Polycom PATHNAVIGATOR User Manual

Is Polycom PathNavigator a hardware or software solution?

Polycom PathNavigator is a software application that runs on

a Windows

®

2000 operating system.

What are the system requirements?

Server Requirements

• 512 MB RAM (or more)

• 2 GB free free hard drive space

License specific Database and Hardware Requirements

Licensed Database Type PathNavigator
Endpoints Server Hardware

25-seat Microsoft

®

Access Pentium®III 500 MHz

Microsoft SQL*
100-seat Microsoft SQL* Pentium III 650 MHz
500-seat Microsoft SQL* Pentium III 1.4 GHz
1500-seat Microsoft SQL* Pentium III 1.4 GHz
3000-seat Microsoft SQL* Pentium IV 1.9 GHz

One of the following operating systems:

• Windows Server 2003 (Service Pack 1)

• Windows 2000 Server (Service Pack 2 optional but recommended)

• Windows 2000 Advanced Server with Service Pack 1

• Microsoft Internet Information Services™ 5.0 or higher

• Microsoft Access™ or SQL 7.0 or higher*

* SQL must be installed on a separate server

Client Requirements

One of the following operating systems:

• Windows 98

• Windows ME

• Windows 2000

• Windows XP

• Internet Explorer 5.0 or higher

What pack sizes does Polycom PathNavigator come in?

Polycom PathNavigator comes in 25, 100, 500 and 3000 pack sizes.

How many concurrent calls can the 25 pack provide?

The 25-pack works a little different than the 100, 500 and 3000

pack sizes. As an ongoing promotional offer, the first 25-pack

offers 12 concurrent calls when it is working in conjunction with

an MGC. When two 25-packs are added together to make a 50-

pack, the number of concurrent calls increase to 15. Three 25-

packs added together offer 22 concurrent calls. If a MGC is not

deployed in the same environment, a single 25-pack only offers

eight concurrent calls.

Does Polycom PathNavigator work with other manufacturer’send-

points, gatekeepers, MCUs and gateways?

Polycom PathNavigator uses industry standards to ensure interoper-

ability with third party products. Any endpoint can be registered and

managed as a resource. Since it can see all the resources in a net-

work it will utilize existing gatekeepers as ‘neighbor gatekeepers’

and can work with any MCU or gateway. Polycom PathNavigator

also works with and compliments the Cisco

®

Proxy Server.

What features are specific to the Polycom solution?

• Conference on-demand from Polycom endpoints

• Simplified dialing with Polycom gateways

• Automatically configure Polycom endpoints for

Polycom OneDial™ on IP or ISDN networks.

• Endpoints seamlessly set up call forwarding

Does Polycom PathNavigator replace the need for Cisco’s MCM?

No. Polycom PathNavigator creates a much higher level of utiliza-

tion optimizing previous infrastructure investments in networks built

by Cisco, Nortel

®

, Microsoft, Lucent®, etc. Polycom PathNavigator

uses such products as resources in its network.

Do I need both Polycom Global Management System™ and

Polycom PathNavigator to deploy H.323 devices?

No. Polycom PathNavigator is all that you need, although both

will be beneficial to deployment in an enterprise. They compli-

ment each other. Polycom PathNavigator is focused on call routing

and control while Polycom Global Management System is focused

on device management, monitoring and provides a Global

Directory Server.

Polycom PathNavigator has features that include conference on-

demand, alternate routing, least-cost routing, automatic E.164 and

DID assignment.

Polycom Global Management System includes management and

monitoring of endpoints both proactively and remotely, provision-

ing of endpoint settings and schedulable software updates.

What is the maximum number of registration and concurrent calls
that Polycom PathNavigator can manage?

Currently Polycom PathNavigator can address up to 3000
registrants and 600 concurrent sessions in a direct mode. Later
releases of Polycom PathNavigator will allow pooling of resources
increasing these figures across additional Polycom
PathNavigator servers.

Polycom®PathNavigator™Advanced Gatekeeper

Frequently Asked Technical Questions

Connect. Any Way You Want.

Polycom PathNavigator Advanced Gatekeeper Frequently Asked Technical Questions

Rev. 10/04

www.polycom.com

Polycom Headquarters: 4750 Willow Road, Pleasanton, CA 94588 (T) 1.800.POLYCOM (765.9266) for North America only.

For North America, Latin America and Caribbean (T) +1.925.924.6000, (F) +1.925.924.6100

Polycom EMEA: 270 Bath Road, Slough, Berkshire SL1 4DX, (T) [phone], (F) [phone]

Polycom Asia Pacific: Polycom Hong Kong Ltd., Rm 1101 MassMutual Tower, 38 Gloucester Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong, (T) +852.2861.3113, (F)+852.2866.8028

What is the difference between alternate gatekeeper and redundant server?

In an alternate gatekeeper environment, two servers are processing calls sep­arately. If one of the PathNavigator servers were to go down, the “Alternate”
PathNavigator would take on the additional load of the other PathNavigator.
The endpoints that were registered with the “downed” server will register
with the active “Alternate” PathNavigator. One major difference between an
alternate gatekeeper and redundant server feature is that with an alternate
gatekeeper, the endpoints register with an entirely different system with a
different setup. In the redundant server situation, the server configuration
information is the same between the primary and backup PathNavigator since
the information is drawn from the same database. Furthermore, one server
always acts as backup where no endpoints register with it if the primary
PathNavigator is functioning; it only becomes active when the primary
PathNavigator server fails.

Is Polycom PathNavigator an Audio IP PBX?

No. Although Polycom PathNavigator can supply rudimentary H.323 audio
call processing and call forwarding, it was not designed as an audio IP PBX.
Polycom PathNavigator is more like an IP and ISDN video PBX that comple­ments both IP and circuit switched PBXs.

How does auto assignment of DID numbers work in Polycom PathNavigator?

A Trunk DID number range is obtained from the CO and entered into Polycom
PathNavigator, assigning the appropriate E.164 to enable DID dialing. The
administrator can then assign these numbers in a logical number range based
on network topology.

How does Polycom PathNavigator compare to the ECS, NGK or the Cisco
gatekeeper?

See chart below.

© 2004 Polycom,Inc. All rights reserved.

Polycom and the Polycom logo are registered trademarks and Polycom OneDial, Global Management System and Polycom Conference Suite
are trademarks of Polycom, Inc. in the U.S. and various countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective companies.
Specifications are subject to change without notice.

What is Firewall Traversal?

Firewall Traversal allows IP video and voice to pass freely through network
security barriers. Video data, such as different signaling information, will
be able to pass through firewalls without opening up multiple ports to pre­serve security.

Does the Firewall Traversal Support require additional licenses?

No. Polycom offers Firewall Traversal support as part of the standard
PathNavigator version 6 offering.

What is Bandwidth Authorization?

Bandwidth Authorization regulates whether ad hoc calls can be made based
on the Polycom Conference Suite schedule requirements. When a user is
making a nonscheduled call, PathNavigator will verify with Polycom
Conference Suite to determine whether or not to allow the call.

How can I look into the health of my video network?

PathNavigator now provides RTCP statistics which includes packet loss, jitter
and latency over time. This helps administrators view calls and get reports for
issues within the video network. RTCP statistics includes real-time graphs.

How does a customer get a demo key?

The customer must contact a certified Polycom reseller. The reseller will then
contact the appropriate Polycom sales representative to obtain a demo key.
The Polycom representative will fill out the necessary paperwork to receive a
demo key. This process is not related to a purchased license key.

Polycom PathNavigator Gatekeepers

Advanced Gatekeeper

Non-PLCM Equipment Polycom Equipment

Manage Bandwidth across the network Same features as for Non-PLCM equipment

• Register any manufacturer’s endpoints

• Authorize calls

• Dial with number, H.323 ID, E.164

• Uses any Gateway or MCU

All the above features + All the features from the non-Polycom product column +

• Manage Bandwidth based on specific network topology • Polycom OneDial* – Hiding area and country codes, dialing
for LAN, WAN, and Groups from directory, multipoint on demand

• Automatic Alternate Routing over IP and ISDN • Endpoint interface integration for Polycom OneDial & call forwarding

• Simple Least Cost Routing • Automatically collect all ISDN information on endpoints

• Polycom OneDial* – hiding complex ISDN gateway prefixes • Automatically provision ISDN (DID) and E.164 extensions

• Dial with name, email addr., URL, WINS, DNS

• On-line CDR and network performance monitoring

• Join or leave hunt groups from endpoint

*Polycom OneDial™ capabilities enhance Polycom and non-Polycom endpoints