Product specifications
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HD Video over IP Extension
Multicasting video over a LAN:
Use the right switch
By Black Box Media Services
I
n KVM extension applications where you
want to distribute HD video across a network,
you need to use the right network switch.
Think of your network as a river of data
with a steady current of data moving smoothly
down the channel. All your network users are
like tiny tributaries branching off this river,
taking only as much water (bandwidth)
as they need to process data. When you start to
multicast video, data, and audio over the LAN,
those streams suddenly become the size of the
main river.
Unicasting is sending data from one
network device to another (point to point),
and usually Layer 2 switches easily support
these types of communications. But multicasting
is transmitting data from one network device to
Layer 3 versus Layer 2
Go farther, do more, with these digital KVM-over-IP extension, matrix switching, and multicasting solutions.
network sharing applications, you will also need
an Agility iPATH Controller Unit (ACR1000A-CTL).
It includes a management suite for remotely and
securely managing the transmitter and receiver
units. Define new content channels, restrict and
enable access privileges, push control, and more.
Once you plug the controller into your
network, you can begin managing devices, users,
and channels The iPATH
™
interface features
a useful on-screen dashboard that gives you a
current overview of the system. It is continually
refreshed so you always have the most up-to-
date system information.
Dual-head and dual-link video options
ServSwitch Agility single-head, single-link
units support DVI-D resolutions up to 1920 x
1200. The dual-head units support the same
DVI-D resolution per video channel, or they
support higher dual-link DVI-D resolutions
(on one channel) up to 2560 x 1600.
For high-bandwidth applications, the
ACR1002A-T and ACR1002A-R are the better
choice. With dual-link support, you can use
the Agility receivers with extra-large HD screens,
such as displays used for broadcasting, digital
film, or high-end graphics editing.
Single-targetsharing
In this configuration, multiple users
can share a single remote computer. Users
can connect in three ways. View-only shows
only the video feed. In Share Mode, an open
connection is available for all users to use the
connected devices at the same time. In Exclusive
Mode, one user locks out the other users,
preventing them from viewing or sharing the
connection, with the exception of network
administrators.
Multicasting
This unique feature enables the Agility to
multicast video and audio over an IP network
to several receiving units. To prevent saturating
the network, when, for example, a receiver isn’t
set up to explicitly receive a multicast, an installed
network switch should feature Internet Group
Management Protocol (IGMP) snooping. This
prevents an IP switch from passing on multicast
data onto every port, even if it’s not part of
the Agility system. IGMP snooping reduces
the amount of traffic generated by Agility
transmitter units that are configured for
multicast operations, and prevent performance
degradation and wasted network bandwidth.
With the Agility and a network switch that
includes IGMP snooping, you can multicast
content to as many receivers as you want with
no distance limits (depending on the network).
This is an ideal configuration for digital signage
applications.
multiple users. A Layer 2 switch sends the multicast
packets to every device and, if there are many
sources, the network will saturate because of
all the traffic.
Multicasting with Layer 3 switches is much more
efficient because it identifies the multicast packet
and sends it only to the intended receivers.
Additionally, Layer 3 switches with IGMP support
and IGMP querier, “know” who wants to receive
the multicast packet and who doesn’t. When a
receiving device wants to tap into a multicasting
stream, it responds to the multicast broadcast with
an IGMP report, the equivalent of saying, “I want to
connect to this stream.” The report is only sent in
the first cycle, initializing the connection between
the stream and receiving device. If the device was
previously connected to the stream, it sends a
grafting request for removing the temporary block
on the unicast routing table. The switch can then
send the multicast packets to newly connected
members of the multicast group. Then, when a
device no longer wants to receive the multicast
packets, it sends a pruning request to the IGMP-
supported switch, which temporarily removes
the device from the multicast group and stream.
Therefore, for multicasting, use routers or
Layer 3 switches that support the IGMP protocol.
Without this support, your network devices will
be receiving so many multicasting packets, they
will not be able to communicate with other devices
using different protocols, such as FTP. Plus, a
feature-rich, IGMP-supported Layer 3 switch gives
you the bandwidth control needed to send video
from multiple sources over a LAN.
ServSwitch Agility DVI, USB, and Audio
Extenders over IP
Kit (Single-Head) ACR1000A
Transmitter, Single-Head ACR1000A-T
Receiver, Single-Head ACR1000A-R
Transmitter, Dual-Head ACR1002A-T
Transmitter, Dual-Head with
VCN access ACR1012A-T
Receiver, Dual-Head ACR1002A-R
Agility iPATH Controller Unit ACR1000A-CTL
Limited* iPATH License
8 End Devices (TX or RX) ACR1000A-CTL-8
16 End Devices (TX or RX) ACR1000A-CTL-16
Rackmount Kit RMKT2004
For full features, specs and pricing details, go to
www.blackbox.fi
*NOTE: To upgrade to a full iPATH license, call our
FREE Tech Support, 0201 888 800.