A conferencing server 22 and methods for use with a video conferencing system 20 for multimedia collaborative conferencing. The conferencing server 22 includes at least two data ports 69 and at least two video graphics input ports 67 , each pair of data and video graphics input ports for connecting to one of at least two computers 72 belonging to a participant located in a local video conference room. The conferencing server 22 also includes a video graphics output port 77 for connecting to a local input port 40 of the video conferencing system 22 . The conferencing server 22 includes a control unit 50 that is selectively programmed to couple a first of the at least two video graphics input ports 67 to the video graphics output port 77 for allowing the transfer of information from the computer connected to the first of the at least two video graphics input ports to the video conferencing system 20 . In some specific embodiments, the video graphics input and output ports are SVGA input and output ports.