VRVS - VIRTUAL ROOM VIDEOCONFERENCING SYSTEM
VRVS is different than many desktop video applications in that it uses "virtual rooms" to facilitate meetings. A user must schedule a virtual room through the VRVS web site first and then each participant must log into the virtual room to join the conference.
A detailed VRVS tutorial is available HERE.
| Recommended Browsers | version(s) |
| Internet Explorer | 5.0 or Better |
| Netscape | 4.7 or Better |
| Mozilla | 1.0 or Better |
- Control Panel(A): This window has a tabbed section for controlling the various tools within the videoconference. Control Panel Guide
- VIC(B): This window displays the video of the participants in the meeting. It also has a settings button to allow control of the video (frame rate, bandwidth, etc.) VIC Guide
- RAT(C): This window displays the incoming/outgoing audio levels, mute checkboxes for both and a settings button to control the source, channels, sample rate, etc. RAT Guide
- Chat(D): This window displays a chat session as well as a text entry area for user participation. Chat Guide.
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1) All VRVS users must register and obtain a username and a password in order to use the system. Click HERE to obtain a login. After browser detection, a login/register screen will appear. Click register and follow the directions.
2) More registration/login information is shown HERE.
3) The audio/video tools (called MBONE tool) should download automatically the first time you logon to the site.
Booking a Virtual Room
1) Go to http://www.vrvs.org. Click Start on the left menu and login using your username and password.
2) Click on Booking link located on the left menu.
3) Click on the Booking Wizard and select the appropriate information to schedule a meeting. Note: You must enter a title and description. Other advanced features include sending out invites to other users, adding URLS important to your meeting and locking the session with a private password.
4) Booking Guide: Click Here for Information
Joining a Meeting
CRITICAL: All pop-up blockers must be turned off or configured to allow pop-ups from http://www.vrvs.org. There are also firewall considerations. Please see the Windows XP Guide to review configuration for both of these issues.
1) Go to http://www.vrvs.org. Click Start on the left menu and login using your username and password.
2) Click on Enter link located on the left.
3) Click on the scheduled room from the list of ongoing meetings.
Note: Virtual Room Control Panels and the chat tool is displayed on the screen.
4) Click on the Connect MBone Tools to start your Video (VIC) and Audio (RAT) windows.
Videoconferencing using H.323
You can videoconference in H.323 platforms
1) Follow the above procedures for entering into a virtual room.
2) Have the remote site where the H.323 client you want to connect to exists power ON their hardware. Some H.323 clients have an auto-answer mode. Enable it to allow you to establish an H.323 call automatically.
3) On your VRVS Control Panel, select the Client Setup Tab.
4) Select Use Client Type: H.323
5a) If using an IP Address:
- - Enter IP Address of H.323 client you are connecting to in the Host IP/Alias Box.
- - Enter E.164 (Global Dialing Scheme - GDS) in the Host IP/Alias Box.
- Check the Gatekeeper checkbox.
- Enter the Rutgers Gatekeeper IP Address 165.230.252.48 in the box to the right of the Gatekeeper checkbox.
7) Click Connect H.323.
8) VRVS H.323 Guide: Click HERE.
Send a Web Site to Each User
This procedure will open a new browser window on each participant's machine with the URL you broadcast (send).
However, if you change go to a different page on that web site, those changes are not forwarded to each user.
You must direct them to the new page or broadcast the updated URL.
1) In the Virtual Room Control Panel, select the Sharing Tab.
2) In the Broadcast URL box, type in the web address/URL (e.g. http://www.rutgers.edu)
3) Click Display and the each user have a browser window open with the web site.
Note: This only works on software-based clients. It does not appear to work this way on hardware-based H.323 clients like Polycom and Tanberg.
Desktop Sharing
It is possible for software-based clients to share their desktops. In order to do this, a separate software package (free) called Real VNC (Virtual Network Computing.) There are some steps to making this work with VRVS.
1) Download the VNC software from HERE and install it.
2) Launch the VNC Configure User-Mode Server software.
3) Under the Authentication Tab, select VNC Password Authentication and choose Configure.
4) Enter a password twice, click OK twice (exits).
5) Launch the VNC Server 4 (User-Mode) software.
6) Log into a virtual room (as shown previously).
7) In the Virtual Room Control Panel, click on the Sharing tab.
8) Click SHARE.
9) Enter the password you assigned in step 4.
10) Click Declare.
11) Click Accept on the "Accept Connections?" dialog box.
12) Have remote sites go to their Sharing Tab in the Virtual Room Control Panel and select OPEN.
13) Click Accept on the "Accept Connections?" dialog box for each participant you want to grant access to your desktop.
14) RealVNC Documentation is located HERE. VRVS Desktop Sharing Guide is located HERE.
Note: This only works on software-based clients. Also, by default you are giving users full access your computer (e.g., they can control your mouse and see all of your open windows.)