Through its involvement with Internet2 and the national research community, MAGPI is able to explore new developments in network and educational technologies that help member institutions to become more productive, and in some cases, reduce costs.

H.323 Videoconferencing Tools and Technical Resources

H.323 Beacon

H.323 Beacon is a tool that can be used to measure, monitor and qualify the performance of an H.323 Videoconference session. It can help an end-user/network engineer/conference-operator, as a debugging tool by providing H.323-protocol specific evidence and other information necessary to troubleshoot H.323 application performance problems in the network and at the host (end-to-end).

Internet2 Detective 

Internet2 Detective offers computer users easy access to the status and capabilities of their current network connection by providing information about advanced network capabilities, including connectivity to an Internet2 backbone network, an estimate of available bandwidth and multicast capabilities.

Iperf

Iperf was developed by NLANR/DAST as a modern alternative for measuring maximum TCP and UDP bandwidth performance. Iperf allows the tuning of various parameters and UDP characteristics. Iperf reports bandwidth, delay jitter, datagram loss.

Global Dialing Scheme (GDS)

The Global Dialing Scheme (GDS) is a numbering plan for the global video and voice over IP network test bed, developed by ViDeNet. It resembles the international telephone system numbering plan, with some exceptions. With the GDS, you can number each participating videoconferencing endpoint, MCU conference and gateway. GDS provides easy, uniform dialing throughout the world.

Internet2 End-to-End Performance Initiative

The goal of the Performance Initiative is to create a predictable, and well-supported environment in which Internet2 campus network users have routinely successful experiences in their development and use of advanced Internet applications by focusing resources and efforts on improving performance problem detection and resolution throughout campus, regional, and national networking infrastructures. The initiative is currently undertaking several monitoring and measuring projects, performance enhancement projects and provides outreach/training programs.

ION Network Services

As a service to the research community, MAGPI has collaborated with Internet2 to make available high capacity connections to similarly connected institutions across the regional connectors and the Internet2 Network. ION, (Inter-Operability Network), has the ability to create short term circuits between two endpoints regardless of their I2 membership status or bandwidth subscription.  Internet2 Inter-Operability Network (ION) service has the capability of creating short term dynamically allocated circuits across many parts of the globe with a moment’s notice. Researchers can now easily and quickly create linkages to distance labs and facilities removing the lead-time in accessing high bandwidth international links.

Requirements for ION connections:

  • The research institution must maintain a connection separate from their regular MAGPI/Internet2 IP interface, and is responsible for the circuit integrity up to the MAGPI ION interface.
  • The minimum interface for subscribers for an ION connection is 1 Gbps.
  • Sub Gigabit circuit speeds are permissible
  • The connection must be presented to MAGPI at the 401 North Broad Street, Switch and Data facility.
  • Standard cross-connect fees apply.  Institutions co-located with MAGPI have no cross-connect fees.
  • Annual fees are not pro-rated.  Anniversary dates begin when the agreement is executed.

Fees for ION services:

Interface Capacity           Non-Recurring Fees      Recurring Fees

1 Gigabit per second                         $ 5,000                   $14,000
10 Gigabit per second                      $10,000                   $20,000
Cross-Connects                                $    500                   $     200

To inquire about ION service, contact us at info@magpi.net.

MAGPI Newsletters and Mailing Lists

One of the easiest ways to stay up-to-date on MAGPI-related activities is to subscribe to our quarterly e-Newsletter and/or community-specific mailing lists. To sign up, click here.

Scheduling Multisite Videoconferencing Services through MAGPI

MAGPI Members can facilitate multisite videconferences through MAGPI’s MCU (Multipoint Control Unit) videoconferencing service. This service provides a large-scale deployment of tools for one-to-one, one-to-group, and group-to-group collaborations enabling the MAGPI research and education community to hold distributed working groups, classes, meetings, and events. As of July 1, 2009, new rates are in effect for this MCU service. Click here to find out more or schedule a session.