3
1 Overview
1.3
Network Foundations
StudioLive™ Series III
AVB Networking Guide
1.3
Network Foundations
No matter what protocol is used, an Ethernet-based
audio network will consist of the following:
•
Network Interface Controller (NIC).
These are built into a computer,
digital mixer, networked stage box, etc. and, as their name implies, allows
these devices to communicate with other devices on a digital network.
•
Ethernet Cables.
Both data and audio networks rely on a set
of standards for cabling infrastructure to ensure that network
performance is both reliable and consistent. These standards include
specifications for the cable construction itself, as well as specifications
for the termination of cabling and physical connections to devices.
More information on cabling can be found in
Section 4.4
.
•
Switches.
These devices bring all the cables together into a central hub
and enable the correct routing of information throughout the network.
1.4
Addressing
Every Network Interface Controller (NIC) on the network must have an address
so that the switches know where to send the data packets appropriately. Every
NIC must have a Media Access Control (MAC) address programmed by the
manufacturer. Every MAC address is unique, and the allocation of MAC addresses to
networking manufacturers is strictly managed by the IEEE standards organization.
In addition to a device’s MAC address, every NIC has a user-definable
addressing layer to make it easier for network managers to configure their
local network. Called the Internet Protocol or ‘IP’ address, this is normally 4
bytes long (IPv4) consisting of the network number and a host address. The
division between the two is also 4 bytes long and called the subnet mask.
Every bit in the IP address that has the number 1 in the subnet mask
belongs to the same network number. Every bit that has the number 0
belongs to the host address. Where things get tricky is that only NICs with
the same network number can exchange data with one another.
If you’ve ever glanced at the network settings on your personal computer, some of
this may seem familiar to you. The operating system on your computer displays the
IP and subnet values as four decimal number (0-255). These numbers correspond
to the four bytes in the IP address and subnet mask. If we use the example of a
small office network, the subnet mask usually has a default value of 255.255.255.0.
This provides the network administrator with 255 host addresses to use because
only the last byte can be changed when it is assigned to devices on the network
(255.255.255.1, 255.255.255.13, etc.). For networks that require more than 255 host
addresses, the subnet mask can be changed to accommodate more devices.
The IP addresses can be programmed manually for systems that require it, but
in many cases, a central device, such as a router, will automatically assign an IP
address whenever a NIC is connected or reconnected. This automatic IP assignment
is accomplished using the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP).
StudioLive mixers support DHCP, self-assigned IP addressing, as well as
manually assigned adressing. This provides network administrators with the
most flexibility when designing a system that includes StudioLive mixers.
For
more information, please review the StudioLive Series III Owners Manual.
