You can download NetMeeting from the Data Conferencing area of the Learning Place. If you have XP or later NetMeeting is already on your computer.

NetMeeting should already be installed with Windows XP, however when you run the program for the first time you will need to fill in the configuration details. When you log on to the server the program will want to download a small file called ActiveX. You must have administrator rights to your computer the first time you try to log on to the server to download the ActiveX file.

View the NetMeeting configuration notes for further information. If you experience permission errors when accessing the Data Conferencing server this may be due to your schools firewall settings, please contact Jason Sharp the Systems Administrator for assistance.

Problem:

When trying to log into a class the following message appears.

Solution:

1. Go to NetMeeting offline and select Tools then Options from the top menu.
   
2. In the General tab make sure the Logon to a directory server option is ticked.
   
3. Select Ok.

Once these steps have been followed you will be able to go back to the class and enter the password to join the class.

Problem:

Netmeeting tools are greyed out when you join a session. This can vary from one box greyed out to all boxes greyed out.

Solution:

If any of the 4 tool boxes are greyed out this means that the user does not have the correct permissions.

Data conferencing is currently available within the Education Queensland network. Due to the configuration of group policies polices students may experience difficulties accessing this service. Your Regional system technician needs to follow a procedure to implement a Virtual Schooling policy that will allow students to use Data Conferencing services.

Whilst it is not a requirement, the processes listed have been modelled on the EQ MOE network. The Virtual Schooling policy is currently available as standard on all EQ MOE 2005.1 Server Installations. This document covers the procedure for importing that policy to EQ MOE v5.x servers and configuring an appropriate user group.

Download Implementing Virtual Schooling Policies procedure to send to your Regional Systems Technician.

Please contact the IMS Service Centre or your Regional System Technician for further guidance with the implementation of Virtual Schooling Policies.

If your school has the latest Managed Operating Environment (MOE or SOE) there will be a user group ‘VirtualSchoolingUsers’ in the Group Policy Management Console.

Technicians can add students and teachers to this user group to allow the correct permissions. Technicians can also replicate this user group on the admin network to allow access to the tools.

If the school has set up these policies correctly and they still cannot access all tools. Ask them to check that there are no other MOE user policies that have NetMeeting settings applied. If they do, configure the options to ‘not configured’.

Note for technicians
Be aware that if your MOE user policy further up the tree has the data conferencing settings on anything other than ‘not configured’ then it will impact on the VSS Group Policy you have implemented further down the tree. If you have set it at ‘not configured’ up the top this will allow it to drop through and apply the policies in the VSS Group Policy list.

Problem:

The server did not allow you to join this session.

Note: The ‘other person’ is actually the conferencing server.

Solution:

This means that the Data Conferencing Server can not connect to the computer’s NetMeeting application. This signifies that there is a problem with ports at the school. You will need to ensure that the school has the following ports open ‘both ways’:

• Port 80 – This port is general internet traffic so if they don’t have this one open they cannot access the internet. This port will always be open.
• Port 443 – This port is for SSL (security socket layer) similar to the encryption that occurs when you do banking etc.
• Port 1503 – This port is the T.120 client (data conferencing package) NetMeeting.
• Port 1720 – This port is for video and voice (aka: H323) NetMeeting doesn’t actually use any video or voice, but does communicate some information through this port.

This problem normally occurs in non EQ schools, mainly due to the fact that they have unique network setups.

However if this problem does occur at an EQ school, the school does not have any control over these settings. You will need to ring CITEC to check these setting. If the ports are configured correctly it will then point back to a server problem in the school, in which case instruct the school to get in touch with their district systems technician to solve the problem.

Problem:

The ActiveX problem occurs when a user tries to join a data conferencing session and sees an Invitation failure screen. This occurs when the user’s computer does not have ActiveX installed.

Solution:

1. Your school network administrator needs to download and install the ‘ActiveX’ file.
2. Your school network administrator should log on and join a lesson on the server. Once they put the session password in it will prompt them to install and run the 'Exchange Conferencing Server Data Client'.
   
3. Enter information about the user (name, email etc.) and follow the screen prompts.
4. Uncheck the two boxes on the screen and select Next.
5. Select Local Area Network and Next.
6. Complete with your preferences and select Next.
7. Follow the screen prompts through the audio checks until you have finished.
8. The administrator can now log off and the student/teacher can log back on to the computer and enter the Data conference.

To install from home

If the person is on a home computer, they may have a yellow bar (information bar) pop up under the address bar (normally because they have pop up blocking on). Follow instructions on the yellow bar to install the ‘ActiveX’ file.

Home computers may also have differently configured firewalls or virus blocking software. If the person can download the ‘ActiveX’ and are still encountering problems with joining it might be their virus software is disallowing access. Disable the virus software to install ActiveX or add the url http://student.conferencing.eq.edu.au to their ‘Trusted sites’ within the virus software.

Problem:

The problem occurs when a user tries to join a data conferencing session but cannot connect to the T.120 client program (e.g. NetMeeting). A popup window will appear once your student has tried to log in to the class for the first time. Select Ok.

Solution:

1. In the alert window select the text This website wants to install the following add-on.
   
2. Select Install ActiveX Control.
   
3. Select Install.
   
   
4. You should now be able to enter the class but you may see the screen below which requires you to download another add-on. In the alert window select the text This site wants to run the following add-on and download the ActiveX again.
   
5. Select Run.
6. You are now in your class. Your name should appear on the screen which means you can now begin your class.
   

Home computers may also have differently configured firewalls or virus blocking software. If the person can download the ‘ActiveX’ and are still encountering problems with joining it might be their virus software is disallowing access. Disable the virus software to install ActiveX or add the url http://student.conferencing.eq.edu.au to their ‘Trusted sites’ within the virus software.

Problem:

Your class may not appear in the list due to the wrong time zone. Just because the time is correct does not mean you are in the right time zone.

Solution:

1. Select List classes - this will display all the sessions currently booked on the server.
   
2. Double-click on the time in the bottom-right hand corner.
   
3. You will now need to select the Time Zone tab. Scroll down until you find (GMT+10:00) Brisbane and then select Apply.
   
   
4. You should now be able see your class in the list.
   

1. Implementing Virtual Schooling Policies 305k
2. Participant guide 160k
3. Configuration notes 167k
4. How to join a Data Conference 253k
5. How to schedule a Data Conferencing session 170k

Greg O'Grady presents an overview of what is involved in using the Data Conferencing Server. From logging into a session and how the basic tools can be used, to covering some of the error messages that might prevent connection.

1.   Using NetMeeting Mediasite (38min54sec)