Release Note for OpenH323 Gatekeeper - The GNU Gatekeeper v2.0
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The OpenH323 Gatekeeper - The GNU Gatekeeper project is pleased to announce
the formal release of version 2.0, an open-source project that implements
an H.323 gatekeeper based on the famous OpenH323 project. The release of
version 2.0 includes an impressive list of feature additions, performance
enhancements and bug fixes.

There are several open-source gatekeeper projects based on the OpenH323
protocol stack with very similar names. To make the destinction a little more
clear without confusing people even more, we give the project a subtitle
"OpenH323 Gatekeeper - The GNU Gatekeeper", shortly the GnuGK.

The GnuGK runs on all platforms supported by the OpenH323 library, which
include a wide variety of Unixes such as Linux, FreeBSD, Solaris, and
MS-Windows and others OSes. The GnuGK is available for free under the
GNU General Public License.

The major functions in version 2.0 are:

* The registration table and call record table are redesigned, thread-safe,
  and very efficient. Allow ten thousands of registrations and thousands of
  concurrent calls.

* A new routed mode architecture that support H.225.0/Q.931 routed and
  H.245 routed without forking additional threads. Thus the thread number
  limit will not restrict the number of concurrent calls.

* Support H.323 proxy by routing all logical channels, including RTP/RTCP
  media channels and T.120 data channels. Logical channels opened by H.245
  tunnelling and fast-connect procedure are also supported. In proxy mode,
  there is no traffic between the calling and called parties directly. Thus
  it is very useful if you have some endpoints using private IP behind an
  NAT box and some endpoints using public IP outside the box. 

* Support gatekeepers cluster by exchanging LRQ/LCF/LRJ (neighboring function).
  If the destination of a received LRQ is unknown, the GnuGK can forward it
  to next hop. Therefore the GnuGK can work as a directory gatekeeper.

* Support various authentication methods for selectable RAS requests, including
  H.235 password (MD5 & SHA-1), IP pattern and prefixes matching. MySQL and
  LDAP are supported as backend database for authentication.

* Support alternate gatekeepers for redundancy and load balancing. If the
  GnuGK is overloaded, the endpoints can be redirected to other gatekeepers.

* Can work as an endpoint (gateway or terminal) by resigtering with a parent
  gatekeeper. With this feature, building gatekeeper hierarchies is easily.

* Monitor and control the GnuGK via TCP status port, including registration
  and call statistics.

* Output CDR(call detail record) to status port for backend billing system.
  The CDR contains call identifier, calling and called IP, start and end time
  and call duration.

* Most configurations are changeable at runtime. The GnuGK rereads the
  configurations on receiving 'reload' command via status port, or on
  receiving HUP signal (Unix platform).

