Cisco TelePresence on NLR
For researchers wishing to collaborate with colleagues across town, around the country or on the other side of the world, NLR offers the convenience of life-size, ultra-high definition and easy-to-use video conferencing from Cisco.
NLR is the only non-commercial network in the world to offer its own TelePresence Exchange, which enables both point-to-point and multi-point TelePresence sessions between as many as 12 different physical locations and with as many as 48 simultaneous high-definition screens. Pre-set TelePresence "meeting rooms" and a common directory and dialing system for TelePresence endpoints on NLR help provide users with a straightforward, high-quality experience
Also, in April 2009, NLR conducted the first international TelePresence session over a research and education network. In partnership with the United Arab Emirate's research and education network, ANKABUT, NLR made possible the participation via TelePresence of network administrators and researchers from the Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center in a technology conference hosted by Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi.
Frequently Asked Questions: TelePresence on NLR
- What is Cisco TelePresence?
- How is TelePresence different from traditional videoconferencing?
- How can I connect to NLR's TelePresence service?
- What special capabilities does NLR have that facilitate Cisco TelePresence?
- What is NLR's TelePresence Exchange, and what does it offer NLR users?
- What does it mean that NLR is "TelePresence Ready"?
- Is there an additional fee for using TelePresence?
- What is a network path assessment? Why is it needed? How is it done?
- Do I need to do anything differently for point-to-point TelePresence compared with multi-point?
- Can I use TelePresence over NLR to connect to TelePresence outside of the U.S.?
- Since TelePresence is an end-to-end experience, do our campus and regional infrastructures also need to be TelePresence-ready?
- My campus utilizes a Regional Optical Network (RON) to connect to the NLR backbone. How does the RON fit into the TelePresence picture?
- How can a campus network become TelePresence-ready?
- I'm interested but would like to see a demonstration. Where can I see Cisco TelePresence in action today?
- I want to move forward with using our regional and NLR network arrangement with Cisco TelePresence. Who do I contact?
- After we install our system(s), if there is a problem with our TelePresence experience, how do we get help?
- Looking for additional information on TelePresence over NLR?
- Looking for additional information on Cisco TelePresence?
Q: What is Cisco TelePresence?
A: Cisco TelePresence is a new technology that creates unique, "in-person", experiences between people, places, and events in their work and personal lives. It combines innovative video, audio, and interactive elements (both hardware and software) to create this experience over the network.
TelePresence delivers life-size images, ultra-high-definition video (1080p), spatial audio, and a specially designed environment that creates a common meeting room across multiple remote sites. Users experience a live, face-to-face meeting as if all participants were in the same room together, empowering them to interact and collaborate like never before.
Q: How is TelePresence different from traditional videoconferencing?
A: TelePresence is based on an entirely new technology, one that goes beyond videoconferencing in many important ways:
Quality and environmental factors —TelePresence combines life-size video images, ultra-high-definition clarity, and CD-like spatial audio, as well as environmental conditions, to create a unique, "in person", experience. Users will actually feel as if they are in the room with the parties they are conversing with, sitting at the same "virtual table", making direct eye contact, talking to and even talking over other participants, just as naturally as if they were together.
Simplicity —TelePresence is also designed to be very simple and user-friendly. It uses your campus calendar system (for example, Microsoft Outlook) to schedule meetings, and a call can be launched by merely pushing one button on an IP phone. Because it uses the tools you use every day, minimal user training is needed.
Reliability —TelePresence is built to take advantage of a highly available network and the IP telephony infrastructure to offer users ultra-high reliability.
Q: How can I connect to NLR's TelePresence service?
A: Either NLR's Network Operations Center (NOC) or NLR's Experiments Support Services (ESS) can assist you getting your NLR TelePresence connection up and running. The NOC can be reached at noc@nlr.net and ESS at ess@nlr.net.
Key steps are as follows:
- Work with your Cisco sales and support team to arrange for needed equipment at your institution. Minimally, this will involved a Cisco TelePresence System (CTS), with its accompanying Cisco IP Phone, as well as a Cisco Unified Call Manager (CUCM).
- Cisco or NLR will arrange for a network path assessment to ensure that the network will be ready to deliver the generated video and audio packets smoothly and reliably.
- Obtain from your campus telecommunications office or otherwise designate an "E164" calling number—it looks like a normal 10-digit phone number with 1 prepended—to associate with your CTS so others CTSs can call it.
- Generally the TelePresence "package" comes with installation; the installers will configure it with a SIP trunk to NLR's exchange and confirm that it works.
- Provide equipment information and IP addresses for your CTS and CUCM as well as your calling number to the NLR NOC, along with intended installation dates, and we'll have an engineer contact you.
- To monitor and help ensure quality, NLR monitors the end-to-end circuit performance; to enable that, you must turn on "SLA responder" in your CTS, responding to addresses we will give you.
- Additional resources may be found on the NLR NOC TelePresence webpage at http://noc.nlr.net/nlr/maps_documentation/nlr-telepresence
Q: What special capabilities does NLR have that facilitate Cisco TelePresence?
A: NLR has a nationwide research network facility, as well as Layer 2 (FrameNet) and Layer 3 (PacketNet) production services. The PacketNet service is best suited for TelePresence, with provider-level service and the ability to differentiate and support TelePresence service.
NLR has one of only a handful of dedicated TelePresence Exchanges operating in the world today, and the only one to be managed by a non-commercial network. As a result, NLR can offer Cisco TelePresence to all NLR participants as part of their NLR membership.
In addition, NLR has also installed TelePresence call signaling, multi-point conference capabilities, and network management equipment to facilitate specific backbone TelePresence services for NLR members.
Q: What is NLR's TelePresence Exchange, and what does it offer NLR users?
A: Based in Kansas City, NLR's TelePresence Exchange is able to arrange TelePresence sessions between any TelePresence systems on the NLR network or on one of the many domestic U.S. and international networks with which NLR has a peering relationship.
Q: What does it mean that NLR is "TelePresence Ready"?
A: NLR has put in place several network technologies that support the strict level of service required by TelePresence, as well as backbone support service for TelePresence. The three primary technologies and services are TelePresence Call Signaling and Control, TelePresence Multi-point Switching, and Quality of Service support.
Q: Is there an additional fee for using TelePresence?
A: No. TelePresence services are included with NLR membership.
Q: What is a network path assessment? Why is it needed? How is it done?
A: Cisco will arrange this assessment, which is done to ensure that the network is ready to deliver the optimal TelePresence experience. It only needs to be done once, the first time you connect to the NLR TelePresence Exchange. NLR recommends a network path assessment be performed for all sites that are installed in order to understand and support the path requirements associated with Cisco TelePresence.
Q: Do I need to do anything differently for point-to-point TelePresence compared with multi-point?
A: No. Since NLR's TelePresence Exchange has multi-site functionality, connecting to as many as 11 other physical locations is just as straightforward as a point-to-point call.
Q: Can I use TelePresence over NLR to connect to TelePresence outside of the U.S.?
A: Yes. NLR can connect you to any TelePresence system anywhere in the world provided NLR peers with the network of the non-U.S. TelePresence system.
For instance, NLR arranged for a TelePresence session between the Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center and Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi via its connection to SURFnet in Amsterdam.
Q: Since TelePresence is an end-to-end experience, do our campus and regional infrastructures also need to be TelePresence-ready?
A: Yes. Your institution needs to have a TelePresence system and needs to be connected to the nearest NLR PacketNet point-of-presence with an intelligent, QoS-enabled Layer 2 and Layer 3 network infrastructure.
Q: My campus utilizes a Regional Optical Network (RON) to connect to the NLR backbone. How does the RON fit into the TelePresence picture?
A: The RON plays a critical role in carrying TelePresence traffic from your campus to the nearest NLR Point of Presence. NLR and Cisco will work with the RONs to ensure that they are able to meet the specific requirements required to be able to carry TelePresence traffic across their networks.
Q: How can a campus network become TelePresence-ready?
A: Please contact your local Cisco sales office.
If you are unable to locate, you may contact one of the following individuals at Cisco who will be able to assist:
Javad Boroumand: jborouma@cisco.com
Carol Stillman: cstillma@cisco.com
Q: I'm interested but would like to see a demonstration. Where can I see Cisco TelePresence in action today?
A: Please contact NLR's Network Operations Center (NOC) at noc@nlr.net.
Q: I want to move forward with using our regional and NLR network arrangement with Cisco TelePresence. Who do I contact?
A: Please contact NLR's Network Operations Center (NOC), noc@nlr.net, or NLR's Experimental Support Services (ESS) group, ess@nlr.net, for assistance connecting to NLR's TelePresence Exchange and getting started on taking advantage of TelePresence for national and international collaboration.
Q: After we install our system(s), if there is a problem with our TelePresence experience, how do we get help?
A: Each group of sites within a state, or state organization (depending upon the organizational structure) has several choices for after-installation support. Most will likely choose to support it themselves, through their own video or network staff, while some may choose to outsource support to a Cisco Certified TelePresence Partner that provides after-installation support. NLR support of TelePresence is done through a specific network contact on each campus or RON, and not through direct end-user support.
Q: Looking for additional information on TelePresence over NLR?
A: Please contact the NLR Network Operations Center (NOR) at noc@nlr.netor NLR's Experiments Support Services (ESS) at ess@nlr.net.
Q: Looking for additional information on Cisco TelePresence?
Please visit: http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/ps7060/index.html 
TELEPRESENCE MAP
Map of TelePresence Endpoints Connected to NLR
SERVICES MAP
View the NLR Services Map by Point-of-Presence (PoP)
