[Troubleshooting] IBM Sametime Softphone: Error 404 User Not Found

If you are doing IBM Softphone integration with a third party SIP server like Polycom DMA, you could face that error: 404 User Not Found.

First of all, you have to read the document named "IBM Sametime 8.5.2 Unified Telephony Lite Client troubleshooting guide" (here). A good port configuration is important.
404 error can be cause by a misconfiguration of Virtual Hosts.
1/ Check the SIP ports configured on the application server and fix the VH settings accordingly (remove the redundant SIP ports, don't change/remove non-SIP ports)

1. sip_proxyreg_host VH should contain only SIP ports used by the P/R (it should NOT contain SIP ports used by the CF)
2. default_host VH should contain only SIP ports used by the CF (it should NOT contain the SIP ports used by the P/R) 

My port configuration on Media Manager:

In my configuration, VH for sip_proxyreg_host was like that:

I had to remove 5060 & 5061 lines, restart and retest your call from a SIP endpoint to a S9 client

New Sametime SDK & Sametime 9 Phonebook Management

IBM just published a new release of IBM Sametime 9.0 SDK I won't list all new APIs or features.
I will just focused my article to the updates of IBM Sametime Telephony Toolkit.

Link to download Sametime Standard V9.0 SDK IFR 1 Multiplatform: here
(The date on the site for the ePackage doesn't properly reflect that, but IBM just uploaded it.)

That is a comparison between the list of public objects we have in S9 & S9 IFR1 SDK:

IBM Sametime 9 has introduced IBM Softphone which allows you to place and receive voice and video calls from your computer. To place call, IBM Sametime Phonebook, is very useful if you don't want to remember all telephone number, SIP URI or h323 dial string. The only way to provision the phonebook was a plugin I described two years ago, leveraging your IBM Notes contacts. Same thing to export or backup, there was no way of exporting or backing up your Sametime Phonebook or call history data from the Sametime client user interface (UI).

Via these new objects,you can now easily manipulate the content of IBM Sametime Phonebook  by creating, deleting entries. I have designed a Sametime plugin to export Polycom endpoints details from a flat file (csv) or from a Polycom Resource Manager.

Hope it will help you to leverage the power of IBM Softphone, especially with Polycom infrastructure.

[Engage by Blug] - Bus04. Social Communication & IBM Sametime 9

In March 17-18 2014, I will attend as speaker Engage by BLUG  in Theater Chassé in Breda, NL.
I will deliver a session with Marco Janssen from Acuity.

Marco Janssen is an IBM Certified Sametime 9 administrator with 7 years experience in IBM Collaboration Software. At Acuity he is responsible for designing and implementing small to large IBM Sametime infrastructures. As part of every IBM Sametime 9 implementation it is his task to educate the customers IT staff in managing and maintaining the newly implemented IBM Sametime infrastructure. Related to IBM Sametime, Marco has over 4 years of experience in testing and implementing Polycom Video Conferencing solutions in IBM Sametime infrastructures.

The title of the session is : Social Communication & IBM Sametime 9
Tuesday, 18/03  9:00 - 10:00 > room: C
Using IBM Sametime is a must have for companies willing to become a Social Business: “Because Social Isn't Social If You Can't Communicate”. This session will give you an overview of the new IBM Sametime 9 capabilities, and growth path to integrate with Video Conferencing Solutions.
And, at the end, we will share with you tips and tricks for user adoption.

I encourage you to register to that FREE event. Some numbers on that event:

• 66 Different speakers!
• 30 IBM Champions will be on stage too!
• 24 first time Engage/BLUG speakers!

Link for registration

IBM Sametime 9 & Polycom Demonstration

On the Polycom booth at IBM Connect, you could see the seamless integration between IBM Sametime 9 & Polycom technology: Integration with Polycom Group Series, with Polycom Collaboration Server (RMX)...
If you didn't have the chance to see that in action, I have recorded a demo of the different use cases:

Demo Sequence:
1/ Call to Sametime User using video endpoint as preferred device - TCSPI
2/ Invite an expert using Polycom Endpoint in a Sametime Meeting (Dial out) - TCSPI
3/ Call to Polycom Group Series - IBM Softphone
4/ Call to video meeting room involving H323 & SIP Endpoints (AVC/SVC) - IBM Softphone
5/ Call to video meeting room involving only SIP Endpoints (SVC) - IBM Softphone

If you want to see that in live, contact your local Polycom representative...

IBM Connect Showcase 2014

As all years, you can meet all IBM Business Partners in the IBM Connect Showcase. Polycom has its own booth to demonstrate its cool and seamless integration with IBM Solutions like IBM Sametime (IBM Connections Chat & Meetings), IBM Kenexa BrassRings or IBM Care Manager (Healthcare solution).

In the long list of IBM Business Partner, I had the opportunity to meet a new cool integration with IBM Connections from a French Company named Reverso Softissimo : Reverso Translate for IBM Connections.
This solution allows you to easily collaborate with your colleagues all over the world with Reverso Machine Translation fully contextually integrated into IBM Connections -> Translate any text, from any page, on demand, instantly...

It eliminates the language barriers when you have to socialize !!! 
Great, isn't it..

Watch this video if you want to see it in action...

IBM Sametime 9 Mobile and SUT Lite

[UPDATE] No more required for latest releae of Sametime Mobile.

This morning, I have done tests on Sametime Mobile. Sametime 9 Mobile includes SUT Lite capabilities. It is enabled via the av.allowSIPTrunking policy being true and assumes SUT-Lite trunk is set up on the server side. Making phone calls using Sametime Voice on mobile, by entering a phone number on keypad will be an SUT-Lite call if SUT-Lite is enabled.  

BUT, Sametime 9 Mobile has a specific behavior. A "+" sign is automatically added in front of the number you dial. So, my classic rules and my substitution patterns don't work for Sametime mobile

So, I have added a specific rule:

RequestURI is "sip:\+12.*" to be able to recognize sip:+12xxxx
And RequestURI pattern sip:\+(.+)@.* to remove the "+" sign before sending it to the external SIP Server.

From the Sametime trace, you can see something like thats:
[12/20/13 3:09:01:501 MST] 000000c1 proxy         3 ProxyHandler handleMAddr ENTRY  {sip:+1250@sametime9.ucalab.polycom.com}
[[12/20/13 3:09:01:501 MST] 000000c1 routing       3 RoutingCondition matches ENTRY  {Condition type: Method, value: .*} {INVITE}
[12/20/13 3:09:01:501 MST] 000000c1 routing       3 RoutingCondition matches RETURN  {true}
[12/20/13 3:09:01:501 MST] 000000c1 routing       3 RoutingCondition matches ENTRY  {Condition type: RequestURI, value: sip:\+12.*} {sip:+1250@sametime9.ucalab.polycom.com}
[12/20/13 3:09:01:501 MST] 000000c1 routing       3 RoutingCondition matches RETURN  {true}

Now, my Sametime 9 Mobile client can call audio endpoints though SIP trunk.

IBM Sametime 9 Video MCU: SVC, Bandwidth and Layouts

These last couple of months, I have published on this blog several articles on the new IBM Sametime 9 media framework. The purpose of this article is to discuss Sametime Video MCU. What you can do, resolution supported and different type of call involving clients (Rich, Mobile and Web).

Details on Video MCU

The Video MCU provides conferencing functionality in Sametime 9 environment. The main purposes of the Video MCU are to:
•    Handles media and media control from Sametime 9 clients
•    Routes H264 AVC (SVC base layer) and SVC video to video enabled clients
•    Routes Scalable Audio Codec (SAC) to Sametime 9 clients
•    Support audio transcoding and audio mix for clients which don’t support SAC

In a multipoint call handled by the Video MCU, each SVC EP (Sametime 9 client) encodes multiple simulcast resolutions of people video, and may request a number of media streams (at desired resolutions and frame rates) based on its capabilities and connected displays.

Regarding SVC implementation, IBM Sametime 9 supports Spatial and Temporal scalability.
The default operation point of IBM Sametime SVC are 720p, 360p, 180p in simulcast.
Each stream in the simulcast is scalable in the temporal domain – 7.5FPS, 15FPS, 30FPS.

Configuration of Video Conferences

In Sametime System Console, in Sametime Policies section, you can create Conference Template. Two conference modes can be selected:

•    SVC only – Mode to only support IBM Sametime 9 clients only, in SVC mode.
•    Mixed AVC/SVC mode – this is the default level.
•    AVC only - This conference mode is not supported

When you are in “Mixed AVC/SVC” mode, you can choose between 6 different configurations (presets) which derive different video levels:
•    Mobile optimized – 180p, 360p, 720p – very similar to the preset used today in SVC only mode, but allow AVC participants to join.
•    QVGA optimized-240p, 480p, 720p – aimed for AVC endpoints that are configured to prefer QVGA.
•    CIF optimized – 240p, 480p, 720p – aimed for AVC endpoints that are configured to prefer CIF.
•    VGA optimized – 360p, 720p
•    SD optimized 480p, 720p – aimed for AVC endpoints that are configured to prefer SD.
•    HD optimized – 720p only.

Performance & Bandwidth of the Video MCU

In the "Zero to Hero Sametime 9 deployment guide", you can find (slide 88) that table showing the number of concurrent calls at a certain resolution and codec supported with a specific hardware configuration.

IBM has written a wiki page with Video Resolution – Bandwidth requirement for multi-point call on the Video MCU: link

One important point you will see in the different configuration just below:
"To save bandwidth, the client sends a stream only if there is at least one remote client in the conference receiving it. So, for example, if no remote client is receiving 720p@15fps, then it is not sent. Only the streams 180p@30fps and 360p@15fps are sent."

Sametime Meeting with video Configuration

For all my tests, I have used a template with the maximum bit rate for the conference with a preset "Mobile optimized " and the Sametime Clients have an unlimited line rate (Full HD). So, I'm always using the maximum resolution/bandwidth.

1/ Config 1: Two participants

In that configuration, only two participants are connected in the video session. The two participants transmit and receive only one stream (720p@30fps)

Media Statistics (Outgoing and Incoming) of the right PC

2/ Config 2: Three participants with auto layout
In the previous call, a third person just joined. In that case, the video resolution, sent and transmitted by the Sametime clients, changes. All S9 clients sent a video stream (360p@30fps) and receive two video stream (360p@30fps). It decreases the upstream bandwidth, and you have a similar downstream bandwidth.

3/ Config 3: Three participants with one using the active speaker layout

One user change his video layout from Auto to Active Speaker in Full screen. So, the active speaker will have to send a new stream (720p@30fps).

Incoming stream. Only one 720p stream is received by the PC.

4/ Config 4: Four participants with one using active speaker layout, and one connected via an iPad

In that last configuration, we have a mix of configuration: Active speaker, auto layout and mobile client. In that case, all clients will have a different bandwidth utilisation.

The user is sending three different streams to cover all requests.

The user is receiving three different streams (two from rich clients, one from the mobile with a lower resolution).

That one is coming from the bottom user, who has set his layout “Active Speaker”

That's only four different use cases, but plenty of other configurations are possible. And, don't forget, you will be able to adjust the video resolution and bandwidth by playing with multiple parameter (client line rate, conference bit rate..)

References:

In addition to my tests, I have used these three interesting links.

1. What's new in Sametime 9 audio & video: link 
2.  Sametime Blog article from Julie Reed: link
3. Sametime 9.0 Video Resolution Bandwidth Requirements: link
4. IBM technote on Media Manager policy : link

Some terminology:
•   H264 AVC – Advanced Video Codec, the legacy form of H264, supported by most video room system and clients, including Sametime legacy clients before Sametime 9
•   H264 SVC – Scalable Video Codec, enable to transmit and receive different video levels in a single RTP stream
•   MCU – Multipoint control unit – handles conferencing in Sametime 9
•   VMGR – Video Manager – manage the cluster of MCUs in a Sametime 9 environment.
•   SAC – Scalable Audio Codec – enable high level audio quality mix with excellent error resiliency without transcoding at the MCU
•   Line Rate - The maximum bandwidth allocated to individual users joining the meeting.

SIP trunks, Video MCU, Dial in/out with IBM Sametime 9

SIP trunk are very important in Telephony and Video world. With IBM Sametime 8, in order to enable SIP trunk capabilities, it was required to buy IBM® Sametime® Unified Telephony Lite. This
licence enables you to place calls to and receive calls from internal or external phone numbers, video conferencing systems or video conferencing endpoints on your desktop.

With the new licensing model of IBM Sametime 9, this license is now free of charge... It is included in almost all bundles (Communicate and Complete) - link

I forecast that almost all IBM Sametime deployments will involve SIP trunks, because it opens IBM Sametime to a entirely new world:

• Device-based dialing for Sametime softphone functionality
• Call non-Sametime users — reach people on any device including Polycom RealPresence audio/video endpoints 
• Provides rich remote collaboration experience with video—reducing productivity loss, expense of travel, and telephony costs

 

SUT Lite call to a video endpoints from IBM Sametime 9 Client

In addition to enable licence in the IBM Sametime System Console, you need to define rules in Sametime SIP Proxy.
You can find two excellent guide to do it:

• From Zero to Hero - Sametime Unified Telephony Lite: link 
• IBM Sametime 8.5.2 Unified Telephony Lite Client troubleshooting guide: link 

These documents have been written for IBM Sametime 8.5.2 IFR1, but they are still very valuable for S9.

But, the Audio/Video media framework has slightly changed, so I would like to share with you additional elements. IBM Sametime 9 now includes a "true" MCU, providing continuous presence and the support of SIP SVC (and AVC).

In a Sametime Meeting, you can do a dial out to an endpoints via moderator Control (picture 1), but now you can also dial in. You can retrieve dial in information from conference details (picture 2).

Dial-out

Dial-in

IBM Sametime 9 & SIP trunk architecture

The four main component of the A/V media framework are :

• SIP Proxy/registrar (P/R)
• Conference Focus
• VMgr
• VMcu 

These components are linked together via REST API or SIP trunk. I have tried to summarize it in the below schema.

In order to link Sametime 9 with the outside world, I have added two SIP trunks (black lines):

• Between external SIP server and SIP P/R
• Between SIP P/R and VMgr

My "simple" dial plan:

• S9 VMgr meeting: 10xx
• SIP Endpoints: 12xx

That is my rules (order is important)

• Rule N°1 (dial-in) redirects incoming calls for the Sametime Video meeting to the VMgr (then Vmcu)

That means, calls coming from 10.47.49.164 that have 10xx as pattern should be routed to the VMGR (FQDN: stvideomgr.ucalab.polycom.com). A dial-in flow like this doesn't involve the conference focus.

• Rule N°2 redirects incoming calls to Sametime Client.

That means, calls coming from 10.47.49.164  should be routed to the Conference Focus (FQDN: sametime9.ucalab.polycom.com). A dial-in flow like this involves the conference focus.

• Rule N°3 (dial-out) redirects calls to external SIP server

That means, calls coming with 12xx as pattern should be routed to the external SIP proxy (@: 10.47.49.164).

Hope it will help to deploy SIP trunks with IBM Sametime 9.

New IBM Sametime 9 A/V screenshots

I just finished the upgrade to Sametime 9 Hot Fix 1...

IBM Sametime Meeting on Web Client (left) and Rich Client (right)

IBM Sametime Meeting on Mobile

And also Point to Point call from Sametime Mobile to Rich Client...

Sametime 9 Meeting with audio & video, and mobile...

I have just finished a two-day workshop with the German IBM UC team (Volker J., Dirk S., Frank A.), iLink team.
We have finalized their IBM Sametime 9 environment installation by adding Polycom equipments (like Polycom DMA and Group Series).

We have completed lots of tests, including on tablets...

The below screenshots come from a Sametime Rich Client Meeting.
In that Sametime Video meeting, we had 2 tablets (one iPad, one Android,), 2 Sametime Rich clients, and two Polycom Group Series...

Rich Client

Rich Client

Full screen view from an iPad

Content + Video in CP mode

Dirk and Volker have also tested the new Sametime Mobile client app to make a Point to Point call with a Sametime Rich Client.

Cool, isn't it...More to come...

IBM Sametime 9 mobile clients are available on Android and iPad

Great news today....
IBM has delivered an updated release on its Sametime Mobile clients.
Two differents clients one for Presence, IM, audio and video, and other one for Meeting with Audio & Video...

IBM Sametime:
The cool new features are :
• Softphone (on supported servers)
• A brand new user interface on the iPad
• Point-to-point audio on phones (on supported servers)

For iOS:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ibm-sametime/id472303810

For Android:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ibm.android.sametime&hl=en


IBM Sametime Meeting:
New capabilities
• Continuous-presence audio and video for iPad
• Support for conference call-only meetings
• Invited-vs-presence view
• Remote control (device to desktop)
• Integration with IBM Connections Files
• Integration with IBM Connections Profiles
• Device-side annotations
• Shared document preview mode
• Improvements to server-side recordings
• Runs on iOS 7

For iOS:
https://itunes.apple.com/de/app/ibm-sametime-meetings-for-ios/id516570259?mt=8

For Android:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ibm.android.sametime.meetings
My first test:

Now, IBM Sametime 9 Meeting with content sharing and Audio/Video

Today, I have finalized IBM Sametime 9 Meeting deployment. The deployment of Meeting & Audio/Video services is really simple and straightforward.

 

Now, I'm waiting for the Sametime Meeting mobile app.

My first experience with IBM Sametime 9 audio & video service

Today, I have just finished the deployment of my IBM Sametime 9 platform with the new SVC media framework.And, I have done tests with colleagues of point to point calls and multipoint calls with continuous presence on the new IBM Video MCU.

Point to Point call: (works with all Sametime bundles)

Multipoint Point Calls: (required IBM Sametime Complete)

They have also refreshed the "Audio & Video Performance" view.
You have now a better view on th audio/video traffic (Bit Rate, Resolution, Jitter...).

More tests to come, especially on Polycom interoperability.

IBM Sametime 9 is DOWNLOADABLE !!!

GREAT NEWS, you can now download and install IBM Sametime 9...

I know what I will do next week :) :) :)

IBM Sametime 9 Launch Event

IBM Sametime 9 launch event is just finished. That was a very good and original event.
It has been done through the IBM Virtual Event Center. That event was truly global. Polycom saw visitors from 27 different countries.

The format of this event was:

• One keynote including video, Erik Brynjolfsson, and awesome demos from Luis Benitez and Suzanne Livingston.
• Three breakouts :
• What's new in SmartCloud?
• What's new in Sametime?
• Deployment Models

• 10 virtual booths of which one from Polycom. All the IBM Polycom team was on the booth to answer to all questions/comments.

 

So, what do I have learnt from that event?

IBM Sametime 9 (eGA: Sep 20) will include:

• Next-gen media framework with scalable media bridge and codecs (H264SVC), continuous -presence video and built-in integration with HW endpoints for meetings and IM.
• Mobile IM and meetings client improvements including audio, video and mobile APIs
• Enhanced integration with IBM Connection
• Smarter Meetings, a new user experience with OneUI

John Delpizzo have shown that from a presentation delivered via an IBM Sametime 9 Meeting.

New, streamlined Sametime Experience

Continuous Presence

Mobile with Video

Codec details on IBM S9

IBM Sametime 9 and the seamless integration with Polycom portfolio will be available in all Polycom Experience Center worldwide, soon.
Come and experience it LIVE!!!

Next events:

1/ What's new in IBM Sametime 9
Join Marlon Machado on September 19 to learn about IBM Sametime 9's cutting-edge conferencing and communications capabilities that leverage your existing IT and infrastructure, mobile devices, and applications. -> link

2/ IBM Sametime 9 video functionality: Come see the excitement around continuous presence
Attend this free webcast on October 2 to get the lowdown on how IBM Sametime 9 allows for continuous video without the use of third-party technology and its parity with Microsoft Lync 2013 with David Price (Meridian IT) and Peter Lurie (Polycom). -> link

P.S: Big thanks to John Delpizzo, Luis Benitez, Suzanne Livingston, Julie Reed, Marlon Machado and Marc Pagnier... GOOD JOB!!!

IBM Completes Sametime’s Front Nine by Wainhouse Research

Wainhouse Research has written an analysis on the next major release of IBM Sametime: Version 9.
IBM Sametime 9 should be available at september 20th.

Wainhouse Research has hightlighted two major enhancements for these release:

• A simplified, streamlined user experience

"Both the browser-based and native Sametime clients have undergone a number of both look-and-feel and workflow refinements."

• “Out of the box” Continuous Presence

"A new SVC-capable, software-based video conferencing capability supports conferences with up to 2,000 attendees, with the ability to view up to six simultaneous video streams (four on mobile devices), developed by IBM with guidance from Polycom."

Link to Wainhouse Research Bulletin: here

I will share with you, next week, more details, pictures on IBM Sametime 9, based on my tests during S9 beta program.

Reinvent the Way Work Works with the Leading Social Platform

 
On September 18th 2013 at 10:00am US ET, IBM will be hosting an exciting virtual event "Reinvent the Way Work Works with the Leading Social Business Platform".

Polycom’s part in Sametime 9 will be on  display at IBM’s launch event called “Reinvent the Way Work Works with the Leading Social Platform”—being held on Sept. 18.  Polycom will  have a virtual booth at the launch event that enables attendees  to learn more about Polycom and how we’re partnering with IBM to bring video to Sametime 9. The Sametime 9 announcement  provides  tighter alignment with IBM on Sametime 9 opportunities providing Polycom the ability to  sell incremental infrastructure  and endpoints within these accounts.

Registration link

Polycom Conferencing Add-in For IBM Sametime V3.0

Today, we delivered. version 3.0 of the IBM/Polycom TCSPI integration-- Polycom Conferencing Add-In for IBM Sametime. Historically, Polycom UC solutions are integrated with the IBM Sametime server, without changing the IBM Sametime clients thus enabling their users to maintain their familiar user interface and workflows.

The Add-In is one of two main integration approaches that are available with the Polycom RealPresence Platform integration. They are derived from the two interfaces provided by IBM and they allow two different functional use cases:
• Telephony Control Service Provider Interface (TCSPI) - an API interface that provides
User-based Dialing
• Integration via SIP Trunk between the Sametime Media Manager and the Polycom
RealPresence DMA - that provides Device-based Dialing

With the new Add-In, the User-based Dialing approach has been updated to provide integration with Polycom DMA. Polycom RealPresence DMA distributes voice and video calls based on priority, bandwidth availability, and class of service. It provides bridge virtualization, video call control functions including dial plan management and scalable VMR (Virtual Meeting Room) management. The solution’s advanced routing algorithms maximize resource utilization. The Polycom Conferencing Add-in for IBM Sametime creates multipoint audio and video meetings via the RealPresence DMA on the RealPresence Collaboration Server (RMX) 1500/2000/4000 system using API commands.

Below illustrates the architectures of the previous version 2.0 and newly released version 3.0.

Version 2.0 architecture:

Version 3.0 architecture:

The new features of this Add-In are:

•    Scalability/Resiliency across multiple RMXes
•    DMA feature set (Site Topology, SIP Conference Failover, BW Management, etc)
•    Includes Conference Control for both SIP and H.323
•    Mute/UnMute/Mute All status now supported
•    Lock/Unlock conference now supported
•    Configurable DMA Templates
•    Can set DMA template to be used for ad-hoc conferences by DMA Adaptor deployment (in plcm.properties files)

If you are interested by more details, don’t hesitate to send an email to ibm@polycom.com.

This integration completes other touch points like calendar integration with Domino Server, scheduling integration via PLCM API, and video publishing via Media Utility.

This diagram illustrates th overall IBM/Polycom integration, the most complete and seamless integration in the market with IBM Collaborative environment.

Blug 2013 presentation

Last week, I attend BLUG where I presented a session on "Making Social Business Visual".

Please find my presentation...

Making social business visual from Vincent Perrin

Ping me if you have some questions...

IBM Connect 2013 - Third Day

A long day, starting with a very cool General Opening Session - announcements, demos... (here), lots of people on the Polycom booths, and THE Social Communication Strategy and roadmap session by John Delpizzo and Brian Ricker.

We have heard the vision of IBM in term of the future of IBM Sametime and the notion of Social Communication, and we have seen cool demos.

My two key elements in the roadmap:

• New rich communication services via Multipoint audio & video capabilities, support of Polycom SVC-based hardware end points.

• Sametime Meeting on Mobile with Audio/video and telephony integration

Sametime Meeting with multiple video stream

That's cool, isn't it !!!!! I'm so looking forward to playing with it.

The conclusion of this day was the "French Party" - the place to be where you speak french at IBM Connect...