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Yealink Meeting Server - a comprehensive video conferencing solution

In early articles on software-based video conferencing servers, I described various solutions for video conferencing based on software products of domestic development. Today’s article is devoted to the Yealink software VCS server, the Yealink Meeting Server (YMS). A distinctive feature of this solution is seamless integration with hardware terminals of video conferencing systems of this manufacturer.

In recent years, Yealink codecs have been actively competing in their market segment with Polycom, Cisco, and other major vendors. But the substitution was only on the client side, since Yealink did not have its own video conferencing server, and to build a complete solution, it was necessary to integrate the Yealink terminals with software or hardware MCUs of third-party manufacturers.

Last year, Yealink introduced its own videoconferencing software server, which not only supports its own hardware, but also is compatible with most of the world's leading codec models.

Functional


YMS is a Linux-based video conferencing software server that allows you to significantly extend the functionality of Yealink video conferencing systems.
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Basic functionality



YMS system modules



Audio and Video Settings



MCU functions



Registrar and Traversal functions



Conference features



Conference Management



System settings



Network settings



Installation and Setup


To install YMS, you need to deploy on CentOS server at least version 7. For tests, I used a version with a graphical interface, which can be downloaded here .

The distribution of YMS itself for testing is available on request.
After installing the VKS server, it becomes available via the web interface at the address of the server to which it is installed.

When you first enter the administration page, you must perform the initial configuration.



The first step is the name of the server, and the IP addresses (internal and external).



Then you set up the time - this is important for synchronizing the calendar and scheduling events.

In the next three tabs, you need to set the administrator credentials, install the license file (tied to MAC) and configure the mail service account to send system messages, notifications and invitations to participants by mail.

Having passed the initial configuration, we get to the main administration interface.



The web console is implemented in several languages, including Russian. The interface is Russified by our partners, the official supplier of Yealink in Russia, the IPMatika company.

The main page displays information about the license, its validity period, as well as indicators of server hardware resources.

The first tab “Status” shows the software version and all modules, duplicates information on processors, memory, disks and data on the installed license.



Also here you can see all online users.

The “Account” tab manages users and user groups, allows you to register Yealink and third-party terminals.

In the first menu item “User” an organization structure is created, taking into account the internal hierarchy and geographical distribution.



At this stage, accounts are created that allow participants to use server functionality based on the access rights they have been assigned. For each user group, the level of interaction with other groups is determined. For example, one group (managers) has the opportunity to call all registered participants, and the other group (managers) - only users from their group, a group equal in rank or below.

In the “Room System - Room Systems” tab, Yealink terminals are registered. If there are third-party codecs in the organization's infrastructure, they are also registered in the appropriate section.



After registering in the “Account” tab, we have a list of accounts and hardware terminals that can organize events and take part in video conferences that have already been created. The license is competitive - for each online connection, i.e. registered on the server can be an unlimited number of participants / devices, and only those who are in the active event (conference) are paid.

The “Meeting Room” tab allows you to register physical rooms. This makes it possible to book them for events. Each room can be fixed VKS-terminal, if installed in it.



The “VMR” tab creates virtual meeting rooms - events that are planned in advance and are used for a long time.



Moderators are set for the virtual room, valid participants are selected, a password is set.



In advanced settings, you can limit the resolution, bandwidth and choose the default layout.

The “Conference Management” tab allows you to make detailed settings for active events.



Management takes place in real time. You can invite / remove participants, change the layout, enable / disable the microphone, speaker or camera of client terminals and much more.

With the “Statistics” tab, everything is clear - collecting and displaying data on past events for the selected period.

In the last tab - "System", lies the basic functionality of setting up a video conferencing system.

The Global Settings menu is the default setting for all events.

Call settings


Call Routing


Ldap


Menu "Gateway Settings" - the implementation of connections for various protocols.

H.323


SIP trunk


SIP trunk ACL


SIP trunk IVR


The “System Settings” menu - managing the network, disk space, mail, and setting the time.

Service Parameters


Port settings


Disk space


The "Security" menu - management of the "black list" and locks.

“Service” menu - centralized terminal update, server update, configuration backup creation.

Menu "Licensing" - management of licenses and certificates.

System Reports menu - viewing server logs and devices.

Work and functionality


You can assemble a conference in several ways. For example, through the terminal to make a call to the required participants using the address book or direct dialing.
But it is much more convenient and productive to schedule and create a conference in advance through the user interface.



The user can "Schedule a meeting" - in fact, this is a banal reservation of a physical meeting room. If you book a conversation with a video terminal for a local meeting, it will not be available for reservations for a given period of time, i.e. add it to the videoconference will not work until the local event ends.

The “Schedule Video Conferencing” tab allows you to create a video event. If terminals installed in meeting rooms are added to it, these rooms are also blocked for reservations at other meetings / conferences for a specified period.



You can schedule both one-time and periodic events by specifying the recurrence options in the settings. All participants sent an invitation to the mail with the entry in the calendar. The text of the invitation is being edited. By rights, participants are divided into moderators and guests.

Managing conferences via the user interface is no different from managing conferences through the administrator interface described above.

You can connect to the created event either from the link from the invitation, or through the user interface - just go to the “Join via browser” tab and enter the conference ID and password.

In the case of a hardware terminal, the connection is made by dialing the short conference number or calling the conference / VMR via the terminal address book.

The interface of the conference when connected via WebRTC is as follows.



If necessary, you can hide the menu and leave only the video participants.

If you need to broadcast content, you can choose either the desktop of one of the displays, or the window of a specific application.



In the case of a hardware terminal, the content is broadcast from an external source connected to the terminal via HDMI (in earlier versions via VGA).

If you look through the web interface of the terminal, what this conference looks like on it, you will see the following:



Yealink Meeting Server supports symmetric video conferencing for up to 50 participants (maximum layout is 7 x 7). If more than 50 points participate in the event - there are several options for displaying. Participants update on the screen one at a time - i.e. replacement of old participants with new ones occurs gradually with a given frequency. Either the screen is updated at once - all 49 participants change to new ones. Update parameters are set in the Global Call Settings described above.

Benefits of the Yealink Meeting Server Solution



Perspectives


Yealink Meeting Server appeared about a year ago. I refrained from testing the first version, because believed that the product is raw and it makes sense to wait a couple of updates. I started writing this article six months ago - when the partners presented the first versions of the Russian-language interface. But one fact prevented me from finishing it - as soon as the testing of the next version came to an end, a new update began to loom on the horizon. And so time after time. Writing and editing was already indecent. I decided to finish the job, despite the fact that testing is a version with support for the integration of Skype for Business and a bunch of other new products. The product is developing rapidly, the developers are doing everything possible to not only repeat the functionality of competitors, but also to bring something new to the solution, something that is dictated by the market and the needs of the modern customer.

If your company has an interest in the product and a desire to test it in your infrastructure - contact me at 1@stss.ru - I will help you organize the process of obtaining a distribution kit and a test license.

Thanks for attention!

Source: https://habr.com/ru/post/347884/

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