Polycom 3725-76302-001LI Polycom DMA System’s Primary Functions, Conference Manager, Call Server

DMA Operations Guide Introduction to the Polycom DMA System

The Polycom DMA System’s Primary Functions

Conference Manager

The Polycom DMA system’s Conference Manager uses advanced routing policies to distribute voice and video calls among multiple media servers (Multipoint Control Units, or MCUs), creating a single virtual resource pool. This greatly simplifies video conferencing resource management and uses MCU resources more efficiently.

The Polycom DMA system integrates with your Microsoft® Active Directory®, automating the task of provisioning users with virtual meeting rooms (VMRs) for video conferencing. Combined with its advanced resource management, this makes reservationless video conferencing on a large scale feasible and efficient, reducing or eliminating the need for conference scheduling.

The Polycom DMA system’s ability to handle multiple MCUs as a single resource pool makes multipoint conferencing services highly scalable. You can add MCUs on the fly without impacting end users and without requiring re- provisioning.

The Conference Manager continually monitors the resources used and available on each MCU and intelligently distributes conferences among them. If an MCU fails, loses its connection to the system, or is taken out of service, the Polycom DMA system distributes new conferences to the remaining MCUs. The consequences for existing calls and conferences depend on whether they’re H.323 or SIP:

•H.323 calls and conferences on the failed MCU are terminated. But callers simply need to redial the same number they used for their initial dial-in. Conference Manager relocates their new conference to the best available MCU (provided there is still sufficient MCU capacity).

•SIP calls on the failed MCU are automatically moved to another MCU or MCUs (if available), up to the capacity available.

Call Server

The Polycom DMA system’s Call Server provides the following functionality:

•H.323 gatekeeper

•SIP registrar and proxy server

•XMPP server (client-to-client connectivity, including chat and presence information, for clients logged into the server)

•H.323 <—> SIP transition gateway

•Dial plan and prefix services

•Device authentication

2 Polycom, Inc.