Videoconferencing

Conferencing between two sites is termed “Point to Point” and is the most frequently used method. It only requires equipment at each site and the network of choice. If more than two sites require a simultaneous conference, this is termed “Multipoint” conferencing, and an additional specialised piece of equipment is required, called a “Multipoint Control Unit” or MCU. Some videoconferencing CODECs can support limited multipoint working (e.g. up to 4 sites). Generally, MCU’s are very expensive and are rented from service providers just for the duration of a conference.

This guide is aimed at network engineers and technicians, primarily in educational organisations, who need to provide a network capable of handling videoconferencing traffic. It aims to inform the reader about the ‘special’ requirements relating to real-time voice and video traffic, as opposed to http, ftp or other traffic types. It then discusses techniques that can be applied to provide a network that can be made to carry such traffic reliably without the need for continual network changes or upgrades.