The CalREN dial plan is a way in which videoconferencing endpoints can initiate calls with each other by a unique numeric identifier rather than an IP address. In order to use the dial plan the videoconferencing endpoint must be registered to a gatekeeper which is connected to the CalREN network.
What makes this all work is a heirarchical system of gatekeepers across the state. The K12HSN has currently placed one gatekeeper in every county in California. Those gatekeepers have been neighbored to 3 regional gatekeepers which act as a directory gatekeeper. The regional gatekeepers are neighbored to CENIC's regional gatekeepers to allow for K-20 dialing in California to endpoints connected to CalREN.
The dial plan used in our scheme was developed by CENIC and uses a 10 digit number to assign to endpoints. For the K-12 portion of the dial plan the number "5" was designated as the first number and the second two numbers are determined by the county's CDS county code. The K12HSN reserved "0" in the fourth digit for MCU services, so the remaining digits from 10 0000 to 99 9999 (spaces are for readability only) are available to be distributed in each county.
You can download a more detailed document about the dial plan here.
GDS and K12's Participation in CalREN
GDS is the Global Dialing Scheme which is operated by VideNet and is the dial plan adopted by Internet 2. One of the K12HSN regional gatekeepers is also neighbored to the GDS gatekeeper allowing endpoints registed to a gatekeeper on the CalREN network to place and receive calls to endpoints across the globe.
The GDS numbering plan is based upon an organizational prefix with numbers following. The K12HSN applied and received the organizational prefix of 0011749.
To place a call to another GDS enabled endpoint, dial the numbers given and the call should be routed automatically.
To receive a call, use the existing CalREN dial plan extension number assigned to the endpoint and add the prefix 0011749 to the number. As an example if the CalREN number for an endpoint is 599 123 456 then adding the prefix the GDS numbe would be 0011749 599 123 4567 (spaces are for readability only).
