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Internet2 Commons Services for the K20

Community

Internet2 Commons Services for the K20

Community

Bob Dixon OSCNet and Ohio State University

K20 Initiative MeetingInternet2 Spring Member MeetingArlington, VirginiaApril 21, 2008

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What is The Internet2 Commons?

What is The Internet2 Commons?

• A production H.323 video conferencing bridging service, and many related services

• A test bed for new videoconferencing and collaboration tools

• A production H.323 video conferencing bridging service, and many related services

• A test bed for new videoconferencing and collaboration tools

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The Internet2 Commons Mission

The Internet2 Commons Mission

• Promote and facilitate remote collaboration throughout the global research and education community by means of standards-based technologies.

• Build on useful technologies to create collaboration services that are: sustainable, scalable, and affordable

• Push developers to interoperate and listen to our users

• Promote and facilitate remote collaboration throughout the global research and education community by means of standards-based technologies.

• Build on useful technologies to create collaboration services that are: sustainable, scalable, and affordable

• Push developers to interoperate and listen to our users

Internet2 Commons Philosophy

• We are here to HELP people, not to run a business.

• We believe in the power of video conferencing to promote world togetherness.

• We use a shared, decentralized support model, to decrease costs and increase collegiality.

• We encourage vendors to donate equipment and services, to decrease costs and provide exposure and recognition for them.

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Current Internet2 Commons ServicesCurrent Internet2 Commons Services

• Scheduled video conferences

• Ad-hoc video conferences

• Technical help from the OSCnet NOC and OSU professional staff

• Video streaming and archiving

• Access to collaboration tools: IOCOM, Microsoft Conference XP,

Vidyo

• Scheduled video conferences

• Ad-hoc video conferences

• Technical help from the OSCnet NOC and OSU professional staff

• Video streaming and archiving

• Access to collaboration tools: IOCOM, Microsoft Conference XP,

Vidyo

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Current Internet2 Commons Services (cont.)

Current Internet2 Commons Services (cont.)

• Unlimited free gatekeeper registration for anyone• Operation of Gatekeepers: Western Hemisphere World Gatekeeper; both of the redundant North America

Gatekeepers both of the redundant Commons Gatekeepers; the historic Free Love Gatekeeper.

• Free support of many events, such as Megaconferences (NOV 6!), Megaconference Juniors, Gigaconferences, Collaboranzas, Internet2-related conferences (such as this one), etc.

• Video Conferencing training courses

• Unlimited free gatekeeper registration for anyone• Operation of Gatekeepers: Western Hemisphere World Gatekeeper; both of the redundant North America

Gatekeepers both of the redundant Commons Gatekeepers; the historic Free Love Gatekeeper.

• Free support of many events, such as Megaconferences (NOV 6!), Megaconference Juniors, Gigaconferences, Collaboranzas, Internet2-related conferences (such as this one), etc.

• Video Conferencing training courses

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New Trial Internet2 Commons ServicesNew Trial Internet2 Commons Services

• Site Coordinators run the Commons MCUs themselves.

• Live monitoring of video conferences• Guaranteed gatekeeper support and

assistance

• Video streaming and archiving, NOT associated with a video conference

• These are all optional additional services, with additional costs.

• Site Coordinators run the Commons MCUs themselves.

• Live monitoring of video conferences• Guaranteed gatekeeper support and

assistance

• Video streaming and archiving, NOT associated with a video conference

• These are all optional additional services, with additional costs.

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Why Should I Join The Commons?

Why Should I Join The Commons?

• You have need of bridging multiple H.323 sites for distance education, bringing in branch campuses, town meetings, etc

• You have your own bridging service and you want overflow or back-up service

• You need streaming video and archiving of your video conferences

• You need technical assistance• You would like to try out the

collaboration tools

• You have need of bridging multiple H.323 sites for distance education, bringing in branch campuses, town meetings, etc

• You have your own bridging service and you want overflow or back-up service

• You need streaming video and archiving of your video conferences

• You need technical assistance• You would like to try out the

collaboration tools

Who can join the Commons?

Who can join the Commons?

•Any non-profit or educational organization affiliated with Internet2•You need not be connected to Internet2.

•Any non-profit or educational organization affiliated with Internet2•You need not be connected to Internet2.

As a Commons member, who can I conference with?

As a Commons member, who can I conference with?

• ANYBODY anywhere in the world who has H.323 capability

• They need not be Internet2 members

• They need not be Commons members

• They need not be connected to Internet2

• ANYBODY anywhere in the world who has H.323 capability

• They need not be Internet2 members

• They need not be Commons members

• They need not be connected to Internet2

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How To Join the Commons

How To Join the Commons

• Designate and train a Site Coordinator• Go to http://commons.internet2.edu• Fill out the membership application

form• Pay the basic membership fee ($2000

for 300 port hours/year) (Highly subsidized)

• Videoconference away!

• Designate and train a Site Coordinator• Go to http://commons.internet2.edu• Fill out the membership application

form• Pay the basic membership fee ($2000

for 300 port hours/year) (Highly subsidized)

• Videoconference away!

Current Commons Members

Current Commons Members

Boston CollegeCarnegie Mellon (Qatar)CILCCIC (Big 10)CLARA (Latin America Network)ClemsonConcurrent TechnologiesDukeGreen Building AllianceHarvardInternet2Jackson StateMAGPIMichigan (3)

NorthwesternOhio Supercomputer CenterOhio StateOSHEANRutgersSan Diego Supercomputer CenterAlabama - BirminghamConnecticutIowaMinnesotaUniv Puerto Rico (2)St ThomasWisconsinWashington Univ

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Internet 2 Commons Port Hours Used in 2007

MAGPI Commons Usage

MAGPI Commons Usage

Heather Weisse

P.S. - MAGPI suggested most of the new services

Heather Weisse

P.S. - MAGPI suggested most of the new services

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What does the Commons get you?

What does the Commons get you?

• Mature technology, accepted standards, multiple vendors

• Advanced features in multiple MCUs

• Help! when you need it…and before

• MCUs and gatekeepers have unlimited bandwidth connectivity to the Internet.

• All equipment is remote-controlled, and located in a secure, environmental and power controlled facility.

• Mature technology, accepted standards, multiple vendors

• Advanced features in multiple MCUs

• Help! when you need it…and before

• MCUs and gatekeepers have unlimited bandwidth connectivity to the Internet.

• All equipment is remote-controlled, and located in a secure, environmental and power controlled facility.

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Special FREE TRIAL period

Special FREE TRIAL period

During the month of May, ALL Commonsservices, both current and new,are FREE to everyone.

Note, however that only certified site coordinators can request services.

Site Coordinator Training CourseWEDNESDAY 12-5 PM

Available on-site here and remotely via video conferencing.

It is NOT TOO LATE to enroll. Go to the registration area.

Options:

• Take the course here on-site. $100 including lunch and handouts

• Go back home and take the course from there. $75

• Contact people back home and have them take the course from there. $75 each.

Don’t miss out on the FREE services during May!

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Questions?Questions?