A Quick Guide To Networking - MOTU 8M User Manual

A QUICK GUIDE TO NETWORKING

MOTU AVB networking has been designed to be
powerful, yet straightforward to set up and use.
Here are a few things that are useful to know.
Networking basics
Before proceeding below, review the networking
■
connection diagrams on pages 36-38.
When making network connections, use
■
shielded CAT-5e or CAT-6 cables (a higher grade
cable).
Network cable lengths can be long: 100 meters
■
with standard copper wire cables; much longer
with fiber-optic network cables.
Working with AVB switches
Networks of three or more interfaces require an
■
AVB-compatible switch. You can use any standard
AVB switch on the market. MOTU offers the five-
port MOTU AVB Switch™ (sold separately).
☛
A non-AVB compatible switch will not work.
Connect MOTU AVB interfaces to any AVB
■
Switch using their NETWORK ports.
On the MOTU AVB Switch, connect MOTU
■
interfaces to the five AVB NETWORK ports (not
the Ethernet port). Connect the Ethernet port to a
WiFi router, your Local Area Network (LAN) or
your computer (for running web app only).
MOTU AVB interfaces or
other AVB switches
78
WiFi router, Ethernet
hub/network, or
computer
(Sold separately)
Expand the network by adding more switches.
■
Make a single connection from one switch to the
other. On MOTU AVB Switches, use their AVB
NETWORK ports, NOT the Ethernet port.
You can daisy-chain switches in serial fashion,
■
but don't create loops. For example, in the network
below, do not make any additional connections
between any two switches.
B
C
AVB audio can't pass through more than seven
■
switches. However, you can daisy-chain more than
seven switches and route audio freely among them.
You just won't be able to create point-to-point
connects that span more than seven switches.
Working with computers on a network
Computers are not required for network
■
operation, as you can control the network from
iPads, tablets and smart phones.
To add computers to the network, connect them
■
to any interface using Thunderbolt. If Thunderbolt
is not available, use USB, but Thunderbolt is
preferred because it provides much greater
bandwidth to fully support the maximum possible
number of audio channels to and from the
computer (128 channels in and out, simulta-
neously). If your computer has multiple
Thunderbolt ports, you can connect the computer
to multiple MOTU AVB interfaces for additional
channel access to the network (128 channels in/out
for each interface).
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