Starbak Torrent VCG

Bridging the videoconferencing and streaming gap

Starbak's Torrent videoconferencing gateway converts a videoconference into streaming media . This would let a manager, for example, make an announcement by videoconference, while others not on the call could watch it later. We liked Torrent's architecture but the viewing experience needs refinement.

The Torrent VCG is a 1U-high server running Red Hat Linux 2.4 and a combination of third-party licensed and Starbak-written applications for streaming and videoconferencing. The server contains built-in Gigabit Ethernet connections, and has options for Networked File System-mounted storage devices.

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Starbak's Torrent videoconferencing gateway converts a videoconference into streaming media . This would let a manager, for example, make an announcement by videoconference, while others not on the call could watch it later. We liked Torrent's architecture but the viewing experience needs refinement.

The Torrent VCG is a 1U-high server running Red Hat Linux 2.4 and a combination of third-party licensed and Starbak-written applications for streaming and videoconferencing. The server contains built-in Gigabit Ethernet connections, and has options for Networked File System-mounted storage devices.

Using a serial console interface, an administrator can assign an IP address automatically (through Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) or manually. Other settings, such as H.323, streaming server and user configuration, are handled through the VCG Web interface. Registering with any H.323-compliant gatekeeper is easy, and ensures that Torrent is a network-based service, accessible and managed like other videoconferencing network resources, such as gateways and multipoint conferencing units (MCU ).

Password-protected accounts can be created for business units or entire companies. Each account is assigned virtual "lines," up to a maximum of 10 H.323 ports per server. Through gatekeeper call routing, each call it receives or originates uses the next available port. (See How we did it).

Creating and viewing sessions

Torrent users can initiate calls with any H.323-compliant device. During the call setup, the user selects the media and tools that will be incorporated into the final presentation window. Options include video and audio, video and audio with slides, and all of the above with chat.

Users registered to the same or a neighbor gatekeeper can establish a video call to a specific line from their videoconferencing terminal by entering the alias of a specific line or to the next available H.323 port by entering the IP address of the VCG server.

For conferences that includes slides, the uploading process is straightforward and sufficiently automated. Each slide is converted to a JPEG on the server and advanced manually once a call begins. The call-initiation process was reliable, and we never had a call fail. We even maintained a call for more than three hours.

We encountered some poor video quality on a few of our calls, which the terminal diagnostics attributed to packet loss. When notified that we were having a call-quality issue, Starbak's technical assistance was responsive - potential errors in the server and network were identified and quickly resolved.

When we used the VCG to record a conference call with another videoconferencing system, the conference experience was confusing. The MCU interpreted the VCG as a full call participant and included it in the tiled layout, yet it was not contributing to the call and could not be muted.