Hardware Conferencing CM 6.1.2

[jeremy.andreani]

Hi,

I am trying to implement hardware conferencing in an environment that uses multiple codecs. My understanding is that a CM software conferencing bridge only supports G711 codec and puts overhead on the server, so I am looking to use a hardware conferencing bridge i.e. a DSP resource on a 3845 router. I need to be able to support 1 conference of up to 16 participants. I have a couple of questions.

1. Can you point me to a pre-existing example configuration or instructions for configuration?

2. Is SCCP required for the hardware conferencing bridge to work?

3. Can hardware conferencing support 16 participants? I have read on this forum that the maximum is 8 but have also read a document stating the maximum is 16.

Thanks,

Jeremy

[Ayodeji Okanlawon]

Jeremy,

Here is a working configuration of CFB...

voice-card 0

no dspfarm

dsp services dspfarm

!

sccp local GigabitEthernet0/0

sccp ccm 10.x.y.1 identifier 2

sccp ccm 10.x.y.2 identifier 3

sccp ccm 10.a.b.10 identifier 1

sccp

!

sccp ccm group 1

bind interface GigabitEthernet0/0

associate ccm 1 priority 1

associate ccm 2 priority 2

associate ccm 3 priority 3

associate profile 1 register CFB1_LON

!

dspfarm profile 1 conference

codec g711ulaw

codec g711alaw

codec g729ar8

codec g729abr8

codec g729r8

codec g729br8

maximum sessions 16

associate application SCCP

You can use this link for configuration uide. Its excellent

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/sw/voicesw/ps556/products_tech_note09186a00807f8b30.shtml

2. Yes SCCP is required

3. I believe the maximum participant per session is 8 for the new DSPS (PVDM2-)

It may have changed. You can send a link to the document and I will have a look for you.

HTH

[jeremy.andreani]

Hi Deji,

Thanks a lot for this. I found another document today that seemed to indicate a maximum of 32 participants is possible provided 12.4(15)T IOS is running, at http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/voice_ip_comm/cucm/srnd/7x/media.html#wp1046210

"Starting with Cisco IOS Release 12.4(15)T, this limit on the maximum number of participants has been increased to 32."

Thanks,

Jeremy

[Jaime Valencia]

according to the documentation that's only for meet-me

maximum conference-party

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/ios/voice/command/reference/vr_m1.html#wp1404791

and it's still completely dependant on the codecs you configure, only g711/g729

it still can take a little overhead from the server if you're going to use only those codecs.

HTH

java

if this helps, please rate

[jeremy.andreani]

This may still work then, as meet-me is what I am after (as opposed to adhoc), and my phones will be using g711/g729 codecs.

So could I configure the following:

dspfarm profile 1 conference

codec g711ulaw

codec g711alaw

codec g729ar8

codec g729abr8

codec g729r8

codec g729br8

maximum sessions 1

maximum conference-party 16

associate application SCCP

and expect 1 DSP resource at most to be used for conferencing?

Thanks,

Jeremy

[Ayodeji Okanlawon]

Jeremy,

A DSP farm that is configured for conferencing and G.711 provides 8 conferences. When configured to accept both G.711 and G.729 calls, a single DSP provides 2 conferences because it is also reserving its resources for performing transcoding of streams.

So with G.711/G.729 each DSP will provide 2 conferences with each conference session supoorting 8 0r 32 participants depending on your IOS.

Assuming your IOS supports 8 participants, then with a single dsp..you will have 2*8= 16 streams. So yes your config will be fine.

[sipr_ttgp]

There are two types of hardware conferencing Ad-Hoc and Meet-Me conferencing. With Adhoc conferencing you are right max is 8 participants (codec supported are g.711/g.729a/g.729). But if you use Meetme conferencing with multiple codec your max is 1 conference with 16 participants per DSP. You can add more PVDM2-64 (your model supports 4 DSP slots) and that will give you a second Meet-me conference with 16 participants but unfortunately you can not mixed or combine 2 dsp's for one conference. If you use pure g.711 codec you'll get the max 64 participants per DSP.

Reference: CME4.1 Hardware Conferencing Tech Tips (May 15, 2007) by Tony Huynh

I know reference is for CME 4.1 and 2 years old but I use it to configure my CME 7.1. good luck I hope that answers your question.

[jeremy.andreani]

Hi,

Thank you very much; I believe I now have enough information to proceed.

Thanks again,

Jeremy