Microsoft Netmeeting 2.1 is free from the Microsoft web site. This software will run only on a computer with MS Windows 95 0r 98 or MS Windows NT 4.0 as its operating system (i.e., it will not run on Macintosh computers, UNIX workstations, or Intel machines running DOS or MS Windows 3.1).

Download NetMeeting 2.1

You need to download the latest version of Microsoft NetMeeting (Version 2.1 as of this writing). There have been reports of compatibility problems between versions, so it's important that everybody have the same version. If your PC is more than a year old and came with Windows95 loaded, it may have an earlier version of NetMeeting that was included with earlier versions of Windows. If NetMeeting is already installed on the machine you plan to use, please check the version number and if necessary download the current version from the Microsoft web site.

To download, go to the Microsoft website

• Click on Free Downloads (scroll down, it's to the left of the gavel icon)
• Click on Conferencing & Chats under the Locate by Category heading.
• Click on NetMeeting 2.1
• In the right side of the screen, click where it says "Download the latest version" under the "Check it Out" heading.
• When asked which version you want to download, click on Next to accept the default "Microsoft
  NetMeeting 2.1 for Windows 95 and Windows NT 4.0" and English for the Language. Keep clicking Next and accepting defaults until the download begins. The file is 2.09 MB and may take a while to download over a slower modem (so plan accordingly and make sure you have space available on your hard drive both for downloading and for installation).

You may be asked if you want to register. Registration is not required to install or run NetMeeting, so it is optional.

Install and Set Up NetMeeting 2.1

Run Nm21.exe to initiate the installation process. The installation only takes a couple of minutes and is very intuitive, requiring only a couple of user confirmations. When given a choice, please select the default option.

• When the installation is completed, doubleclick on the Conf.exe icon in the new NetMeeting folder to start the application and to set up your user profile and preferences (required only the first time you run it). Note: if you have doubts regarding the set up, just accept the defaults as you go through. Specify the directory server as ils1.microsoft.com.
• Provide the information about yourself, using your real name. The information you supply will be visible in the server directory to ANY NetMeeting user who searches the directory for that server. Categorize your use as "Business Use"; many people use NetMeeting for personal purposes (including "romance"), so listing your purpose as business use may discourage unwanted proposals.
• Specify your type of connection (modem or network).
• Test your sound (speakers) and microphone (if you have one).

While in NetMeeting, you can select Tools/Options to review or change your settings. In particular, if necessary change the directory server (located under the Call tab) to ils1.microsoft.com.

Learning how to use NetMeeting

NetMeeting is still somewhat buggy and does have a steep but short learning curve. Once you have it installed, it is worth glancing through the help file (Help/Help Topics). In particular, read through the sections listed in the Contents under Calling and Meeting, Using Chat, and Using the Whiteboard. In class, I will demonstrate the usage of NetMeeting to show you how it functions.

Log in to a server and prepare for a meeting

In order to meet with one or more persons in a NetMeeting meeting, one person must host the meeting and then the other(s) must join. Decide in advance whom in your small group will host the meeting.

Host a meeting

Before the meeting, the host should log in and (if necessary) change the directory server to ils1.microsoft.com.

• Once logged in (it will say "Logged in to ils1.microsoft.com" in the bottom-right status bar). Then select Host Meeting under the Call menu to start a meeting on your computer.
• To initiate a call (and make it possible for others to communicate with you), click on Current Call in the left-side toolbar. The main window will display a list of all users in the call (just you at the beginning).
• From the top toolbar click on both Chat and Whiteboard to launch those applications and have shared spaces in which to communicate. Check the bottom-left of the status bar, it should say "in a call".
• When other meeting members call to request admission to the meeting, your computer will chime and a dialog box will give you the chance to admit the caller.

Join a meeting

To join a meeting, you must be logged on to the same server and call someone in the meeting (e.g., the host). You may find the person to call in the directory or call them directly using their address. Addresses consist of the name of the server followed by a slash and the person's e-mail address. For example, when I am logged in to ils1.microsoft.com, my address is ils1.microsoft.com/kruess@gmu.edu. For this meeting, make sure you are logged in to ils1.microsoft.com. (If for some reason that server is down, use ils2.microsoft.com. If that is down, use ils3.microsoft.com, etc.)

• Log in to NetMeeting and change the directory server to ils1.microsoft.com
• Once logged in (it will say "Logged in to ils1.microsoft.com" in the bottom-right status bar). Now click on Directory in the left-side toolbar (it may already be showing).
• Scroll through the list (click on any column heading to sort the list by that column (e.g., first name)) to find
  the name of your meeting host. If you cannot find the name, switch to the "All" category in the Category
  selection box above the listing and find it in the directory of all users.
• Double click on the host's name in the listing to call and request permission to enter the meeting.
• From the top toolbar click on both Chat and Whiteboard to launch those applications and have shared spaces in which to communicate. Check the bottom-left of the status bar, it should say "in a call".

Interact within a meeting

Once there are two or more users in a meeting, you can begin to interact, whether simply socializing or working toward a goal. Since we will be using primarily Chat and Whiteboard, you should resize and reposition those two windows to best suit your monitor.

Chat is simply text and works much the same way as dialogue in Tapped In and other chat environments.

Whiteboard is based on MSPaint and works the same way. Any user can save the file locally as well as draw or write on the whiteboard (including pasting in graphics from your clipboard).

Those of you who are more adventurous may share other applications on your computer (great for
demonstrations). When you share an application, everybody can see it but only you can actually work with the application.

For reasons of bandwidth, we will not try to use audio/video, but you may want to experiment with these at some other time.