Switch Recommendations For Dante Networking; Cable Requirements; Qos (Quality Of Service) Settings - Shure INTELLIMIX P300 User Manual

Networking and Dante
Digital Audio Networking
Dante digital audio is carried over standard Ethernet and operates using
tm
standard Internet Protocols. Dante provides low latency, tight clock syn-
chronization, and high Quality-of-Service (QoS) to provide reliable audio
transport to a variety of Dante devices. Dante audio can coexist safely on
the same network as IT and control data, or can be configured to use a
dedicated network.
Switch Recommendations for Dante
Networking
In addition to the basic networking requirements, Dante audio networks
should use a Gigabit network switch or router with the following features:
• Gigabit ports
• Quality of Service (QoS) with 4 queues
• Diffserv (DSCP) QoS, with strict priority
• Recommended: A managed switch to provide detailed information
about the operation of each network link (port speed, error counters,
bandwidth used)

Cable Requirements

Always use Cat5E cable or higher.

QoS (Quality of Service) Settings

QoS settings assign priorities to specific data packets on the network,
ensuring reliable audio delivery on larger networks with heavy traffic. This
feature is available on most managed network switches. Although not re-
quired, assigning QoS settings is recommended.
Note: Coordinate changes with the network administrator to avoid disrupt-
ing service.
To assign QoS values, open the switch interface and use the following
table to assign Dante™-associated queue values.
• Assign the highest possible value (shown as 4 in this example) for
time-critical PTP events
• Use descending priority values for each remaining packet.
Dante QoS Priority Values
DSCP
Priority Usage
Label
High (4) Time- CS7
critical
PTP
events
Medium Audio, EF
(3) PTP
Low (2) (re- CS1
served)
None (1) Other BestEffort
traffic
Note: Switch management may vary by manufacturer and switch type.
Consult the manufacturer's product guide for specific configuration details.
For more information on Dante requirements and networking, visit www.
audinate.com.
Hex Decimal Binary
0x38 56 111000
0x2E 46 101110
0x08 8 001000
0x00 0 000000
Networking Terminology
PTP (Precision Time Protocol): Used to synchronize clocks on the
network
DSCP (Differentiated Services Code Point): Standardized identifica-
tion method for data used in layer 3 QoS prioritization
Networking
Networking Best Practices
Use the following best practices when setting up a network to ensure reli-
able communication:
• Always use a "star" network topology by connecting each component
directly to the switch or router.
• Connect all Shure networked devices to the same network and set to
the same subnet. This applies to all devices that audio signals must be
routed between (managed through Dante Controller). It is also required
in order to open the web application for a device.
• Devices on separate networks require an audio processor or conferenc-
ing software to carry audio between them. See the system planning and
gear requirements section for network setup information and configura-
tion examples.
• Use only 1 DHCP server per network. Disable DHCP addressing on
additional servers.
• Power on the switch and DHCP server prior to MXA equipment.
• To expand the network, use multiple Ethernet switches in a star
topology.
• All devices must be at the same firmware revision level.
Network Audio and Shure Control Data
Microflex Advance™ devices transport two types of data over the net-
®
work: Shure Control and Network Audio.
Shure Control
The Shure Control carries data for the control software operation,
firmware updates and 3rd party control systems (AMX, Crestron).
Network Audio
This network carries both the Dante digital audio and the control data
for Dante Controller. The network audio requires a wired, gigabit
Ethernet connection to operate.
Device IP Settings
Configure IP
Sets IP mode of the selected network interface:
- Auto (DHCP): For automatic assignment of IP addresses.
- Manual (Static): For Static IP addresses.
IP Settings
View and edit the IP Address, Subnet Mask, and Gateway for each
network interface.
MAC Address
The network interface's unique identification.
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