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Mconf web conferencing: An Open Source Multi-conference

System

Presented by Kasandra IsaacSANReN Engineer

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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?

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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

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Video conferencing traitsAdvantages• 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

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Video conferencing traitsAdvantages• 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.

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Video conferencing traitsDisadvantages• Technical Problems• Lack of Personal Interaction• High cost of Setup

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4 groups of Video conference Systems

1. Room: Hardware, eg. Polycom, Lifesize, Vidyo

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2. Telepresence: Cisco telepresence

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

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4. Web: Run within a browser: Adobe Connect, Big Blue Button, Mconf

4. Web: Launches from within your browser eg. Adobe Connect, BBB, Mconf

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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

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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

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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

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

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

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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

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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

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Mconf’s distinguishing features1. 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

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Mconf’s distinguishing features2. Mconf-Live Global Network • Global Scalability and monitoring• Global pool of Mconf-Live servers is available

for use

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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

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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

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SummaryEach 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

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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 emails from collaboration spaces that they belong to

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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 1.7.0 update 51 for desktop sharing

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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”

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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 80-100 users• Large amount of functionality within the meeting room

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

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Desktop sharing Audio tests Webcam Recording feature

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Presentation screen

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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

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Demo of recording feature

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• Register at https://mconf.sanren.ac.za• 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

How to gain access to the production service

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Who can use it?

• To aid in Research, Collaboration and Education• Strictly non - commercial use only

• The South African Research, Education and Innovation community.

• Available at https://mconf.sanren.ac.zaMconf Production service

Rules around use

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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

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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

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Thank you for listening

Questions?