Polycom IPOWER 600, IPOWER 960, IPOWER 9000, IPOWER 685, IPOWER 9800 User Manual
iPower System Software
Release Bulletin and
Installation Instructions
Version 6.2.0
Last Updated: 12/16/2004
To ensure that you have the latest version of this document, go to http://www.polycom.com
Copyright © 2004: Polycom, Inc.
Polycom, Inc., 4750 Willow Road, Pleasanton, CA 94588 www.polycom.com
Polycom and the Polycom logo are registered trademarks of Polycom, Inc. Concorde, Global Management System, ImageShare, iPower, LiveManager, Montage, NetConference, PathNavigator, People+Content, PVX, SureConnect, PowerMic, ProMotion, Siren, System 4000, Venue, ViaVideo, ViewStation, Visual Concert and VSX are trademarks of Polycom, Inc.
All other product names are the trademarks of their respective owners.
The information contained in this document is subject to change without notice. Polycom assumes no responsibility for technical or editorial errors or omissions that may appear in this document or for the use of this material. Nor does Polycom make any commitment to update the information contained in this document. This document contains proprietary information which is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. No part of this document may be photocopied or reproduced in any form without the prior written consent of Polycom, Inc.
Do you have any suggestions or comments on the documentation for this product? If so, please send them by e-mail to iDesign@polycom.com.
iPower System Software
Release Bulletin and
Installation Instructions
Version 6.2.0
This Polycom® iPower™ multimedia conferencing system software release bulletin provides information about software Version 6.2.0. This document includes the following topics:
Product Description
Enhancements in This Release
Compatible Communications Products
Restrictions and Recommendations
Additional Information
Installing Version 6.2 Software on the iPower Systems
Product Description
The iPower system is a state-of-the-art multimedia conferencing system incorporating the Polycom iPower architecture. This architecture offers unique capabilities that simplify the inclusion of information in a meeting and make it easier to manage both the system and the network it runs on. The iPower system performs as a multi-purpose conferencing system that can be used both on and off a call. For more information, go to www.polycom.com.
Enhancements in Version 6.2
Version 6.2 enhancements include:
H.264 Video Error Concealment enhances your video experience by diminishing freezing video. The encoder enhancements implemented on the iPower systems:
–Minimize the chance that the display wil freeze
–Conceal errors
–Reduce full-frame refreshes
IP calls dialed from a Global Address Book on a Global Management System will now select the E.164 address of the far site system.
A call rate of 1152 kbps is now available for IP calls.
The maximum number of digits allowed for ISDN dialing has been increased to 30 to ensure compatibility with all international dialing requirements.
Far-end camera control is now available on calls through a RADVISION L2W-323 Gateway.
Internal Multipoint calls can now be placed when the system is behind certain NAT environments.
Enhancements also include Closed Captioning capabilities:
The iPower system can now display captions sent from another iPower or Viewstation site as part of a video conference. Users can specify whether to display captions for a video conference, and they can also specify which monitor to use for displaying the captions. The Closed Captioning feature is compatible with the ITU-T T.140 standard.
The Closed Captioning option lets you receive captions from a captioning service provider and send captions to other sites in a conference. For more information about this option, go to: http://www.polycom.com/products_services/0,,pw-35-6032,00%2Ben- USS_01DBC.html.
Viewers of streamed video via the People+Content Streaming feature are now able to view captions.
Enhancements in Version 6.0
Version 6.0 enhancements include:
Standards-based H.264 and Polycom H.264* are now available on all iPower platforms. Support for H.264 meets the ITU-T specification. The iPower systems interoperate over IP and ISDN with ViewStationFX, ViewStationEX, Viewstation4000, VSX, and with other H.264 standard compliant systems.
Optional standards-based AES encryption is now available for point-to- point calls over IP networks. iPower provides AES encryption as
specified in H.235v3. Activating encryption does not affect the call speeds that iPower systems support — encrypted calls work at all the rates that unencrypted calls do. AES encryption is not supported for internal multipoint calls or ISDN calls. If you acquired your system before January 1, 2004, you must purchase a license key in order to use the AES Encryption option. See below for more information.
People video can now be displayed at resolutions of 4CIF/4SIF. You see crisper images with resolutions equivalent to PAL/NTSC, though frame rates are lower.
Content video can now be displayed with H.264 compression up to XGA resolution. In point-to-point calls between iPower systems, you can display Content with crisp resolution more quickly and with a higher frame rate than is possible when using H.263. This feature includes patent-pending technology.
You can now choose to transmit VCR and Document Camera inputs as People video. Use AdminTools to configure these sources.
AES Encryption
In IP calls that do not use the internal multipoint option, iPower supports AES encryption as specified in H.235v3. AES encryption is not supported for internal multipoint calls or ISDN calls.
When configured for encryption, iPower will encrypt audio, People video, Content video and H.224 data (used for far end camera control), provided that the far end supports this. iPower does not encrypt T.120 data or streamed media.
iPower offers three modes for encryption:
Disabled: The system will not encrypt calls, even if the far end supports encryption.
When Available: The system will encrypt calls if the far-end system supports encryption; unencrypted calls will still connect successfully. Note that integrated T.120 data sharing is disabled when you choose this setting.
When you chose this setting, iPower will allow internal multipoint and ISDN calls, but will first warn the user that these calls are not encrypted. The system will also allow streaming, but it will warn the user that the streamed media is not encrypted.
Required: The system does not complete unencrypted calls. If you make a call and the far-end system does not support encryption, the call does not connect. Note that integrated T.120 data sharing and internal multipoint calls are disabled when you choose this setting.
When you chose this setting, iPower will allow ISDN calls, but will first warn the user that these calls are not encrypted. The system will also allow streaming but it will warn the user that the streamed media is not encrypted.
iPower considers a call successfully encrypted if all transmit and receive audio, video and H.224 channels are encrypted. In any of these channels
are not encrypted, iPower does not consider the overall call encrypted. In a successfully encrypted call, iPower displays a lock icon on the status bar; if the call did not fully encrypt (or if encryption was not configured) iPower will not display any encryption-related icons. In all calls, Conference Statistics and Operating Statistics will report the overall encryption status and the encryption status of each audio, video and H.224 channel.
When troubleshooting encryption related problems, keep in mind that equipment between the two endpoints of the call such as gatekeepers that use “routed signaling”, gateways and MCUs also need to support encryption.
The iPower system's encryption messages refer only to the encryption provided by the iPower system. The system cannot detect external encryption.
Compatible Communications Products
The iPower multimedia conferencing system is tested extensively with a wide range of products. The following list is not a complete inventory of compatible equipment; it simply indicates the products that have been tested for compatibility with this release.
Note:Visual collaboration systems use a variety of algorithms to compress audio and video. In a call between two systems, each end transmits audio and video using algorithms supported by the other end. In some cases, a system may transmit a different algorithm than it receives. This process occurs because each system independently selects the algorithms it considers best for a particular call. At times, different products make different (though reasonable) choices. This process should not affect the quality of the call.
Compatible Conferencing Equipment
Aethra Vegastar Gold 4.01.0016
Intel TeamStation™ Version 5.0a
iPower 600/900/9000 Collaboration System Version 5.3.0, 6.0, 6.1
Microsoft NetMeeting Version 3.01
–Under most circumstances, the system will negotiate to QCIF for calls to NetMeeting systems.
Polycom PathNavigator Versions 5.1.0, 5.2.0
Polycom MGC-25™ version 5.5
Polycom MGC-25™, MGC-50™ and MGC-100™ Multipoint Conferencing Unit (MCU) Versions 6.02.4
–Do not configure MGC conferences that include iPower endpoints for
"dynamic FECC".
–The Polycom Version 4.0 MGC-50 and MGC-100 MCUs do not support far-end camera control or browsing.
–DO NOT attempt to run versions of the Polycom MGC-100 MCU lower than 2.2 with iPower Multimedia conferencing systems.
–You may experience poor quality when sending Content in a LAN call using a Polycom MGC-50 or MGC-100 MCU running Version 4.00 or lower. To address this issue, use version 4.01 of the Polycom MGC50 or MGC-100 MCU.
–You may experience problems with application sharing in a conference using a Polycom MGC-50 or MGC-100 MCU running Version 4.00 or lower. To address this issue, use version 4.01 of the Polycom MGC-50 or MGC-100 MCU.
–When you use iPower Control Protocol to make calls from a LAN system to an ISDN system:
oAll prefixes and suffixes required by the gateway must be configured through AdminTools
oThe iCP Command must set the Calltype to Gateway
Polycom PVX Version 6.0.1
Polycom V500 Version 7.0.1
Polycom ViaVideo™ Version 5.1, 6.0.1
Polycom ViewStation 4000/EX/FX Version 6.0
Polycom ViewStation MP/SP Version 7.5.2
Polycom VSX 3000 Version 7.0.1
Polycom VSX 7000 Version 5.1.1, 7.0.1
Polycom VSX 8000 Version 7.0.1
RADVISION ViaIP ECS Gatekeeper Version 3.2
–RADVISION gatekeepers configured for H.245 gatekeeper-routed signaling do not support calls from iPower systems. The gatekeeper must be configured for direct signaling or for gatekeeper-routed Q.931 signaling.
RADVISION BRI/PRI On-LAN L2W-323 Gateway Revision 2.2.3.25
–Calls through a RADVISION gateway at 2x64 kbps must include an asterisk (*) suffix to the number dialed. Without this suffix, the call connects to the far end at 1x64 kbps.
RADVISION MCU-323/20 Version 2.2.1.0
Sony 6000 5.01
T120 does not work in H.320 calls with Sony PCS 6000.
Sony PCS1 2.01
iPower may received poor quality video in H.323 calls with Sony PCS-1 that use H.263+. To work around this issue, configure the Sony system for H.263 or H.264.
Tandberg 880 Versions E3.0 and E3.1
Tandberg supports H.264 at CIF resolution. Calls with Tandberg that use H.264 will down-scale Content sources (such as the Windows desktop) to CIF resolution, with a resulting loss of video quality and sharpness. To work around this issue, configure the iPower system to use H.263+ video.
Tandberg 6000 Version E3.0
Vcon Media Connect 8000 4.6
Vtel Galaxy version 2.2.0.70
Internal Multipoint Option Compatible Products
Internal Multipoint compatibility has been tested and found to be interoperable with the following products:
iPower 600/900/9000 Collaboration System Version 5.3.0, 6.1.0
Polycom PathNavigator Version 5.1.0, 5.2.0
Polycom PVX Version 6.0.1
Polycom ViaVideo™ Version 5.1, 6.0.1
Polycom ViewStation 512 Version 7.2
Polycom ViewStation 4000/EX/FX Version 6.0
Polycom ViewStation MP/SP Version 7.5.2
Polycom VSX 3000 Version 7.0.1
Polycom VSX 7000 Version 5.1.1, 7.0.1
Polycom VSX 8000 Version 7.0.1
RADVISION ViaIP ECS Gatekeeper Version 3.2
Compatible Network Interface Equipment
This section contains information on terminal adapter compatibility. The following products are compatible with this release of the iPower multimedia conferencing system:
Lucent/Ascend VSX Version +4.5Cp15+
Promptus/DICA Hotlink Version 1.50V4
Madge 20™ Version 5.20.1.17
Restrictions and Recommendations
This section lists the current restrictions in the following areas:
General
Security
Global Management System
PathNavigator Call Processing Server
Software Configuration
Logging On and Logging Off
Audio
Video
Recording
Calling
Internal Multipoint Option
WebRemote
Hardware
iPower Applications
Third-Party Applications
Localization
Data Collaboration
General
iPower cannot receive a snapshot (still image graphic) in a call that supports People and Content.
The iPower 9000 system does not support Windows Standby mode, even though it is listed as an option in the Windows Shutdown menu.
Use the Shutdown menu to power off the iPower 9000 system. Do not press the front panel power button to perform a shutdown.
If you set a password for accessing a streamed conference and then click the Set button to view or alter conference settings, the password is deleted. Users can then access the stream without supplying a password. To avoid this, be sure to reset the password after you open the Stream to Web dialog box.
Names for streamed conferences cannot include special characters other than @, ! or _ (underscore). If you use special characters in a streamed conference’s name, remote users who use a web browser to view the conference see the embedded media player with no video.
Recorded streams can quickly take up large amounts of hard disk space. When you record streams to the system’s C drive, monitor the available hard disk space to ensure that the system has adequate free disk space for proper operation.
If you change the screen resolution while the iPower application is running, the system experiences a “blue screen” crash.
Security
Starting in version 5.0, only Integrated Windows Authentication is enabled on the WebRemote web server by default. Basic Authentication is not enabled in the default configuration. Note that this is a change from previous software versions, which enabled both Basic Authentication and Integrated Authentication security levels by default.
Using Windows Integrated Windows Authentication alone provides greater security, but it also prevents browsers other than Internet Explorer from using WebRemote. Using Integrated Windows Authentication alone also causes problems in environments that do not fully support it. For more information on configuring WebRemote's security options, see Configuring Web Remote Security, available in the Security Center at www.polycom.com.
You should ensure the security of your system by taking the following precautions:
–Make sure that all accounts use effective passwords, especially those with administrative privileges.
–Install, update, and use anti-virus software.
–Install the latest security updates for Windows and for any applications you install.
–Activate auditing for Windows events and monitor the audit log.
–Restrict anonymous logins.
–Conduct periodic reviews of your system. The Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer (available free at http://www.microsoft.com/technet/Security/tools/default.mspx) can aid you in this review.
–Check with your network administrator for security procedures.
Based on the Windows 2000 features used by the iPower software, Polycom strongly recommends that you install the following service packs
–Windows 2000 Professional Service Pack 3
–Internet Explorer 6 Service Pack 1 or Internet Explorer 5.5 Service Pack 2
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