web conferences
Provides user authentication through federation identity management
Permission control to access web conference rooms – public/private settings
Follows a social network model with spaces (communities) that have events
Users have their own web conferences that they can share with other members or even invite non-members

18. Mconf’s distinguishing features
1. Mconf’s web portal (continued)
Each space also has a web conference room that its members can use to interact
Events can be used to schedule web conferences inside a space
Document repository
Wall for each room
Direct support for Mconf admin with Mconf Development team

19. Mconf’s distinguishing features
2. Mconf-Live Global Network
Global Scalability and monitoring
Global pool of Mconf-Live servers is available for use

23. Concept of spaces vs rooms
A web conferencing room is a tool within a collaboration space
The concept of spaces is useful for an NREN community as it can represent:
National projects
Teams/communities across national/international boundaries
It can also represent a specific course/lecture

25. Within each space, you have access to the following tools:
A web conference room
Set preferences for web conferencing room
List of recordings for meetings in that room
A message wall
List of users within the space
Publish news items
Invite people to participate in the space

26. Summary Each member has a:
Personal meeting space with a personal meeting room
And can generate project/community specific spaces with a project/community specific room and other collaboration features

30. Use of collaboration spaces
The use of collaboration spaces are helpful to keep all members up-to-date
Members can select how often they would like to receive digest s from collaboration spaces that they belong to

31. Requirements for using the meeting room
Basic service is compatible in all browsers
Mozilla Firefox is best suited to support the desktop sharing and recording feature
WebRTC will be used for audio in all WebRTC supported browsers
Fall back to Flash audio for unsupported WebRTC browsers
Java V update 51 for desktop sharing

32. How do participants enter the meeting room?
There is a unique “url” per meeting room
The participant clicks on the “url” to enter the meeting
The participant will follow audio test prompts to connect correctly to the meeting
Can connect to “listen only” or to be an “active participant”

33. Features of the web conference
Roles of presenter and participant are interchangeable throughout the meeting
More than one presenter
More than one person can contribute to writing on the whiteboard or annotating a presentation during the meeting session
Theoretical maximum meeting size users
Large amount of functionality within the meeting room

35. Possible meeting room layouts:
Default
Custom layout
Video chat
Webcam
Lecture
Lecture assistant
Presentation

38. Desktop sharing
Audio tests
Webcam
Recording feature

39. Presentation screen

40. Summary of Mconf features
Real-time communication with audio and video
Screen and presentation sharing, chat, and shared notes during the session
A web portal to collaborate and communicate effectively with members of a space
Use in all modern web browsers and operating systems
Federated Identity integration

41. Demo of recording feature

42. How to gain access to the production service
Register at
Federated sign-in is recommended
Registration process will be open to non-federated users until 2016 after which your institution must be registered to
to gain access to the service

43. Mconf Production service
Available at
Who can use it?
The South African Research, Education and Innovation community.
Rules around use
To aid in Research, Collaboration and Education
Strictly non - commercial use only

44. Possible future developments:
Ongoing development by Mconf Technologia: Mconf development team funded by Brazilian NREN, RNP
Further mobile client development
Due to open source nature – there is an opportunity for the South African NREN community to contribute towards Mconf’s development
To create an HTML5 client, in order to have web conference in other mobile platforms such as iOS and Windows Phone
To allow interaction with room systems like Polycom, using H.323 or SIP

45. Summary
Mconf will be a free web conferencing service offered to the research and education community
Mconf production service is being hosted by TENET
This will replace the Adobe Connect installation hosted by SANReN
The service can be used from within a web browser, as centralised collaboration service for the NREN
Preferred method of accessing the service – Join SAFIRE federation

46. Thank you for listening Questions?