[AG-TECH] Access Grid Installation

[Tom Coffin]

hi Torsten

We have integrated AG nodes into our A/V system at ACCESS and the results
are extremely effective. If you can, please feel free to come visit us in
Washington DC and I can show you what we have done here.

In regards to # of machines for the AG node. The concept here is
that the machines are appliances. Naturally, multitasking the machines
is possible. However, the concept here is that the cpu's are one of the 
cheapest component of the entire setup - what is it now? 2-3K for a machine? 
so why skimp on machines?
Also, note that when running a large event (which is generally the
case when AG nodes are combined with larger A/V systems), should one of
the components freeze on you (say audio) and the systems are all on the same 
machine, then it may also knock out the other components (like video).
Appliance machines isolate the collaborative pieces creating less chance
for total failure.

______________________________________________________
At 10:48 AM 3/22/2002 +0100, Goss-Walter Torsten wrote:
   >Hello,
   >
   >we are planning to set up an Access Grid node and combine it with another
   >video conferencing system, i.e. VCON from Siemens. We try to recycle as
much
   >hardware as possible, especially the beamer, the cameras and the
   >microphones, which we want to use for both systems (shouldn't be a
problem,
   >I think).
   >
   >According to the Access Grid hardware spec from Robert Olson, at least
four
   >computers are needed for display, video capture, audio capture and
control.
   >
   >... two questions:
   >
   >1. Is anyone of you already using a combined video conferencing system,
e.g.
   >Access Grid and VCON, on the same hardware plattform?
   >2. Does anybody have any experiences with using less than four servers for
   >Access Grid? Is it possible to combine some of the functions, e.g. video
   >capture + audio capture on one machine by using a faster server?
   >
   >Thanks for your answers in advance,
   >
   >Regards
   >Torsten
   >
   >-- 
   >Torsten Goss-Walter
   >Deutscher Wetterdienst 
   >
   >E-Mail: Torsten.Goss-Walter at dwd.de 
   >
   >


___________________________________________________________
Tom Coffin .......................... tcoffin at ncsa.uiuc.edu