Microsoft NetMeeting

Download Software

Download Net Meeting 3.01 NetMeeting does not require a video camera to view callers. To send video, a camera is required. A microphone and speaker are needed if you wish to have speech and audio. Installation is simple: Double click on the downloaded package and answer its questions. (Note: often NetMeeting is automatically installed with some Microsoft products. To check and see if you already have NetMeeting installed go to: Start button - Programs - Accessories - Communications and see if it is listed.)

Microsoft NetMeeting is a real-time multimedia communications tool that can create a collaborative environment for geographically distant people. It uses the TCP/IP network facility readily available on the Internet.

Using NetMeeting, and appropriate equipment, the following are possible. (The links shown in the list below will take you to Microsoft's NetMeeting web site.)

Video and Audio Conferencing camera.gif (38x32 -- 0 bytes)
Talk with people at a distant locations while viewing them

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Whiteboard Whiteboard
The whiteboard lets you collaborate in real time with others via graphic information.
Chat chat.gif (38x40 -- 0 bytes)
Chat lets you conduct real-time conversations via text, with as many people as you like.
Internet Directory Internet Directory
The Microsoft Internet Directory is a Web site provided and maintained by Microsoft to locate people to call on the Internet.
File Transfer File Transfer
File transfer (FTP) lets you send one or more files in the background during a NetMeeting conference.
Program Sharing Program Sharing
NetMeeting's Program Sharing feature lets you flexibly share multiple programs during a conference and retain greater control over the way they're used.
Remote Desktop Sharing Remote Desktop Sharing
Lets you operate a computer from a remote location.
Security Security
NetMeeting uses three types of security measures to protect your privacy.
Advanced Calling Advanced Calling
This feature gives you the flexibility to send a mail message to a NetMeeting user or initiate a NetMeeting call directly from your mail address book.

Internet Locator Server (ILS)

Internet Locator Server (ILS) is the middle man among Net Meeting users. Most users of the Internet are on dial up lines - not connected all the time. Each time they connect their IP addresses change.

A caller who wishes to connect to you must have two pieces of information:

Callers need know only two fixed pieces of information to call you:

The ILS servers provide this information. When you log on to an ILS server you are telling the ILS server that you (identified by your email address) are connected to the Internet, that you are at a certain IP address and that you are running NetMeeting and able to field calls. The ILS server knows whether or not you are online and if you are what your current IP address is. You can "log in" to an ILS server without appearing in the viewable directory so that only associates that know the ILS server and email address you supplied can find you.

Once a call has been initiated to a user, the ILS is no longer involved -- all communication is between the participating computers.

For a list of ILS servers, click on http://www.netmeeting-zone.com/bestservers.aspoffsite-ico.gif (15x7 -- 0 bytes)

Calling someone

You find other people running NetMeeting by using an ILS server described above.

netmeeting1.gif (565x411 -- 0 bytes)

As of Dec 1999, the ILS servers ils.microsoft.com have ceased operation. If you wish, you can use the Microsoft Internet Directory (MID), and find other NetMeeting users. To install MID, you also must install MSN Instant Messenger. Microsoft Internet Directory, includes the Internet Locator Service. You can also use ICQ to locate people.

Please remember that if you are calling a stranger -- all the normal cautions apply:

I can't log on to a server!

There could be a number of reasons for this problem:

Chat

With Chat, you can conduct real-time conversations using text with as many people as you like. You (and your neighbors in each group of tables) should

Whiteboard

WhiteboardIn NM/Tools menu, there are two selections for White Board. Choose the one without a version number.

You all have seen a white board in our class rooms. The electronic WhiteBoard in NM provides that kind of white board where there can be multiple participants. What ever you draw or type appears, in real time, on the boards that other participants are logged in through their own PCs.

Web Encyclopaedia defines a whiteboard as an area on a display screen that multiple users can write or draw on. Whiteboards are a principal component of teleconferencing applications because they enable visual as well as audio communication.

With the Whiteboard, you (and your neighbors in each group of tables) should

Show the end result of Whiteboard usage to your TA. It should contain three squares, three rectangles, and three circles. Each collaborator should choose a different fill/border color.

Program Sharing

Program SharingNetMeeting can control how shared programs are displayed on your desktop, and gives the person sharing the program control over who uses it. You can share a program with other people--even if those people do not have that program installed on their computer, which makes setting up carpool schedules or organizing family reunions easy when you meet on the Net.

With Remote Desktop Sharing, you can: With NetMeeting's program sharing feature, you (and your neighbors in each group of tables) should
Operate your office computer from home or vice versa. View shared programs in a frame, which makes it easy to distinguish between shared and local applications on your desktop.
Use a secure connection and a password to access the remote desktop, files and programs. Minimize the shared program frame and do other work if you do not need to work in the current conference program.
Protect your computer while using RDS with a password-protected screensaver. Easily switch between shared programs using the shared program taskbar.
Program Sharing Choose to allow one person to work in the shared program at a time.
Approve conference participants' requests to work in the program you introduce.
Allow or prevent others from working in a program using the Sharing dialog box.
 

Caution!

If you share a Windows Explorer window, such as My Computer, Control Panel, or a folder on your computer, you will be sharing all Explorer windows you have open. Also, once you have shared such a window, every program you start while you are still in the meeting is shared with the other participants automatically.

Notes

Remote Desktop Sharing

Remote Desktop SharingNetMeeting makes working at home easier because you can share your office desktop to yourself at home. When you're working at home, it's frustrating to not have access to your computer at work. In the past, even if you were able to dial in from home, you had to make sure you had all of your work software loaded on to your home computer. But not anymore. With NetMeeting, you can share your desktop to yourself using Remote Desktop Sharing, and have access to everything on your work computer while you are at home.

To configure Remote Desktop Sharing on your office computer:

Notes

Further Links

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