Advanced

Access Grid Operation

What we Know• How to use Auto-AG

– A basic setup procedure– Commonly used Virtual Venues– No additional interactivity

• But what if: – We want to share a presentation/browser?– Meet in an American Virtual Venue?– The bridge is down?

What is a Bridge?• RAL is limited to unicast

– Access Grid is fundamentally multicast– AGSC operates Bridge Servers to use as a proxy– Always check that AGSC or Backup is selected

• Without a Bridge:– AG Multi-site conferencing is impossible at RAL– There is an alternative for RAL <-> DL sessions

• (See Fault Diagnosis for more)

Shared Venues

• Not geographically based– You may even have a session booked in the USA

• Not in Auto-AG– Accessed via ‘My Venues’

• UK: AGSC Venue Server Lobby• US: Argonne Lobby

• Right Click on the name and Add– Available from Auto-AG when restarted

Psi Jabber

• Venue Client has chat interface– But doesn’t properly conform to open standard

• Occasionally won’t send messages

• We use Psi instead– Helpful for communicating problems silently– Can enter a venue without loading Venue Client

Starting Psi

• Psi is a star icon in the system tray– (If Grey) Right Click -> Status -> Online– Right Click -> Psi -> Service Discovery

• From window expand AG Text Chats– Scroll down and Double Click Venue name– Join to enter the chat session

Setting up a Meeting• Start Auto-AG

– Choose Standard Mode

• Select the seats you are occupying– Then press SETUP

Setting up a Meeting• Choose a Virtual Venue

– Launch– Confirm– Be patient

• Once Connected:– You will see a series of entries on the task bar– Can either press Auto Setup and be done– OR…

Setting up a Meeting• Right Click Positioning

– Toggle Manual Positioning• Enables advanced positioning features

– Press Arrange Venue Client• Moves RAT to upper left corner of monitor• 1st Time – Tiles VIC windows vertically

– Important: Only click the second time when remote sites have joined!!

• 2nd Time – Gives more real estate for remote feed VIC

– If it’s in the way for you, minimise Auto-AG

Setting up a Meeting• Click in empty VIC window space

– Un-mutes all feeds

• Left Click a desired feed– This will open a new window

• Right Click to position– Feed will disappear

• Remote feeds re-appear on central projector• Local feeds are tiled vertically on the right projector

• Up to SIX remote feeds can be placed

Setting up a Meeting• Toggle Microphones Muted

– Do this when ready to begin, it will allow remote sites to hear you

• Use Adjustment for camera control– Controls 3 cameras beneath projector screen– Use the Sony remote for the 4th camera feed

• When finished press Shutdown

Shared Content• Two main approaches

– AG3Tk (Venue Client)– IGPix

• Provide shared web browsing, presentations– IGPix compatible amongst all nodes– AG3Tk can only be used by other AG3Tk users

• Can also share data files via AG3Tk

Shared Browser:AG3Tk

• Must be in a Venue– Adds an ‘Application Session’– Remote sites see the same entry

• Open to launch IE based browser

Shared Presentation:AG3Tk

• Similar procedure– But launches PowerPoint & Controller

• Upload local file• Select from Slides drop down• Click Load to launch presentation

– Advance with Prev and Next

Shared Browser:IGPix

• Unlike AG3Tk, only host can control• Run IGPix.exe on desktop, Right Click ‘IG’ icon in system

tray• Configure IGPix to get viewing URL• Check Auto-Update• Select Window for what you will share

Shared Presentation:IGPix

• Don’t need to configure just run IGPix– Auto-Update should not be checked!– Transitions are detected by IGPix

• Technically IGPix can share anything– But:

• Only sends JPEG every couple of seconds• Not a ‘robust’ application

• ScreenStreamer is an alternative– See AG documentation

Viewing Shared Content

• All IGPix sharing is accessed via URL– http://virgo.agsc.man.ac.uk/igpix/<SITE>

• RAL = ralr1• DL = dla1ag

• AG3Tk from Venue Client– In Application Sessions

• Right Click• Open

New for R89!

• IGPix Alternative for local viewing:• Switch the middle projector to 2nd input

– This allows us to have a live feed– Not uploading then downloading– Instant slide response (the lag irritates)

• Be careful not to switch other projectors!

Questions?