Matrix: What type of Network Switch is compatible with an E-Dante card?
Question: We are installing an E-Dante card in our Eclipse frame and making the connection to our mixing console which is Dante compliant via a network connection. Are there any special requirements regarding the CAT-5 cable, IP settings and Ethernet switches that we should consider?
Answer: The cabling connections are as they would be for any other IP enabled device, CAT-5/6 cable required. Dante devices including the Clear-Com E-Dante card can operate automatically in DHCP mode, or can be run in Link Local Mode or on a static IP address.
Most Ethernet switches are capable of working with Dante. However the user should be aware that there are some features on some kinds of switches that will allow you to build larger and more reliable Dante networks.
While Gigabit switches are recommended, 100Mbps switches may be used in some scenarios.
Any switches with the following features should be appropriate for use with Dante:
visit the Audinate support website for more details: https://www.audinate.com/support
Answer: The cabling connections are as they would be for any other IP enabled device, CAT-5/6 cable required. Dante devices including the Clear-Com E-Dante card can operate automatically in DHCP mode, or can be run in Link Local Mode or on a static IP address.
Most Ethernet switches are capable of working with Dante. However the user should be aware that there are some features on some kinds of switches that will allow you to build larger and more reliable Dante networks.
While Gigabit switches are recommended, 100Mbps switches may be used in some scenarios.
- For channel counts of 32 or more, Gigabit switches are essential. QoS is required when using Dante in networks that have 100Mbps devices. QoS is also recommended for Gigabit switches on networks that share data with services other than Dante.
- For lower channel count (<32) applications, a 100Mbps switch may be used as long as it supports proper QoS, and QoS is active. The use of 100Mbps switches without QoS is not recommended or supported.
Any switches with the following features should be appropriate for use with Dante:
- Gigabit ports for inter-switch connections
- Quality of Service (QoS) with 4 queues
- Diffserv (DSCP) QoS, with strict priority
- A managed switch is also recommended, to provide detailed information about the operation of each network link: port speed, error counters, bandwidth used, etc.
- If you use managed switches, ensure that they allow EEE to be disabled. Make sure that EEE is disabled on all ports used for real-time Dante traffic.
- If you use unmanaged switches, do not use Ethernet switches that support the EEE function, because you cannot disable EEE operation in these switches.
visit the Audinate support website for more details: https://www.audinate.com/support
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