About The Cisco Telepresence Video Communication Server (Vcs); Vcs Base Applications; Vcs Control; Vcs Expressway - Cisco TelePresence Video Communication Server Administrator's Manual

About the Cisco TelePresence Video Communication Server (VCS)

About the Cisco TelePresence Video
Communication Server (VCS)
The Cisco TelePresence Video Communication Server (VCS) enhances the video experience and
provides seamless communication between SIP and H.323 devices utilizing IETF and ITU standards.
The VCS is the center of the video communication network, and connects all H.323 and SIP
endpoints, infrastructure, and management devices. It provides unrivaled scalability and redundancy
to video communications, and is integral to Cisco interoperability with unified communications and
Voice over IP systems.
The VCS can be deployed with either the Control application or the Expressway™ application, with
various optional packages including FindMe™, Dual Network Interfaces and Device Provisioning.

VCS base applications

The VCS is available with alternative base applications as described below.

VCS Control

The VCS Control provides internal video control and administration for all SIP and H.323 devices. It is
normally deployed within your wide area network with endpoints that are behind the same firewalls or
NAT devices. The VCS Control replaces the need to have separate H.323 gatekeeper, SIP registrar
and H.323 - SIP gateway servers.

VCS Expressway™

The VCS Expressway provides standards-based firewall traversal for SIP and H.323 devices allowing
secure firewall traversal of any firewall or NAT device. As well as all the functionality of a VCS
Control, it also provides registration of traversal-enabled devices and can act as a standards-based
TURN server.
The VCS Expressway is normally deployed outside of your firewall or within the DMZ.
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