Licensing principles
In Vinteo, both the number of simultaneous participant connections to conferences and the availability of functionality are licensed. There are two licensing methods: port-based licensing, where 1 port = 1 connection; and intelligent (dynamic) licensing. With dynamic licensing, expandable licenses are used, allowing flexible trade-offs between video resolution in a conference and the number of participants.
The table below shows the licensing types, their description and license periods.
Licensing types
| Licensing type | Description | Possible license period |
|---|---|---|
| Dynamic licensing | Expandable HD video licenses that provide connectivity according to the formula 1HD=2SD=0.4FHD=0.1UHD; the distribution of licenses across different resolutions is performed automatically. | Perpetual |
| Static licensing | Port-based licensing with a fixed number of ports of different resolutions and all available licensing options | Perpetual |
| Legacy (legacy static licensing for the closed distribution) | Port-based licensing with a fixed number of ports of different resolutions and a limited number of licensing options (does not support current licensing options) | Perpetual/term |
| NLS (Network Licensing Server) | Network licensing server that works with pools of Dynamic and Static licenses | Perpetual/term |
Edition licenses
The server edition type for each licensing type is given in the table below.
| Possible licensing type | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum number of concurrent calls | ||||
| Edition type | Static licensing | Dynamic licensing | Legacy static licensing (closed distribution) | NLS (Network Licensing Server) |
| Base | 20 HD | 40 SD | 20 HD | 20 HD |
| Standard | 100 FHD | 125 HD | 100 FHD | According to the selected licensing type |
| Enterprise | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Licensing the number of simultaneous participant connections
The number of simultaneous connections can be licensed in two ways: port-based licensing or by using dynamic (expandable) licenses.
Port-based licensing
Depending on whether video is transmitted and on the image resolution, four connection types are defined:
- Audio – audio-only connection, no video;
- VGA – resolution 640x480 pixels;
- HD – 1280x720;
- FullHD – 1920x1080 (supports UHD/4K connections).
If a client connects to the server with a resolution that does not match any of the base resolutions, the server determines the connection type using the following algorithm:
The base resolution is selected with the minimum product of the vertical and horizontal components (the number of pixels per frame) that is not less than the product of the vertical and horizontal components of the client’s requested resolution. The type that corresponds to the selected base resolution is taken as the connection type.
For example, for a resolution of 1024x768 the type HD will be selected, because the product of the components for such a connection is 786432. The minimum base resolution whose product is greater than or equal to this is 1280x720 (921600). In port-based licensing, the maximum number of each connection type is set separately, for example:
- Audio – 20;
- VGA – 50;
- HD – 20;
- FullHD – 5.
When a client connects to the server (during call setup), the server checks if there is a free license of the type requested by the client.
* If a free license of the required type is available, it is reserved and the connection is established.
* If there is no free license of the required type, the server checks for a free license with a higher resolution than requested by the client. If such a license is available, it is reserved and the connection is established with the requested resolution.
* If there is no free license with a higher resolution, the server checks for a license with a lower resolution, down to the Audio type. If such a free license is available, it is reserved and the server establishes the connection with the quality corresponding to that license.
* If there are no free licenses, the server will not allow the connection to be established.
Conference recording and streaming require licenses. Connecting a video clip or an RTSP stream to a conference uses one HD license; if there is no free HD license on the server, any free video license is used instead. For a point-to-point call, two server licenses are required, one for each leg of the call.
Dynamic licenses
With this licensing method, four connection types are defined depending on video resolution:
- Audio – audio-only connection, no video;
- SD – 720x576 pixels;
- HD – 1280x720;
- FHD – 1920x1080.
If a participant requests a resolution that does not match one of the base resolutions, the server determines the type using the algorithm similar to the port-based licensing method. The license specifies the number of audio connections and the number of HD-type connections. The following equivalence of formats applies:
- 1 HD = 2 SD = 0.4 FHD
When a client connects, the server determines which license type (SD, HD or FHD) is required and checks the remaining unused licenses. If there are enough free licenses, the server allows the connection with the parameters requested by the client. If there are not enough licenses, the server allows a connection with a lower resolution for which there are enough licenses left. Any conference streaming, recording, or connection of a clip or RTSP stream uses licenses in accordance with the selected quality.
For example, suppose the license defines 24 HD licenses on the server. Clients then connect sequentially with 1920x1080 resolution. The first such client will consume 2.5 HD licenses, leaving 21.5 free. After that, 8 more participants with FHD resolution can connect. Then 1.5 HD licenses remain free. The next client will no longer be able to connect with FHD resolution because there are not enough free licenses. If this client connects with resolution corresponding to HD, 0.5 HD licenses will remain on the server, which is enough only for one SD connection. Further client connections will only be possible in Audio mode, provided that the license includes audio connections. Additional licensing of presentation mode (VNC, screencast in presentation mode) is not required.
Integration licenses
Integration licenses are a separate pool of port licenses available for both static and dynamic licensing. They are used for integration connections with third‑party products such as the Express corporate messenger, the CommuniGate PRO unified communications platform, Neutronix software products and others.
In dynamic licensing, ports from this pool are not expandable. Integration licenses support a maximum resolution of 720p/30 for the main video stream. There are no resolution limits for the presentation video stream. As of March 1, 2025, the integration license has been removed from the price list; the WebRTC license is its full replacement.
WebRTC licenses
WebRTC licenses are a separate pool of port licenses available for both static and dynamic licensing. In dynamic licensing, ports from this pool are not expandable. They are used for connecting Vinteo web clients, Vinteo Desktop and Vinteo mobile clients. WebRTC licenses have a maximum resolution of 720p/30 for the main video stream. There are no resolution limits for the presentation video stream. As of March 1, 2025, WebRTC licenses are used as integration licenses with third‑party solutions.
Licensing of functionality
Failover mechanism license
The license for this mechanism allows you to create a cluster of two servers that operate in primary‑secondary mode. If the primary server stops responding, the secondary server takes over all functionality and replaces the failed primary server.
Cascading mechanism license
This license enables a cascade of servers for horizontal system scaling. This allows you to distribute the server load across multiple servers and thus increase the overall system performance.
Branding license
Branding the server is the process of installing a branding patch on the MCU server (logo, interface design in the company colors, voice branding). The functionality is described in detail in a separate article.
Layout constructor license
This license activates the graphical layout constructor interface on the server and allows you to design and use custom mosaics.
Multitenant license
Multitenant is a system for separating video conferencing users within a single server. With multitenant, you can split a server into several clusters. Users and conferences combined into a cluster (organization) are called tenants. A detailed description of multitenant is provided in a separate article.
FEC Panasonic license
License for the packet loss recovery technology with Panasonic endpoints.
The following table shows the available functionality for each edition type.
| Functionality licensing | Edition type | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Base | Standard | Enterprise | |
| Cascading | Not supported | Optional | Included |
| Failover | Not supported | Optional | Included |
| Branding | Not supported | Optional | Included |
| Layout constructor | Not supported | Optional | Optional |
| Multitenant | Not supported | Optional | Optional |
| Unlimited P2P calls | Not supported | Optional | Optional |
| Integration capability | Not supported | Supported | Supported |