Setting up Yamaha SWP1 series
Constructing a Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN)
The SWP1 Series features three types of VLAN presets, which can be easily switched using a DIP switch. In addition to the VLAN presets, you can design and configure your own VLAN using the Web GUI.
In a system that includes other types of networked devices than Dante, or a large-scale system that comprises of many Dante devices, you can avoid unnecessary packet transfers between the different types of device and make the network more stable by segmenting it. Ideally, a separate number of switches should be prepared for each network segment, but you can reduce the required number of switches and cables by using VLANs to create network segments. This method can reduce maintenance costs as well.
Network segmentation refers to the creation of virtual local area networks (VLANs) that are distinct from physical connections. When there are different types of networked devices within a system, you can create VLANs so that while the networks may share the same physical switches, they function as separate virtual networks.
You can provide connections between switches for each VLAN, but you can also use VLAN tagging so that data for various VLANs can be transferred over a single trunk (cable). This enables you to create virtual networks that are separate from the physical wiring.
Here, we will present an example in which two VLANs are created and the switches are connected by a trunk. For example, in a live system using a CL/QL Series console, VLAN 1 could be used as the Dante network and VLAN 2 could be used as the control network.
In the above example, it could also be said that VLAN 1 is the broadband 1 Gbps network for audio transmission while VLAN 2 is the 100 Mbps control network. By segmenting these networks, you can prevent the 1 Gbps network from overburdening the 100 Mbps network (although both networks coexist in the trunk). In the rest of this section, we will configure VLAN settings according to the example network configuration described above.
Although you can connect to a primary Dante line and a secondary Dante line using the same switch with VLAN, both lines may be disconnected in the event that the switch fails (although this setup offers redundancy in terms of cable-related trouble), so use caution. We recommend using two SWP1 switches to create switch redundancy, with the first switch used only for the primary line and the second switch used only for the secondary line.
We will first use the SWP1-16MMF as an example for using the VLAN functions, for VLAN configuration presets A, B and C.
For VLAN preset “A”, Dante is connected to the VLAN1 group, and all other control signals are connected to the VLAN2 group. Use the opticalCON ports as trunk ports when connecting the switches together.
For VLAN preset “B”, the connections are nearly the same; but in addition to using the opticalCON ports as trunk ports to connect the switches together, you can also use the etherCON ports as a trunk ports. Use etherCON for switches that are not compatible with opticalCON.
For VLAN preset “C”, VLAN1 is used as Dante Primary, and VLAN2 is used as Dante Secondary. For connections between switches, connect VLAN1 ports to VLAN1 ports, and VLAN2 ports to VLAN2 ports. Be aware that although this creates redundant cable and port connections, this does not create switch redundancy.
Last, if you wish to design your own VLAN in a pattern aside from the presets, use the Web GUI. In this example, we will change the VLAN settings, using the example of changing VLAN2 ports 15/16 to VLAN1 (for Dante), based on VLAN preset “A”.
Before you perform the following settings, make sure that the PC is connected to VLAN 1, which is the VLAN that you will be configuring first (in this example, the PC should be connected to port 1-6, 9-10, 13-14). VLAN 1 is a special default VLAN, so you should always connect the PC to a VLAN 1 port when you configure switch settings.
Change ports 15-16 (which are members of VLAN2) to be members of VLAN1. First, click “Tag VLAN” to display the VLAN settings for each port. Select the checkboxes for ports 15 and 16, and click “Specify all”.
Change VLAN ID to “1 (default)”, and click OK.
Last, as the settings will not carry over in DANTE mode after the switch is rebooted, if you wish to use the settings again that you made this time, you will need to save the existing configuration file, and then reload the settings after rebooting the switch in USER mode. Refer to the section, “Setting Multiple SWP1s (Copying settings)” found later in this guide for how to export and import the settings.
