TrueConf Documentation

# What is TrueConf MCU?

# Purpose

TrueConf MCU is a software-based video conferencing server designed for holding multipoint conferences. It provides standard MCU server functionality and ensures integration with SIP/H.323 video conferencing endpoints by Polycom, Cisco and Lifesize, Huawei, and others. TrueConf MCU is also compatible with software video conferencing solutions such as Polycom Real Presence Desktop/Mobile.

So, TrueConf MCU is a software alternative to such solutions as Polycom RMX, Polycom RealPresence Collaboration Server, Cisco Meeting Server, Avaya Scopia, Pexip Meetings, or Poly Clariti.

You can found more information about the features of TrueConf MCU in our webinar:

/mcu/media/webinar_preview/en.webp

To use TrueConf MCU, you must have a physical server or a hypervisor that meets the system requirements.

# Work Scheme

/mcu/media/scheme/en.png

# TrueConf MCU features

# Supported protocols

  • H.323 video calls, including H.221, H.225, H.231, H.239, H.241, H.242, H.243, H.245, H.281, H.283, H.350, H.460, H.460.18, H.460.19 protocols support

  • Video calls via SIP, including ICE, TURN, BFCP, RFC 2833 support

  • Video calls via RTSP protocol

  • Conference participation from a browser (via WebRTC)

  • Remote camera control (FECC, H.224, H.281)

  • TCP/IP, SRTP, TLS, Static IP, DHCP, IPv4, IPv6, DNS

  • Support for management via SSH, WEB (HTTP, HTTPS) and NTP

  • NTP time synchronization.

  • MTU modifiable size

  • QoS support: DSCP, DiffServ

# Supported video codecs

  • H.261, H.263, H.263+, H.264 Baseline Profile, H.264 High Profile, H.265 Main profile

# Supported audio codecs

  • Opus, AAC, G.711, G.719, G.722, G.722.1, G.722.1c, G.723, G.726, G.728, G.729

# Features

  • Conferences of the "everyone on display" type with up to 250 participants and Ultra HD (2160p) video quality.

  • Schedule conferences or create virtual rooms, enjoy a number of scheduling options for recurring meetings (set a number of repetitions, repeat every day, every week or every month)

  • Real-time monitoring and management of active conferences

  • Set up a conference ID (either automatically or manually)

  • Lock conferences from new participants (they can be added only by the administrator)

  • Display conference participants' names in the layout

  • If the connection failed, a participant will be prompted to reconnect to the meeting after the connection is restored

  • View participant’s video, content and layout in use

  • Set up and manage participants' devices

  • Move participant from one conference to another on the fly. Participant's camera and microphone can be turned off if needed

  • Set both general layout for all participants or an individual layout for each user (including an active spear) and create a layout specifically intended for recording and streaming

  • Configure a type of every video window in the layout: empty window, autofill, fixed participant, active speaker, participant shuffle, or content window

  • Switch to the layout with a priority window in one click for each participant

  • Select a video scaling mode with or without cropping or select an automatic mode (TrueConf MCU will automatically determine the best scaling mode)

  • Remove a participant's self-view from the automatic layout to save up screen space

  • Create overlay layouts displaying a full-screen window with thumbnail windows laying on top of it

  • Create audio channels with attendees (able only to receive audio) and presenters (able to sent audio)

  • Remove non-video participants from the layout to free layout windows for other users

  • Select audio and video codecs, maximum resolution, fps and video bitrate when creating a conference

  • Display volume level in the video windows

  • Stream conferences to external RTMP sources

  • Show media files such as images and videos during a conference (they can be displayed in the primary and secondary video streams)

  • Stream from VNC servers during a conference

  • Use built-in noise cancellation and automatic gain control individually for each participant

  • Address book where you can add new users, edit existing ones, and form groups

  • Record conferences

  • Configurable main and sub stream encoding profiles for adjusting the balance between frame rate and image quality depending on the channel bandwidth

  • Connect IP cameras and view IP streams via RTSP

  • PTZ camera control

  • Control participants' devices with DTMF commands

  • Authorize to log into TrueConf MCU control panel

  • Integrate with TrueConf Server via cascading

  • Compatible with Polycom, Cisco, Lifesize hardware endpoints, as well as Polycom RealPresence desktop and mobile software

  • Compatible with Debian

  • Support for Oracle VM VirtualBox, VMware ESXi, KVM hypervisors, Microsoft® Hyper-V, Xen.

  • Works in LAN/VPN without internet access

# Administration features

  • Real-time monitoring and system data tracking

  • Export system logs and call history

  • Check connection to any video conferencing server directly from TrueConf MCU web interface without the need to call the endpoints registered on it

  • Traffic recording and downloading in the .pcap format.

  • Adjust settings for storing, viewing and searching though media files

  • Specify the maximum size of file storage

  • Set up network connection (TCP/IP ports, NAT passing)

  • Set up call parameters (protocols, their priority and order of calls)

  • Set up a SIP/H.323 gateway

  • Second channel bandwidth limitation in percentage ratio

  • Set a tine interval for shuffling or alternating participants in the layout

  • Change video layouts skins

  • Customize participant's display name styles

  • Add user avatars for address book contacts

  • View information about TrueConf MCU license and software module versions

  • Update TrueConf MCU

  • Import and export the built-in database

  • Import and export the address book

  • Server shutdown, MCU or OS restart directly from the web interface

  • Assign each user a specific role with corresponding permissions: administrator, operator.

# System requirements

  Basic configuration Recommended configuration
CPU Intel(R) Xeon(R) Silver 4210 CPU @ 2.20GHz Intel(R) Xeon(R) Gold 6230 CPU @ 2.10GHz
CPU sockets 1 2
RAM (DDR4) 32 GB 64 Gb or more
Effective RAM speed 2400 MHz 2933 MHz or higher
Peak memory bandwidth 19200 Mbps 23464 Mbps or more
Disk space 512 GB (SSD is preferred) 512 GB or more (SSD is preferred)
Network 1 Mbit/s in both directions for 720p@30fps 2 Mbit/s in both directions for 1080p@60fps.
If a virtual machine or server is used, Ethernet 1 Gbit/s is recommended.
Ports The list of ports that need to be opened for correct operation of TrueConf MCU →
Operating system Dedicated or virtual Debian 10/11
Supported hypervisors Oracle VM VirtualBox, VMware ESXi, KVM, Microsoft® Hyper-V, Xen
Maximum number of participants displayed in the layout for standard and preferred configurations *
A general layout (1080p) used for all participants 30 64
Individual layouts (1080p) used for all participants 6 15
Individual layouts (720p) used for all participants 12 30
* Testing conducted with H.264 codec used for all participants

Please note that TrueConf MCU can support up to 250 participants.

# Improved performance when working with TrueConf Group

If the TrueConf Group endpoint is connected to TrueConf MCU, the streams sent between them are optimised thanks to the exchange of additional data. For example, if the layout window with the video from the endpoint is made smaller on the MCU, the server will request and receive a video stream with a smaller resolution from the device. This leads to reduced CPU load for the MCU and makes it possible to connect a larger number of TrueConf Group endpoints simultaneously than other hardware endpoints of other vendors.

TrueConf MCU installation →