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Communique!TM and INTV!TM

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is included with Communique!Lite?
Communique!Lite is conferencing software with collaborative tools, traditionally called document conferencing. With Communique!Lite, the following tools are included:


If I have Communique!Lite, will I be able to participate in an audioconference or videoconference?
Yes. The Audio and TV Tools included with Communique!Lite allow users to received audio and video from other conferees. Users cannot, however, send audio or video with Communique!Lite.

What is included with Communique!AudioGraph?
Communique! AudioGraph contains all of the collaborative tools included in Communique!Lite (see above) with the addition of full-duplex audio. Users will be able to send audio as well as receive it.

I would like to evaluate Communique!. How do I obtain a copy?
Generally, evaluation copies of products such as Communique! are purchased by our customers. For more information, contact your local MDL Sales Representative.

If I have Communique! AudioGraph, will I be able to participate in a videoconference?
Yes. The TV Tool included with Communique! AudioGraph allows users to received video from other conferees. Users cannot, however, send video with Communique! AudioGraph.

What are the requirements for using a SunVideo card?
The SunVideo card is supported only on Sun SPARCstations and compatibles running Solaris 2.3+. In addition you must have the following packages installed on your workstation to use the SunVideo card:

The "pkginfo -x" command will display all of the packages installed on your Solaris 2 system.

What are the requirements for using the XVideo or PowerVideo cards?
The XVideo and PowerVideo cards are supported on Sun SPARCstations and compatibles running Solaris 1 or 2. The PowerVideo 700 card is supported on HP 700 series workstations. The required software drivers depend on your system:




What are the requirements for using the Digital Sound & Motion J300 card?
The Digital Sound & Motion J300 is supported on Digital Alpha AXP workstations running Digital UNIX versions 2.0 or 3.0. You will also need to install the Multimedia Extensions version 1.3+ software.

What are the requirements for using the Ultimedia Audio and Video cards?
The Ultimedia Audio and Video cards are supported on IBM RS/6000 and compatible workstations running AIX 3.2.5+. You will also need to install the Ultimedia Services UMS/6000 version 1.2+ software.

Which PC audio/video cards do you support?
We have tested a variety of PC audio and video cards for Communique! ConferenceKits. For more information, contact your local MDL Sales Representative.

What are the requirements for PC networking hardware?
When choosing or recommending network adapters, check the manufacturer's specifications to ensure they provide NDIS3 drivers with the card.

For Ethernet, such cards include the 3C509 Etherlink III from 3Com and the SMC Elite 16.

For Token Ring, Madge Networks ships an NDIS3 compliant adapter that contains drivers for both Windows and Windows for Workgroups. They have products for ISA, EISA and MCA bus types.

For other cards, Ethernet or Token Ring, please be aware of the enhanced-mode requirements. Check with your network adapter manufacturer's tech. support for hardware compliance with NDIS3 specifications and the availability of drivers for Windows and/or Windows for workgroups.

What are the requirements for PC networking software?
Communique! 4.0 requires TCP/IP network protocols. Any VxD architecture and WinSock 1.1 compliant stack will work with Communique! 4.0

MDL recommends and supports the Microsoft TCP/IP-32 V3.11A stacks. These stacks are only supported in Microsoft Windows for Workgroups.

If you are using Windows 3.1x you will need to obtain a 3rd-party TCP/IP product. MDL has tested the PC/TCP OnNet product version 1.2 from FTP Software with Communique! 4.0 and it will work. Be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions for installing and configuring their software.

VxD architecture stacks and NDIS3 (32-bit enhanced-mode) adapter drivers are required to provide the bandwidth necessary to pass video signals. Real-mode stacks (NDIS2 and ODI drivers), requires Windows to switch the processor from protected mode into real mode to pass data to the network. Not only does this waste CPU resources, it limits the data path to 16 bits, which is inadequate for passing multiple video signals.

If the software you are using is loaded through the Config.Sys or Autoexec.Bat files, they are only real-mode (16-bit) stacks and will not support the bandwidth necessary to pass video data.

If you are presently using TCP/IP network protocols, you will need to determine if they are 32-bit VxD architecture stacks. Check the manufacturer's documentation for installation procedures or contact their technical support for information.

What advantage is it to use Windows for Workgroups 3.11 as opposed to Windows 3.1?
Windows for Workgroups (WFW) has several advantages over generic Windows. It has 32-bit disk and file access, which should give you better throughput to the hard drive and slight increases in system speed.

WFW includes several 32-bit miniapps that allow application windows to talk directly to the hard drive and transfer files through a 32-bit path. This provides significant performance improvements.

The most important advantage is the Microsoft TCP/IP-32 stack software for WFW. This coupled with the enhanced mode NDIS3 drivers provides a 32-bit data path to the network adapter. This is a must for passing video.

Installing and configuring WFW coupled with the Microsoft TCP/IP-32 stacks is very easy and painless. Setting up the PC for networking is painless. Remember that if you are loading the network drivers and stacks software from DOS, (AutoExec and Config files), these are real-mode-only and will not support video.

Where can I obtain a copy of Intel's Video for Windows Runtime?
You can download a copy of the Video for Windows (as well as other Intel video drivers) from the following URL:

http://www.intel.com/pc-supp/multimed/indeo/codec.htm

Where can I obtain a copy of Microsoft's Windows for Workgroups TCP/IP-32 software?

I need to run Motif on my Sun. What are my options for Communique!?
Communique! supports BlueStone's X11R5/Motif 1.2 distribution under Solaris 1, and Sun's Motif under Solaris 2.

BlueStone can be contacted at 609/727-4600.

Can I run Communique! over any network interface I have installed in my workstation?
Yes. Communique! can be configured to use any of the installed network interfaces as its primary interface. This is particularly useful when integrating high-speed networks installed on select machines with a larger lower-speed network.

I would like to use Communique! for conferencing using systems that communicate through a router. Will this work?
Yes, if the router is able to pass TCP and UDP packets. Many routers have an option to block certain packet types. Make sure that TCP and UDP packets are enabled in both directions.

Can I get more information on configuration and use of the FLEXlm license manager?
Yes. MDL employs version 3.0 of Globetrotter Software's Flexible License Manager (FLEXlm) for license key management. FLEXlm allows for both node-locked and floating software licenses. For information on configuration and use of the FLEXlm license manager, see the FLEXlm End-User Manual or FLEXlm FAQ at Globetrotter Software's Web site

Can I contact MDL technical support?
Yes. If you have a technical question or would like to receive more information, you can contact our technical support staff.

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