MGC-100 Gateway or not ?

[SparkyIEEE]

Gary,

I believe we are both correct about the MGC-100 being used as a Gateway. My point was that the MGC-100 is not a gateway in itself
you need to use an external Gatekeeper. IE.. Pathnavigator or another compliant Gatekeeper. In fact you are correct that any GW works in conjunction with a GK. I was just pointing out from a Support persons perspective that sales people have a tendency to say anything to make the sale then two months down the road I get a call
asking how to do a gateway call with the customers "gateway" and I ask them? did you register with the gatekeeper? and they say whats that? The sales guy didn't tell me I needed that ? Then I have to explain why the boat anchor they bought only works right if they buy the optional boat to make it float. Customers get kinda funny at this point. :angry: I have never used Pathnavigator before so I confirmed this with Polycom that yes with Pathnavigator and no with MGC-100 by itself ... again we are both right.

I am curious why Polycom sells a GW they have a GW-25 and GW-45
Has anyone had any exposure to these and how well they work?


SparkyIEEE

[tjulian]

technically, we are all right...:)

The MGC-100 functions just as any other "gateway" would. The point you made is that for the MGC (and I would add, any other gateway) to function, you must have an H.323 gatekeeper to route the IP calls....correct?

[Gary Miyakawa]

If the endpoints are going to route the calls, then the MGC needs have a GateKeeper installed. Without the GateKeeper, the MGC could make all the calls "from the bridge" with no problem. You just add the participant, with their IP address and dial out.

Gary Miyakawa

[robertk]

But then, that's the difference between a Gateway and a MCU...

A gateway set the call up automatically, on a MCU you have to do it manually.

The MGC adds some gateway functionality but it's not a stand-alone gateway.

//Robert

[Gary Miyakawa]

Originally posted by robertk@May 24 2004, 05:56 PM
But then, that's the difference between a Gateway and a MCU...

A gateway set the call up automatically, on a MCU you have to do it manually.

The MGC adds some gateway functionality but it's not a stand-alone gateway.

//Robert
RobertK,

With the help of the Gatekeeper, an MGC can perform ALL gateway functions. It does not require anyone to do anything on the MGC MCU.

Gary Miyakawa

[robertk]

Sure, but it's not a dedicated gateway... using it JUST as a gateway makes it a REALLY expensive gateway.

The MGC excels when used as a MCU/Gateway/Firewall, but using it as just a gatekeeper makes no sence. There are other products on the market that does the job for a fraction of the price for a MGC.


The discussion was IF the MGC is a gateway or not. A gateway IS a MCU (basicly). but stripped down to jusst allow two-party calls. :)

Sure the MGC HAS gateway functionality, AND can perform as such...but I wouldt CALL it a "gateway".

Stupid discussion really... don't know why I jumped into it, we seam to argue about the same thing :)

//Robert