Approved Ethernet Switches for WheatNet-IP
Overview
The Ethernet switch is the backbone of WheatNet-IP, as the network transports all of the audio between blades. Just as you selected Wheatstone because it is the best-in-class audio console, you need to select a best-in-class Ethernet switch to connect your WheatNet-IP devices together, as this is literally what will deliver audio from your studio to the air chain, and ultimately your audience.
Wheatstone recommends that the WheatNet-IP audio network be isolated from any existing network using separate switches, or by using a VLAN on existing switches. VLAN configuration is outside the scope of our documentation and will need to be configured by your network administrator. We prefer that WheatNet-IP be isolated on separate switches whenever possible, as it simplifies troubleshooting.
WheatNet-IP is built on multicast. Ethernet switches do not natively manage multicast traffic. Rather, since it does not recognize what it is, it sends the multicast packets to every port on the switch, whether the devices connected to the port have asked for it or not. There will come a point where there will be more traffic on the port than the device can handle, which is a condition known as flooding. When flooding occurs with Audio over IP (AoIP) the end result is audio dropouts, crackle, or complete loss of audio.
In very small systems, an unmanaged Ethernet switch will be able to pass audio, but in a critical broadcast environment, "good enough" isn't good enough. We recommend using an approved Ethernet switch with every WheatNet-IP installation. These switches will have two key components: IGMP Snooping and an IGMP Querier. IGMP Snooping is the feature that lets the switch detect the presence of multicast traffic. The IGMP Querier is essentially a table that the switch creates of all of the multicast traffic; as a port requests a particular multicast stream, the querier allows the traffic through. When the device connected to the port no longer needs that audio, it tells the querier to cut that traffic off.
To learn more about how all of this works and advice on planning your network, we recommend reading our white paper What You Need To Know About Ethernet Audio before you begin.
Approved Ethernet Switches for WheatNet-IP
These switches have been tested by Wheatstone and are known to work reliably. Switches made by other manufacturers that carry the same features as the switches below are likely to be compatible. For example, while we do not list them below, we have customers who have integrated WheatNet-IP into their networks using Juniper and Arista switches. If your IT department wants to use an alternate vendor, have them review our approved switches and how we configure them so they can make good decisions. However, our support department cannot recommend any switch that we have not been able to test. If you have a switch that you'd like to send us to evaluate, contact us in support.
Current Models
- Cisco Catalyst 9200x Series - How To Configure
- Cisco Catalyst 9300x Series - How To Configure
- Netgear M4250 AV Series - How To Configure
NOTE: The Netgear M4250 by default is running a proprietary version of IGMP. If you use this switch on the same network as Cisco or other switches that properly follow the IGMP standards, you MUST take extra steps to turn off the proprietary features and turn on proper IGMP support. See the configuration instructions for more details. Failure to follow these steps will cause audio interruptions!
Older Generation Compatible Switches
These models are considered End of Life by their manufacturer, but have been tested by Wheatstone and may be available on the secondary market.
- Cisco Catalyst 1000 (C1000) Series - How To Configure
- Cisco Catalyst 2960 Series - How To Configure
- Cisco 3750, 3560, 3650, 3850 Series - How To Configure
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