1.2 Starting Conferencing

This section contains the following topics:

1.2.1 Signing On

  1. In Linux and Windows, double-click the Conferencing desktop icon (placed on the desktop during install).

    If you do not see the desktop icon, do the following:

    • In Windows, select the Start > All Programs > Conferencing > Conferencing.

    • In Linux, select Computer, click More Applications, and then select the Conferencing icon under New Applications or Communicate.

    The Conferencing client appears.

    Conferencing client sign on

  2. In the Screen Name field, type your screen name or select it from the menu.

    • Your screen name is your unique registered user name.

    • Screen names are how Conferencing and IM users recognize you.

    • Screen names are case sensitive and should not contain spaces.

    • Screen names should be alphanumeric only and should not contain non-ASCII characters. (For example: bathgate222 or gbookworm is accepted, but bathgate 222 or gbook~worm is not accepted.)

    After the your initial login, your screen name appears in the Screen Name menu.

  3. In the Password field, type your password.

  4. Optional Settings:

    • To sign on and join a meeting at the same time, type a meeting PIN or the meeting ID into the Meeting Pin field.

    • To save your password, select the Save Password option. (If your administrator does not give you the right to use this option, it is not visible.)

    • To sign on automatically when Conferencing starts, select the Auto Sign On option (recommended). There are certain circumstances (depending on your Administrative Policy) when you are still prompted to sign on.

    • To reconnect your client when there is no network connection present, select the Keep Trying if No Connection option (recommended).

  5. Click Sign On to log in.

    The Conferencing Main window appears with your meeting list.

1.2.2 Signing Off and Exiting

To sign off from the Main Window, select the Options > Sign Off menu option.

Figure 1-1 Options Menu

Options menu Sign off

Signing off disconnects you from the Conferencing server, and your contact information is displayed to other users as grey, indicating that you are not online.

To exit from the Main Window, select the Meetings > Exit menu option.

Figure 1-2 Meetings Menu

Meetings menu exit

Exiting ends your session and exits Conferencing. To sign on again see Signing On.

1.2.3 Signing On As a Non-Registered User

If you are not a registered user, deselect the I am a registered user option, and then configure the following information:

Sign on window

  1. In the Full Name field, type your full name, first name, and then last name.

  2. In the Meeting Pin field, type your Meeting PIN.

    The Meeting PIN is automatically filled out for most invitations. If you manually installed your client because your organization does not support ActiveX in browsers, you need to enter the Meeting PIN manually. The PIN is found on the web page that comes with a meeting invitation link.

  3. In the Phone field, type your phone number (optional).

  4. In the Email field, type your e-mail address (optional).

  5. Click Sign On to log in.

    The Conferencing Main window appears with your meeting list.

1.2.4 Important Information if You Are Behind a Proxy Server

The meeting software automatically uses the network settings configured for Internet Explorer*. In most cases, if you are able to use Internet Explorer, you are able to connect to a meeting. If you use an alternate browser, you might need to configure your LAN settings for your specific proxy server before you can join a meeting.

NOTE:You might need to ask your administrator for your proxy server settings.

To Configure Your Proxy Server Settings in Windows:

  1. Select Start > Control Panel.

  2. Double-click Internet Options.

  3. Select the Connections tab.

  4. Click on LAN settings...

  5. Select the Proxy server option and configure with your proxy server settings.

1.2.5 If Automatic Network Detection Fails

The meeting software automatically determines the best means for connecting through most firewalls and proxy servers. If you wait for more than 2 minutes to sign on or get disconnected from a meeting after a short time, the client might be selecting the wrong method.

  1. Click Advanced Settings at the bottom of the Sign On screen.

  2. Select the Skip Hunt Process and Only Use HTTP option.

    This forces the meeting software to skip the normal detection process and use the more dependable but slower HTTP protocol.

  3. Click OK.

    Advanced sign on settings