Overview

VLAN Switching is a powerful implementation that sets Just Add Power apart from other manufacturers of Video-over-IP products. It uses port-based VLANs to dynamically manage traffic flow. By isolating each video stream in its own VLAN, the switch avoids heavy IGMP processing and simply forwards packets. Advanced Matrix Programmer programs a switch for VLAN Switching.

In some installations—such as layering onto an existing campus data network—creating a parallel/dedicated network to leverage VLAN Switching may be impractical. In these cases, it is often better to place all Just Add Power devices in a single dedicated VLAN so they do not interfere with the rest of the network. With all devices in one VLAN, switching sources is done by changing a Decoder’s Multicast IP (its Channel) rather than manipulating switch VLAN configuration.

Multicast Switching describes this single-VLAN design. Each Encoder is assigned a unique Multicast IP (the Channel), and each Decoder is set to the Channel of the Encoder it should display. Channels are assigned via Telnet. Switching will not be as instant or seamless as with VLAN Switching, but is usually satisfactory given project constraints.

Benefits and Limitations

Benefits	Limitations
Works on most managed Layer-3 networks Can coexist with existing network infrastructure Simple TCP/Telnet control commands Supports Channel assignments from 0–9999.	Switching performance is slower than VLAN Switching Relies on switch multicast processing Requires manual network configuration Requires proper IGMP configuration

When to Use Multicast Switching

Multicast Switching is typically used when VLAN Switching cannot be implemented due to network design constraints.

• Existing enterprise or campus networks

• Shared infrastructure environments

• Networks managed by third-party IT departments

• Deployments where switch VLAN manipulation is not permitted

Requirements

Just Add Power Requirements

• Omega, Ultra, or MaxColor Series Encoders and Decoders

• Use the latest available firmware on all Encoders and Decoders. See Firmware Downloads.

Network Requirements

• Layer-3 Managed Network

  • One dedicated VLAN for all Just Add Power devices

  • No other network appliances in the Just Add Power VLAN

  • Use a unique subnet for the Just Add Power VLAN

  • The VLAN interface IP should be configured as the default gateway for all Just Add Power devices

• IGMPv2 Support

  • IGMP Snooping required

  • IGMP Querier required

• Jumbo Frames (MTU greater than 9000)

Network Capacity Requirements

• MaxColor Series Encoders generate approximately 850 Mbps of multicast traffic during normal operation.

• Omega and Ultra Series Encoders generate approximately 500 Mbps of multicast traffic during normal operation.

• All Just Add Power Encoders and Decoders should be connected to Gigabit Ethernet ports.

• Ensure switch ports, uplinks, and switching capacity are sized appropriately for the expected number of simultaneous streams.

Switch Configuration Checklist

• Create a dedicated, unused VLAN for all Just Add Power devices (Just Add Power AVoIP VLAN).

• Subnet the Just Add Power AVoIP VLAN; use the VLAN interface IP as the default gateway on all Just Add Power AVoIP devices.

• Assign all Just Add Power AVoIP device ports to the Just Add Power AVoIP VLAN.

• Allow traffic in the multicast range 239.92.0.0 – 239.99.99.99.

• Enable IGMP Snooping on the Just Add Power AVoIP VLAN.

• Enable IGMP Immediate-Leave (Fast-Leave) on the Just Add Power AVoIP VLAN.

• Enable IGMP Querier on the Just Add Power AVoIP VLAN.

  • Only one switch should operate as the IGMP Querier in multi-switch deployments.

• Enable Inter-VLAN Routing to/from the Just Add Power AVoIP VLAN.

  • If a firewall is present, allow access to TCP:80 and TCP:23 from the data VLAN.

• Enable Jumbo Frames on all Just Add Power AVoIP ports and on any trunks between switches.

• Disable Multicast Flooding / enable Multicast Filtering.

• Add a static route on the LAN router to reach the Just Add Power AVoIP subnet:

  • Destination Network: [Just Add Power AVoIP Network IP]

  • Netmask: [Just Add Power AVoIP Subnet Mask]

  • Gateway: [LAN IP of the Inter-VLAN router or L3 switch]

    • The gateway should be in the data network’s subnet so control devices can reach Just Add Power AVoIP units via inter-VLAN routing.

Just Add Power Setup Instructions

Option 1 — AMP (Recommended)

Advanced Matrix Programmer (AMP) can configure a Multicast Switching system using the Alternate Configuration workflow, automating device configuration and reducing manual setup requirements.

Option 2 — Manual

1. Verify that all devices are on the latest firmware.

2. Assign a static IP address to each Encoder and Decoder.

   • See How to Access a Device for instructions on how to connect to an Encoder or Decoder.

   • Use the same subnet for all devices.

   • Set the default gateway on each device to the Just Add Power AVoIP VLAN interface IP.

3. Assign a unique Channel number to each Encoder via Telnet:

   $ChannelNumber = (0–9999)

   channel $ChannelNumber\r

4. Assign a default Channel number to each Decoder via Telnet (should match an active Encoder):

   $ChannelNumber = (0–9999)

   channel $ChannelNumber\r

Control

In a Multicast Switching system, source selection is performed by changing the Decoder's Channel assignment.

1. Telnet to port 23 of the target Decoder’s IP address.

2. Send the command below, where $ChannelNumber is the Encoder’s Channel (0–9999):

channel $ChannelNumber\r

channel 5\r

Changing the Decoder channel immediately instructs the Decoder to leave its current multicast group and join the multicast group associated with the specified Encoder.