H.

323 IP Videoconferencing demonstrator

Network Quality of Service and Resource Issues

Network Diagram and Site Topology

Geoff Constable and Dave Price

University of Wales, Aberystwyth

RT/VIDEO/VIP/ABER/001
Version 1.0 Release
22 March 2001
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Disclaimer:
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© The JNT Association 2000

Contents

1 Background ....................................................................................................................... 1
2 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 1
3 References........................................................................................................................ 2
4 Data Path from PolySpan ViewStation to Campus Edge Switch........................................ 3
UKERNA / VIP-demonstrator Project: Network Diagram and Site Topology. Page 1 of 4

1 Background

This report is submitted to UKERNA and partners involved in the Videoconferencing over
Internet Protocols (VIP) Demonstrator project. The University of Wales, Aberystwyth is one of a
number of partners involved in investigation of the issues regarding supporting a
videoconferencing service.

This document is a report on the equipment used in Aberystwyth by the VIP Demonstrator
project partner, the Department of Computer Science. It also details the network path taken by
H.323 traffic from the VIP Demonstrator offices and laboratory space, to JANET and other
connected sites.

2 Introduction

This report describes the Network Paths from the Videoconferencing Machines in the Physical
Sciences Building to JANET and the Internet (the Computer Science department has rooms in
both the Physical Sciences building and the nearby Llandinam Extension building).

The diagram is deliberately simplified, and detail not relating to the H.323 traffic path from the
ViewStation and/or NetMeeting PC’s has been selectively left out. Three possible situations are
illustrated, all of which may be used during the project:

1. A direct link to the Campus edge router

2. From Room 126 (see diagram),
3. From the Digital Systems Laboratory

Configuration 1 is simplest, in terms of the number of ’hops’, and network equipment traversed,
configuration 3 is the most complex.

Italic numbers in the Diagram on page 4 (e.g. 28 ) are physical port numbers on pieces of
hardware, or socket numbers on walls.

Abbreviations:

DSL: Digital Systems Laboratory - Location of any test networks built for evaluation, etc.
CS: Computer Science
VS: Polyspan ViewStation
Unicast (not multicast)
UKERNA / VIP-demonstrator Project: Network Diagram and Site Topology. Page 2 of 4

3 References

Polyspan ViewStation 512

http://www.polycom.com/products/video_medium.html

Allied-Telesyn CentreCOM MR820TR Twisted Pair Micro Hub

http://www.alliedtelesyn.com/products/datasheets/prd420t.htm

Allied-Telesyn CentreCOM 3008SL Multiport Repeater

http://www.alliedtelesyn.co.uk/products/prod_details_uk.asp?lang=uk&Type=HUBS&Prod_ID=
3008SL

IMC Networks Media Converters

http://www.imcnetworks.com/imcdocs.htm

Cisco Systems Catalyst 5500

http://www.cisco.com/pcgi-bin/Support/PSP/psp_view.pl?p=Hardware:Cat5500
UKERNA / VIP-demonstrator Project: Network Diagram, U.W.A. Page 3 of 4

4 Data Path from PolySpan ViewStation to Campus Edge Switch

Technology End User Network Multiport Local Media Converters Ethernet Router Campus Switch
Station Hub Repeater Switch Switch ’spaghetti’
’window’ ’foghorn’ ’michigan’
Hardware Polyspan Allied Telsyn Allied Bay IMC IMC Bay Networks Gateway 2000 CISCO Catalyst 5500
ViewStation CentreCOM Telesyn Networks Networks Networks BayStack 450- Pentium 2 200
512, with MR820TR CentreCOM Baystack Media Media 24T Mhz PC (64MB
SONY KV- 3008SL 350T Converter Converter 10/100 Switch RAM)
21X5U 8 port 10/100 MC/4X MC/8X
Trinitron Repeater Switch
Colour
Television
Software Version 6 Solaris x86 / Cisco I O.S. V11.3(8)
Proprietary routed
operating
system
Network 10/100Mit/s 10 Base T 10 base 2 100 Mbit/s 100Mbit/s 100Mbit/s 100Mbit/ss 100Mbit/s 8Mbit/s Megastream to
Interface 2 port hub Ethernet Fibre Ethernet Ethernet Ethernet Cardiff, soon to change
to 155Mbit/s microwave
link to Swansea (via 5
boosters) and the South
Wales MAN

The network hub and multiport repeater shown in columns 2 and 3 (and the section of 10Mbit/s ethernet) drop out of this path when the
Polyspan is situated in ’Room 126’ - the VIP Demonstrator office. In that situation there is a direct link between ’window’ (col. 1) and ’foghorn’
(col. 4). Similarly there is a direct link between ’pcdgcb’ (the machine generally used for NetMeeting VIP sessions) and ’foghorn’ (see diagram
below).

’pcdgb’ has the following specification:

CPU: Intel Pentium 2 MMX 400 Mhz Video capture: Hauppauge WinTVpci 56305 (Rev E)
O.S.: MS Windows NT Workstation 4.0 (Build 1381,SP5) Sound Card: ESS AudioDrive
Memory: 64 MB RAM Mic/ Speaker PolySpan SoundPoint PC (with optional handset)
Video card: ATI 3D Rage Pro AGP 2X (8 MB Memory) Hard Drives 6.4 GB
UKERNA / VIP-demonstrator Project: Network Diagram, U.W.A. Page 4 of 4

JANET

Alternate ’test’ CISCO Campus Edge

location Router and Firewall
CATALYST
PolySpan VS 512
5500

trollope is a multicast
router and the trollope spaghetti Computer Science
fallback unicast Sparcstation 4 Gateway 2000 Domain
router. There are PC Solaris x86
further links from
trollope to bugs and
speedy
8
michigan - traffic
bugs and speedy are bugs speedy michigan destined for various
handling traffic for BAY 350T BAY 350T BAY 450 - 24T parts of the building,
different parts of the Ethernet switch Ethernet switch Ethernet switch and part of the CS
Llandinam Extension department sited in
building. the nearby Physical
10 11 Sciences building.

Media converters. Twisted pair Twisted pair

/ fibre / fibre Llandinam Building.

Approx. 200 metres

Media converters. Fibre / Fibre / Physical Sciences

twisted pair twisted pair Building.

Ports 9-12 and 14

feed sockets (1-4, 16
marvin and marvin 6) in Room 126 foghorn
foghorn are both 3Com BAY 350T 7
in the Digital Superstack II
Systems switch
Laboratory (DSL) 15
28
Room 126, Allied Telesyn pcdgcb
Twisted pair to VIP Project Office 10Mbps Pentium 400 PC
various sockets PolySpan VS 512 repeater + NetMeeting 3
around the DSL

The DSL is in the Physical Co-axial cable

Sciences Building, and is used
predominantly for teaching Potential
during the academic year. window listening
During the summer there is little Polyspan VS 512 CentreCom machine on
network activity. All interfaces Hub this segment
on the path are at 100Mbps full
duplex except between foghorn
and the ViewStation.