Microsoft NetMeeting

Microsoft NetMeeting is a set of application and network components that enable real-time audio, video and data communication over the Internet. In order to use Microsoft NetMeeting, you must be using Windows 95 or Windows NT 4.0 and have the following configuration:

Microsoft Windows 95 configuration:

486/66 with 8MB of RAM (Pentium with 12MB of RAM recommended)
To use the audio features of NetMeeting, you need a sound card, speakers, and a microphone
To use the video features of NetMeeting, you need a sound card and a video capture card and camera, or a camera that supports parallel port input

Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 configuration:

486/66 with 16MB of RAM
To use the audio features of NetMeeting, you need a sound card, speakers, and a microphone
To use the video features of NetMeeting, you need a sound card and a video capture card and camera, or a camera that supports parallel port input

Using Microsoft NetMeeting

Microsoft NetMeeting now includes support for the H.323 audioconferencing standard. NetMeeting can be used to place calls to and receive calls from products that are H.323 compatible, including the The Intel Internet Video Phone™.

When you first run Microsoft NetMeeting, a setup wizard prompts you for the address of an Intenet Locator Server (ILS). The DCN/ICN maintains an ILS server to support Information Services. The address of the ILS server is 205.199.48.74.

After you have completed the setup wizard, you are automatically logged on to the ILS you specified. This server maintains a list of the people currently running Microsoft NetMeeting and their IP addresses. You can use this service to communicate with persons by double clicking their name in the main NetMeeting window, or you can click Place Call in the Call menu and type the person's computer name, IP address, e-mail address, or modem phone number in the Address field.

When you share an application, others can use the File Open and File Save dialog boxes in your application to access files on your computer or network. You will be able to see everything other users are doing in your shared applications.

You must have a 32-bit TCP/IP stack and Windows Sockets interface to use Microsoft NetMeeting with TCP/IP. Microsoft NetMeeting has been tested with the 32-bit TCP/IP and Windows sockets built into Windows 95 and Windows NT 4.0.

Application Sharing, Whiteboard, and Chat might not work properly between computers with different language settings and keyboard layouts.

Microsoft NetMeeting supports using Windows 95 and Windows NT 4.0 system policies to set default configurations in a corporate environment.

PLACING A CALL

You can place Microsoft NetMeeting calls to multiple users. Any person in a meeting can place Microsoft NetMeeting calls to other people. In addition, other people can join a Microsoft NetMeeting call in progress by calling one of the participants. When you run Microsoft NetMeeting, you are automatically logged on to an Internet Locator Server. This server maintains a list of the people currently running Microsoft NetMeeting and their IP addresses. You can use this service to locate people to meet with by double clicking their names in the main NetMeeting window; or, if the person you want to call is logged on to the same server as you, you can call the person by typing selecting Place Call in the Call menu and typing their e-mail address into the Address field. You can also use the address field to type either the computer name or modem phone number of the person you want to call.

RECEIVING A CALL

You are ready to receive an incoming call if you are currently running Microsoft NetMeeting and have not selected Do Not Disturb on the Call menu.

SHARING AN APPLICATION

Any person in a meeting can share an application with the other participants. When you share an application, other people can see the application. When you Collaborate, other people can see and use the application.
Please note: When you share an application and collaborate, remote users can use the File Open and File Save dialog boxes in your application to access or delete files on your computer or network.

WHITEBOARD

The Whiteboard enables you to draw simultaneously with other users. Everyone in the meeting can see what is drawn on the Whiteboard. When one person in a meeting runs Whiteboard, it appears on everyone's screen.

CHAT

Chat enables you to type messages for other users to see. When one person in a meeting runs Chat, it appears on everyone's screen. Chat files are stored with the .txt file extension. If Microsoft Notepad, or another program that can read files in .txt format is installed on your computer, it can be used to open chat files. To open a Chat file with Chat, run Chat, click the File menu, click Open, and select the file to be opened.

FILE TRANSFER

Files dragged onto the listing of people in the meeting are sent to all the people in the meeting.

To send a file to a specific person, right click that person's icon in the list of people in the meeting, and then click Send File.

To send a file to everyone in the meeting, click the Tools menu, and then click Send File.

To cancel sending a file, click the Tools menu, and then click Cancel Send.

AUDIO COMMUNICATION

By default, audio communication is enabled for TCP/IP calls. Audio is supported only over TCP/IP and between no more than two people. Sound quality can vary significantly depending on your sound card and microphone. To automatically adjust your settings, use the Audio Tuning Wizard, available from the Tools menu.

HANGING UP

When you hang up, you disconnect anyone you have called or anyone who called you. If the disconnected users have invited or accepted other users into the meeting, they are also disconnected.

VIDEO

To use the video features of NetMeeting, you need a sound card and a video capture card and camera, or a video camera that connects through your computer's parallel (printer) port. Video does not work on some computers with a processor slower than a Pentium.

Video is supported only over TCP/IP and between no more than two people.

If you do not have a sound card installed, you will not be able to use NetMeeting's video capabilities.

If you are unable to use NetMeeting's audio features in a call, you will also be unable to use NetMeeting's video features.

If you have more than one video device installed, or have not properly uninstalled a video device that was previously installed, you might not be able to use video.

If your video device is not properly uninstalled and you have enabled video in NetMeeting, the remaining camera software may warn you repeatedly that it cannot find the camera.

If your computer does not have a Pentium processor, you will not be able to send video.

Computers with a bi-directional (ECP or EPP) parallel port will perform noticeably better with parallel video cameras than computers with a uni-directional parallel port.

Cameras which connect to a video capture card will utilize less of your computer's processor than cameras that connect through your computer's parallel port. It is recommended that you not use a color parallel camera if your computer is not a Pentium 133 or better.

If you disconnect your camera while using NetMeeting's video features, your camera's software may display messages telling you that the camera is not responding. To disable these messages, click Options in the Tools menu, click Video and un-check Send video with NetMeeting.

It is recommended that you not run another program that uses video while running NetMeeting.

If some areas of your video window contain the wrong colors, your camera be aimed at an area with insufficient light. Some video drivers may provide a low light filter option.

If you are using the video features in a dark area, some cameras will cause your computer to become extremely slow and unresponsive.

For more information on Microsoft NetMeeting, please visit Microsoft's NetMeeting site at http://www.microsoft.com/netmeeting