Last modified 12 months ago

Table of Contents

  1. Desire2Learn Capture Solutions Comparison
    1. Solution Overview
  2. System Requirements for Webcast Viewers
    1. Webcast viewer specifications
  3. 1. Capture Station Software Requirements
    1. Capture Station Software machine specifications
    2. Network
    3. Audio / Video
  4. 2. Server Requirements
  5. 3. Capture Station 300

Desire2Learn Capture System Requirements (Version 7.0)

The Desire2Learn Technical Support team provides comprehensive assistance for our customers. However, it is impossible to guarantee proper system performance if you do not have the correct combination of hardware and software components. Technical support can only be provided if the following technical parameters are followed correctly.

Desire2Learn Capture Solutions Comparison

Learn which Capture solution is more appropriate for your production environment by reviewing our  Capture Comparison Table (last revised 2/2/2010).

Solution Overview

In general, ePresence solutions are based on two primary components:

  1. Desire2Learn Capture Presentation Portal: A web application that provides the web-based user interface for streaming and watching multimedia archives. Available as a hosting subscription or in-house Server Software option.
  1. Desire2Learn Capture Station: Two methods exist for capturing, editing, and publishing multimedia archives:
  • Capture Station 300 supports live encoding in H.264 and VP6 Flash video formats. ePresence encoders are different from similar applications offered by Real Networks, Microsoft, and Adobe, because they support presentation media (e.g. Power Point, shared desktop) synchronized with the video and audio. Capture Station 300s also offer advanced automation features for customized lecture theater and conference room deployments.
  • Capture Station Software is a Flash-only encoding application optimized for laptops and mobile environments.
  • Our most lightweight option, Capture Station Web is a browser-accessible Flash-only encoding application, which allows remote speakers to record live webcasts by simply using a webcam and uploaded Power Point presentation.

System Requirements for Webcast Viewers

No matter which Desire2Learn Capture solution is being used for capturing and streaming, the following system requirements should be met by each viewer attending the webcast:

Webcast viewer specifications

1. Capture Station Software Requirements

Capture Station Software is a Windows application that can be installed on a laptop/PC for the purpose of streaming live and/or capturing and publishing on-demand presentations in mobile environments.

Capture Station Software machine specifications

Network

To stream live, a high-speed broadband connection (1+ mb/s) is required.

Audio / Video

Your camera and microphone must be supported by Flash. You can determine whether this is the case by checking your Flash settings:

  • Visit the  flash version test.
  • Right click on the flash movie (the area that displays your flash version).
  • Select "Settings..." from the drop-down list.
  • Click on the webcam tab.
  • Find your camera in the list.
  • Click on the webcam icon to test. If it works, it should display your webcam feed.
  • Click on the microphone tab.
  • Find your microphone in the list.
  • Talk into your microphone. If it's working, you should see activity on the activity bar.

On Windows, Flash sometimes does not recognize a DV camcorder microphone as an audio source. We have had success with  WebcamDV, a 3rd-party driver that allows your camcorder to be used in applications that exhibit this behaviour.

2. Server Requirements

2.1 Hardware:

Dual Xeon or Core2 CPU, 2+ GB of RAM, One or more 500+ GB HDD, 100+ Mbps Network card

2.2 Internet connectivity:

2.2.1 Speed

2 Mbps between the server and each Capture Station + 250Kbit/s per remote viewer

2.2.2 Stability

The connectivity must be stable. The TCP/IP networks with connection drops and packet loss are not supported.

2.2.3 Wireless

Wireless connectivity is not supported.

2.2.4 Traffic shaping

Traffic shaping software or hardware technologies that alter a default priority of TCP/IP packets delivery are not supported.

2.2.5 Network port blocking

Software or hardware firewalls that prevent certain network ports connectivity are not supported.

2.2.6 Network routers

NAT (also known as network masquerading, native address translation or IP masquerading) is not supported.

2.3 Windows Software Environment

2.3.1 OS: Windows Server 2003 or 2008 Standard

2.3.2 Microsoft .NET Runtime 2.0 or higher.

2.3.3 Sun Java Runtime 6.0 or higher.

2.3.4 Web Server: IIS 6.0+ with ASP.NET support.

2.3.5 Flash Server: Red5 ePresence Edition 5.0 for Windows + Wowza Media Server 2.0+ or Adobe Media Server 3.5+

2.3.6 Capture Presentation Portal application and media publishing point directories must have write privileges set for the web server process.

2.3.7 Database: MS Jet 4.0 or higher or MS SQL Server 2000 or higher.

2.3.8 Remote Desktop Service with administrative privileges or similar service must be enabled in order to receive technical support.

2.3.9 Installation of any third party software other than those listed above voids the Limited Warranty

2.3.10 IP addresses: In case IIS and streaming server software is installed on the same compiter there have to be 2 IP addresses configured: One for IIS and one is for streaming server. IP addresses may be configured against the same NIC or two different NICs.

3. Capture Station 300

3.1 Hardware platform

Intel Core2 CPU, 2gb RAM, 400+ GB HDD, DVD+- RW, 100mb+ network card, Sound Blaster-compatible sound card,  Osprey 210+ or a similar video capture hardware with support for video source splitting.

3.2 Internet Connectivity

Stable Wired Un-firewalled 1mb+ connection between the Capture Server and Capture Station

3.3 Operating System

Windows XP SP2. Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0

3.4 Optional Components

 Epiphan VGA2USB (optional. For VGA Screen capture only).

 Simulstream™ or similar technology for concurrent access to the video source. (Optional. For Live Webcasting only)

3.5 Software

  • MS Power Point 2003 or 2007 or MS Office 2003 or 2007 with OCR module installed
  • Adobe Flash Player 9.0.115+
  • Capture Station Software 5.0 or higher
  • Installation of any 3rd party software other than listed above voids the Limited Warranty
Capture Station 300 Front Panel
Capture Station 300 Back Panel

Connect Cables as shown on the picture. The Camera’s outputs are color coded: composite video output is yellow; audio outputs are Red and white. Presenter’s laptop can be connected to a VGA input, the overhead projector can be connected via a 3‐rd party VGA splitter. The keyboard can be connected to any USB port. The small VGA cord is used for connecting the graphics card to the internal 7” touch screen.

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