Professional videoconferencing is available as never before. Mind Server - new version, new prices

The domestic video conferencing solution (VKS) Mind Server has long been popular in Russia and not only. This is a professional system for conferences and webinars on the local network or via the open Internet. Mind Server provides support for SIP / H.323 hardware terminals, WebRTC connections and mobile clients, as well as conference recording, demonstration of content and desktop, integration with Skype for Business, and much more.



A few years ago I published an article dedicated to this product: Mind videoconferencing is the best choice for business . The functionality and interface of the service are so complete that over the years they have not undergone significant changes. But this does not mean that the product did not develop - right below the cut, I will describe the main improvements compared to the previous version.



And now, before moving on to the description of Mind Server, I want to remind once again about an important event: a separate hub dedicated to video conferencing solutions has appeared on Habr and I invite all those involved in this extensive and relevant topic to subscribe to the Video conferencing hub.



Summary of the article:

• 10 Key Changes in the New Version of Mind Server
• Installation and basic setup
• Admin and User Interfaces
• Solution Price
• MCU Mind out of the box
• Distribution and unlimited key for 1 month as a gift

10 Key Changes

1. The quality of the demonstration of the screen and windows of individual applications has become better.
   
   Skype captures the screen in HD (720p) quality, paid services like Webex and Zoom - in FullHD (1080p) quality. As a result, when scaling the desktop translation to full screen, remote participants see fuzzy fonts and blurry images, as modern monitors and demo panels usually have a higher resolution.
   
   In Mind, the demonstration is now in 4K UltraHD!
   
   
   
   
   Comparison with Skype

   

   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. Total support for WebRTC and the rejection of Flash.
   
   Previously, participants at the beginning of a conference through a browser had to explicitly allow the use of Flash. Unfortunately, this was not always done. As a result, they did not hear and did not see the speakers. The use of RTMP (Flash) technology has now been discontinued. For conferences and webinars, Mind always uses WebRTC technology. Flash will be supported by the Mind platform until the end of 2020, but only for backward compatibility.
   
   
3. Implemented automatic media quality tuning.
   
   In addition to manual control, webinars are also provided with automatic adjustment of video broadcast quality depending on the width of the communication channel. In the autumn release will be implemented automatically adjusting the quality of media for conferences. This greatly simplifies the use of the service by participants and allows you to focus on the event.
   
   
4. Significantly improved sound quality in conferences and webinars.
   
   Thanks to the optimization and refinement of algorithms for processing audio streams, the sound has become cleaner. Despite these improvements, one should not neglect the competent selection of audio equipment and acoustic preparation of the room.
5. The degree of ergonomics and ease of use of the interface has increased.
   
   Numerous changes to the interface settings. In particular:
   
   On the “About Event” tab, an address for connecting VVoIP clients has been added: sip: event_id @ domain_address.
   
   Added the ability to redirect users to the portal of internal customer technical support by clicking on the link "Instructions and support".
   
   The autumn release will make even more changes in ergonomics in order to simplify the development of the service by users and reduce the number of unnecessary actions.
   
   
6. Improved platform reliability and security.
   
   Switching to the new version of Debian has enhanced the stability and security of all platform components. The new version of Mind Server runs on the Debian GNU / Linux 9 operating system (instead of the no longer supported Debian GNU / Linux 7), which is supported until July 2020. In 2020, it is planned to migrate the Mind platform to Debian GNU / Linux 10.
   
   
7. Improved data transfer security.
   
   Providing increased data transfer security for devices connected via SIP is possible when using TLS / SRTP protocols at the transport level.
   
   TLS encryption enhances the protection of media traffic transmitted over the open Internet.
   
   The Mind platform now uses the built-in Opensips 2.4 LTS.
   
   
8. Simplified installation and updating of the system .
   
   System administrators will be able to independently install or update Mind in less than 30 minutes using the standard Debian installer with a graphical interface.
   
   Also, the installation time of Mind was reduced by 30% due to updating the settings of the OC kernel.
   
   
9. Improved solution compatibility .
   
   The Mind platform supports H.261, H.265, VP9, ​​MPEG-4 Part 2 video codecs and the G.722.1 audio codec in addition to those previously supported.
   
   Support for modern video and audio codecs allows you to connect a wider range of software and equipment.
10. Unprecedented low prices .
    
    Prices for Mind cloud services in the updated tariff plans have become 2 times lower than the prices of their Western counterparts. License prices for local installation in a corporate network have become equal to the prices for Mind cloud services.
    
    All tariff plans now support the ability to connect hardware terminals of leading manufacturers and SIP telephony at no extra charge.
    
    In addition, an unlimited distribution kit of the Mind video conferencing server for one online event is available for download and independent operation.

Installation and basic setup

Mind Server is deployed from the finished image in a few steps. Installation is possible both on a physical server and in a virtual infrastructure. Minimum requirements: 4 physical cores and 16 gigabytes of RAM. Further - depending on the number and type of connections, as well as the resolution of the video.



In order not to describe the standard installation process, I offer a brief video review to help:





User default password mind: mind-3.15.0-pre7



After installing Mind Server 3.15, remote access to the console via SSH is disabled by default. If necessary, it can be resolved as follows:

In the file / etc / ssh / sshd_config, change the value of the parameter: PasswordAuthentication to: yes



You can edit the file from the console through the convenient mc file manager

Restart the ssh service with the service ssh restart command



Before allowing access through ssh from the outside, you need to change the password for the mind user with the passwd mind command



Then you can proceed to the basic server settings.



By default, 2 users are created:



mind with a password mind is a conditionally owner of a company, it only has a user interface and unlimited user rights.



admin with password admin - this is the system administrator, has unlimited administrator rights, but partial access to the user interface - cannot participate in active events and create them.



All subsequent administrators created will have access to the user interface with the opportunity to participate in events.

Mind Server Interface

With Mind's interfaces, everything is as it should be: a very detailed admin panel and a concise user interface.



The article Mind videoconferencing is the best choice for business , both server interfaces are described in more detail.



Here, for an example, I will give only a screen of the general menu:







To get started after installation, you only need to create or import users. If you need to delve deeper into the server settings, it is better to use the administrator’s guide .



The user interface consists of two states: the control window and the event window.







An address book with chat, user settings and buttons for creating conferences for various scenarios are available on the main window of the user.



The second state of the user interface is the event window. You can meet him on your own in a virtual room created for demonstration in the iMind cloud service.



By clicking on the link below, you will not only take away the possibilities of the conference window, but you can also meet other habrayuzers. And if you activate the camera and the microphone, you get a symmetrical habraconference with a limit of 50 people!



You give a habraffect on iMind!

New prices

What's new?



First: the difference in licensing for SIP / H.323 connections and WebRTC connections has disappeared.

Now, any connection costs the same: whether it is a VKS hardware terminal, a laptop or a mobile phone - no difference. But it is important to note that the difference in the load on the hardware is still preserved: SIP / H.323 clients require significantly more resources than connecting via a browser.



Secondly: the minimum license package now is not 10, but 100 connections.

Thirdly: the minimum package of perpetual licenses for 100 competitive connections with technical support (and the possibility of renewal) for 1 year costs only 806'000 rubles , which amounts to 8'060 rubles per connection!



For comparison with competitive Russian solutions, I tried to find offers with open retail prices. But, unfortunately, there were not many such domestic developers. The vast majority hide prices on the official website, and partners write only “price on demand”. It’s not my right to disclose the price level if the developers themselves try to hide them.



What does the Mind Server offer us for 806'000 rubles, taking into account TP for 1 year:

1. 100 competitive connections. This means that in Mind you do not pay a penny for online users! Register at least 500 people and let them all sit online and chat with each other - this does not affect the competitive license in any way. Only the participant who entered the window of the online event uses the connection license.
2. As already mentioned, there is no need to pay extra for various connectivity options. Both SIP / H.323 clients and mobile users and WebRTC members are the same!

Output. To date, there are no analogues in the Russian market of professional video conferencing servers that could be compared to the Mind Server in price. And this is due to the fact that the Mind solution has always met high standards of communication quality.

VKS Servers STSS Flagman MIND

If the customer has a need to purchase a ready-made customized and tested VKS solution “out of the box”, we offer 6 MCU Mind models with full Mind Server functionality and connection licenses included. Moreover, only as part of the server it is possible to buy licenses in an amount less than the minimum package of 100 pieces.



Server STSS Flagman MIND-V15HD-L





Price 32'496 rubles for one competitive connection, taking into account the cost of the hardware server with a 3-year warranty and annual Mind technical support.



Server STSS Flagman MIND-V25HD-LU





Price 25'172 rubles for one competitive connection, taking into account the cost of the hardware server with a 3-year warranty and annual Mind technical support.



Server STSS Flagman MIND-V50HD-L





Price 21'074 rubles for one competitive connection, taking into account the cost of the hardware server with a 3-year warranty and annual Mind technical support.



Server STSS Flagman MIND-V20W80HD-L





The price is 16'270 rubles for one competitive connection, taking into account the cost of the hardware server with a 3-year warranty and annual Mind technical support.



Server STSS Flagman MIND-V50W50HD-L





Price 20'625 rubles for one competitive connection, taking into account the cost of the hardware server with a 3-year warranty and annual Mind technical support.



Server STSS Flagman MIND-V100HD-L





The price is 27'728 rubles for one competitive connection, taking into account the cost of the hardware server with a 3-year warranty and annual Mind technical support.



As you can see from the prices of “boxed” MCU Mind, the lowest connection cost is for the configuration of 20 x SIP / H.323 + 80 x WebRTC / Mind Meeting Client.



16'270 rubles per participant - this is the lowest cost on the market among professional video conferencing solutions. If the server will work only with WebRTC, the price per port will decrease by another 20 percent.

Testing distribution kit and unlimited license until October 6, 2019

You can deploy Mind Server in your infrastructure by downloading the latest distribution package from the link . Download will start automatically after filling out the feedback form.



The key to activate full functionality without restrictions is here .



The key is limited not by the validity period, but by the end date, therefore it is better not to delay the start of testing.



If you or your customers have a commercial need for a VKS Mind Server solution, I am ready to provide personal assistance in organizing testing and demonstration of the product.



You can contact for questions of presale and purchase of professional videoconferencing equipment for meeting rooms



You may also be interested in past articles:



Voice guidance of the camera has become more accessible - the universal SmartCam A12 Voice Tracking solution



Online meeting room designer - choosing the optimal videoconferencing solution



Thank you for your attention, do not miss the survey.

Respectfully,

Kirill Usikov ( Usikoff )

Head of

CCTV and video conferencing systems

1@stss.ru

stss.ru

vc4u.ru