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Video Conferencing Configuration (MC)

Steps for setting up a video conferencing unit:

If your conference unit only needs to call out to other places, please set your gatekeeper to:

conference.mc.vanderbilt.edu

-or-

160.129.223.44 if it will not accept a host name.

If you require the ability for others to call in:

Obtain a static routable IP address. This can be done by going to:

Request IP Address

And filling out the form. Please indicate that it must be a 160.129.x.x address for video conferencing in the “additional comments” area.

Once you have a static IP address, please go to:

https://aida.mc.vanderbilt.edu/SDSelfService/

Log in with your VUNetID and ePassword

Select “Create New Service Call”

Fill out the necessary fields as they pertain to your location.

In the “Description” field, please put “New Video Conference Device”

In the “Specific Detail Info” field, please put “Assign to Network Security Support”, indicate the static IP address you received from Network Operations and indicate the brand of conference device or software. If possible, please include contact information for the reseller.

Or you can call the Service Desk at 3-HELP and open a service call directly.

If your device is a Polycom conference unit, please read the instructions below, and check the “fixed ports” box as indicated.

From the Polycom Manual:

“A firewall protects an organization’s IP network by controlling data traffic from outside the network. Unless the firewall is designed to work with H.323 video conferencing equipment, you must configure the system and the firewall to allow video conferencing traffic to pass in and out of the network.

Network Address Translation (NAT) network environments use private internal IP addresses for devices within the network, while using one external IP address to allow devices on the LAN to communicate with other devices outside the LAN. If your system is connected to a LAN that uses a NAT, you will need to enter the NAT Public (WAN) Address so that your system can communicate outside the LAN.

To set up the system to work with a firewall or NAT:
1. Go to System > Admin Settings > Network > IP > Firewall.
2. Configure these settings:

Setting Description

*Dynamic Bandwidth
Specifies whether to let the system automatically find the optimum line speed for a call.

*Maximum Transmit
Bandwidth
Specifies the maximum transmit line speed between 64Kbps and 1920 Kbps.

* Maximum Receive Bandwidth
Specifies the maximum receive line speed between 64 and 1920 Kbps.

Setting Description

Fixed Ports Lets you specify whether to define the TCP and UDP ports.

• If the firewall is not H.323 compatible, enable this setting. The VSX system assigns a range of ports starting with the TCP and UDP ports you specify. The system defaults to a range beginning with port 3230 for both TCP and UDP.

TCP 3230-3247
UDP 3230-3253

Note: You must open the corresponding ports in the firewall. You must also open the firewall’s TCP port 1720 to allow H.323 traffic.

• If the firewall is H.323 compatible or the system is not behind a firewall, disable this setting.
Configuring Network Use 3 - 13

TCP Ports 
UDP Ports

Lets you specify the beginning value for the range of TCP and UDP ports used by the system. The system automatically sets the range of ports based on the beginning value you set.

Note: You must also open the firewall’s TCP port 1720 to allow H.323 traffic.

NAT Configuration Lets you specify whether the system should determine the
NAT Public WAN Address automatically.

• If the system is behind a NAT that allows HTTP traffic, select Auto.
• If the system is behind a NAT that does not allow HTTP traffic, select Manual.
• If the system is not behind a NAT or is connected to the IP network through a Virtual Private Network (VPN), select Off.
• If the system is behind a firewalled NAT router that is UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) certified, select UPnP.

Many routers used in homes and small businesses support UPnP NAT traversal. If this is your situation, try selecting UPnP first. If this selection does not work for your router, select Auto or Manual.

NAT Public (WAN)Address
Displays the address that callers from outside the LAN use to call your system. If you chose to configure the NAT manually, enter the NAT Public Address here.

NAT is H.323Compatible
Specifies that the system is behind a NAT that is capable of translating H.323 traffic.

Address Displayed in Global Directory
Lets you choose whether to display this system’s public or private address in the Global Directory.”