[GnomeMeeting-list] Re: Ekiga - Netmeeting or MSN

[Stephan Bourgeois <strangelv lycos co uk>]

> I have Linux and Ekiga, my friend has Windows XP and Netmeeting and MSN. Is
> it possible that we could talk and use web cameras or we need to keep Skype
> on our computers still?
In theory you should be able to use *both* Netmeeting or Windows 
Messenger (not MSN) to communicate with Ekiga. I have been using Ekiga 
with Netmeeting for years, this is my experience with them:

Netmeeting is H.323, it will work with Ekiga but with restrictions. On 
the Ekiga side, you should disable the options unsupported by 
Netmeeting: H.245 tunnelling and STUN support. AFAIK the only workable 
codec is PCM 8kHz (uncompressed) which will use 64kbps, so this is not 
workable on dialup. I have installed the Speex codecs on NM, but never 
managed to get them to operate with Ekiga. The sound quality of the 
MS-GSM codec is appaling.

Windows Messenger is supposed to work with SIP as long as it is logged 
into the ekiga.net server. I have however never managed to do that (log 
Windows Messenger into ekiga.net)

In both cases you will experience issues with firewalls and broadband 
routers. Ekiga is fairly easy to configure as it uses a limited range of 
ports, unlike NM. Also, it will trigger NM on the other side to use that 
same range of ports. So the firewall / router config is valid for both 
sides. The ports are listed in the H.323 section of the FAQ 
http://www.gnomemeeting.org/index.php?rub=3&pos=0&faqpage=x161.html

As you can see, using Skype is easier, and that is the reason for its 
success with the home user. Skype is however a double edge sword: it 
does NAT transversal very well, and therefore creates a security problem 
by doing it so well. If you are *not* behind a router, Skype will turn 
your computer into a supernode, and you will be routing everyone else's 
phonecalls. In that case you will definitely be better off using 
Netmeeting / Ekiga.

I hope this helps. I invite other users on the list to correct mistakes 
and comment on this.
Yours, Stephan