[Legacy] Hostname Switching for Single VLAN 2G Systems

• Overview
• Requirements
• Setup
• Control
• Diagnostics

Overview

VLAN Switching is the most powerful implementation method that sets Just Add Power apart from all other manufactures of Video-over-IP products. VLAN Switching is our unique, out-of-the-box approach of using port-based VLANs to dynamically manage traffic flow on a network. By using a unique VLAN to keep each video stream isolated on a network, the heavy lifting of sifting through packets and managing IGMP membership is removed from the equation, and the switch is able to perform its most basic function: forwarding packets. JADConfig programs a switch for VLAN Switching.

In some installations, creating a parallel or dedicated network to take full advantage of VLAN Switching - such as integrating on top of an existing data network at an educational institution - is not a realistic or desirable approach. It makes more sense to have all Just Add Power devices in a single dedicated VLAN to keep them from interfering with the rest of the data network. With all devices in a single VLAN, switching sources involves modifying the Multicast IP of the Receiver rather than actively manipulating the VLAN configuration of the managed switch.

Hostname Switching describes a 2G System where all Just Add Power devices are in a single VLAN and switching is performed by modifying the Multicast IP of individual units. Each Transmitter is given a unique Multicast IP - referred to as a Channel - and a Receiver is assigned the Channel of the Transmitter it is meant to watch. The Channel is assigned to the Transmitter and Receiver via a TELNET command. When using Multicast Switching, switching speeds will not be instant and seamless like they are with VLAN Switching, but the results should be satisfactory given the more strict requirements of the specific project.

Hostname Switching is only for 2G Systems, or hybrid systems where all devices are in 2G Mode. For 3G Systems with single-VLAN requirements, please go to the Multicast Switching article.

Requirements

• One dedicated VLAN for all Just Add Power devices
• All devices on the same subnet
• 150 Mbps dedicated/guaranteed bandwidth per Transmitter
• IGMP Snooping Support
• Firmware A5.3.1 or A6.5.9 on all devices

Limitations

• Relies on switch CPU resources
• Manual configuration of switch is required
• Manual configuration of each Just Add Power device is required
• Maximum of 16 sources

Benefits

• No access to switch CLI required
• Can be implemented on almost any managed network
• Syntax for writing a custom TCP/Telnet driver is simple

Setup

1. Set all devices to the same firmware and assign unique management IP addresses in the same subnet to each device
2. Assign a unique Channel number X (1-16) to each of up to 16 Transmitters via telnet: channel X
3. Assign a starting Channel number X (1-16) to each Receiver via telnet: channel X
4. Configure the switch:
   • Allow traffic in the multicast IP range: 225.0.100.0 - 225.0.101.111
   • Enable IGMP Snooping
   • Enable IGMP Immediate-Leave

Control

1. Telnet to the Receiver management IP
2. Send this command, replacing X with the channel of the Transmitter to watch: channel X

Diagnostics

To check the channel setting of a Receiver:

1. Send the command: astparam dump
2. Look for the line that reads: ch_select=X
3. X is the current channel setting in binary where 0000=channel 1 and 1111=channel 16

To check the channel setting of a Transmitter:

1. Send the command: astparam dump
2. Look for the line that reads: hostname_id=X
3. X is the current channel setting in binary where 0000=channel 1 and 1111=channel 16