Cisco Cisco Unified MeetingPlace Audio Server Installation Guide

The ports that connect MeetingPlace to the telephone network are classified 
as access ports and conference ports. All ports are access ports, and a subset 
of your access ports are also preconfigured as conference ports. However, 
there is no physical difference between an access port and a conference port.

When the system needs ports to set up a conference call or add people to a call 
in progress, it allocates them from the pool of available conference ports. If 
your access ports have all been preconfigured as conference ports and the 
system requires all available ports, it takes them all. Except for the people 
attending meetings, no callers can reach MeetingPlace (for example, to 
schedule a meeting).

Several safeguards ensure that ports are always available for uses other than 
conference calls, such as scheduling meetings:

•

Some conference ports are classified as contingency ports. The system 
keeps these ports in reserve so that people who are participating in a 
meeting can reach a contact or attendant for assistance. A meeting 
scheduling parameter determines how many ports in your system are 
contingency ports.

•

Some remaining conference ports are classified as floating ports. Floating 
ports float between meetings, and are used when an additional caller joins 
a meeting that is already full. A meeting scheduling parameter determines 
how many ports are floating ports.

•

Sometimes your access ports are not all preconfigured as conference ports. 
The number of conference port licenses you acquire, as listed on your 
order schedule, is the number of conference ports in your system.