Question regarding Tandberg MPS

[MDTV]

It doesn't appear that Tandberg offers the "Gateway option" as a stand-alone option key without the additional media board. Is there any way to buy the functionality without the (in our case) unneccesary hardware? We already have a media board in our MPS 200 and don't need the additional 20/16 ports. I can't seem to get a straight answer from Tandberg or my reseller.

[Sean Lessman]

It doesn't appear that Tandberg offers the "Gateway option" as a stand-alone option key without the additional media board. Is there any way to buy the functionality without the (in our case) unneccesary hardware? We already have a media board in our MPS 200 and don't need the additional 20/16 ports. I can't seem to get a straight answer from Tandberg or my reseller.

A media board can either be a gateway board or a MCU board but cannot be both at this time.

Sean

[MDTV]

My MPS 200 has 1 media board. I am using it as an MCU and Gateway right now. We purchased the "Additional 10 Gateway Calls" through our vendor, and he provided the release key before our 2nd media board arrived today. That's what prompted this thread.

I have tested extensively over the past 2 days, and it's working fine (SW version 4.2) I have had simultaneous MCU conferences active (with H.323 and ISDN sites connected) while also connecting H.323 -> ISDN and ISDN -> H.323 Gateway calls. It all works with no issues that I've seen thus far.

So I'm wondering why I had to pay enough for a small car for a board I don't need...

[Sean Lessman]

We purchased the "Additional 10 Gateway Calls" through our vendor...

When you buy this option, it includes a media card because you are buying an additional 10 gateway calls. This provides you the MCU capacity + 10 GW calls. However, due to the way the MPS works with dynamically allocating resources when needed, the software option would enable GW calls, and the MPS (in your case) would probably utilize MCU resources to make those calls. However, you get the extra card as part of the purchase so why not use it?

This prevents conflicts of MCU and GW resources. As an added bonus, the conference resources on the GW blade will also be applied towards the total number of conferences the MPS can provide you. So you get more MCU conferences to boot!

My point above is we do not offer splitting resources between the MCU and GW on a single media card as a purchaseable option today.

Sean

[MDTV]

OK, that answers my question.

Still, I don't like the idea of paying for an unnecessary card when my existing hardware appears to meet my needs.

[Sean Lessman]

OK, that answers my question.

Still, I don't like the idea of paying for an unnecessary card when my existing hardware appears to meet my needs.

I suppose it depends on how you look at it. I would suggest you are buying an option that comes with a card. By doing it this way you are guaranteed to have the original capacity of your MCU (16/20 ports) AND your gateway (10 calls) simultaneously. To do it the way you are suggesting means you cannot predict the availability of ports so a few adhoc calls will steal the ports needed for a preplanned scheduled conference causing failed meetings.

Sean

[MDTV]

So adding the card will not give me additional capacity on the MCU side? Doesn't the MPS dynamically allocate resources?

[Sean Lessman]

So adding the card will not give me additional capacity on the MCU side? Doesn't the MPS dynamically allocate resources?

Yes, but you have 16(20) ports of MCU and 10 ports of GW, not 32(40) ports of MCU. Its a licensing thing more than a hardware thing.

Sean

[MDTV]

But since the 2nd media board will be tied to my gateway, I will have no option to upgrade to 40/32 in the future, correct?

[Sean Lessman]

But since the 2nd media board will be tied to my gateway, I will have no option to upgrade to 40/32 in the future, correct?

You will need a larger chassis to do both (correctly), i.e. MPS 800 -- same boards work in that chassis too.

Sean

[MDTV]

Bummer, thanks!