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MGC Hardware and Installation Manual
4-35
IP and IP+ Network Interface Module
The IP and IP+ Network Interface Modules support participant connections
using H.323 communication standards. The IP+ Network Interface Module
also supports SIP participants.
H.323 is a standard for audio, video and data communications across IP based
(LAN) networks, including the Internet. H.323 allows endpoints to use
multimedia applications without changing the network infrastructure. H.323
also allows device independent communications between different endpoints.
Conference participants therefore do not have to worry about devices and
compatibility.
Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) is an application layer protocol designed to
work over IP networks. SIP can establish, modify, and terminate multimedia
sessions (conferences).
The IP and IP+ modules provide bandwidth management, that ensures that
corporate networks will not be clogged and critical data cannot be disrupted.
Network managers can limit the number of simultaneous IP connections
within their network or the amount of bandwidth available to IP applications.
The IP and IP+ Network Interface modules combine two very different
functions in one board. This interface module is primarily an IP network card,
using H.323 standards for video conferencing, with an added MUX capability
that uses H.320 standards. The IP module design includes an Ethernet
network interface and a heavy processing core to handle data.
An MCU with IP only configuration requires the IP Network interface
module and Audio/Video/Data cards for conferencing. In that case, the IP
module performs the MUX functionality.
A more powerful MCU configuration combines the two network interface
cards to form a gateway. In this configuration, an IP endpoint can participate
in the same conference as an H.320 endpoint.
The IP and IP+ modules also contain an embedded software module that
interfaces between the MCU and the external Gatekeeper.
The different types of IP cards include standard IP and MG323 cards and IP+
cards. The standard IP cards are available in MG323 (IP12), IP24 and IP48
port sub-assemblies.