Switch Configurations and Routing Mechanisms in SMPTE 2110 Networks

Hello,

In this article, I’ve attempted to provide a more comprehensive explanation of the SMPTE-2110 standard that I had only touched upon superficially before. I aimed to present detailed information specifically about switch configurations and routing mechanisms. I hope this content will be useful for you.

Introduction

SMPTE 2110 is a family of standards for transporting video, audio, and auxiliary data (metadata) over IP networks in the professional media industry. While offering a more flexible and scalable structure compared to traditional SDI infrastructures, SMPTE 2110 can cause performance issues in an improperly configured IP network. Therefore, switch configurations and routing mechanisms play a critical role in SMPTE 2110 networks.

SMPTE 2110 Network Structure and Requirements

Network Architecture Diagram

The SMPTE 2110 standard enables the distribution of media content over IP networks and consists of the following main components:

SMPTE ST 2110-10: System timing and synchronization

SMPTE ST 2110-20: Video streaming (uncompressed)

SMPTE ST 2110-21: Video traffic shaping

SMPTE ST 2110-30: Audio streaming (AES67 compatibility)

SMPTE ST 2110-40: Auxiliary data (metadata)

These protocols require more bandwidth, precise timing, and prioritization than traditional IP networks. Therefore, a network infrastructure optimized for SMPTE 2110 is necessary.

Switch Configurations

Switch configuration is of great importance in SMPTE 2110-based networks. The following features should be considered for an ideal SMPTE 2110 switch configuration:

1. Multicast Support and IGMP Snooping

SMPTE 2110 optimizes broadcast streams using multicast technology. Therefore, switches need to support IGMP Snooping and IGMP Querier features. IGMP Snooping prevents unnecessary multicast traffic from spreading across the switch, saving bandwidth.

QoS Classification Diagram

Recommended configuration:

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ip multicast-routing
ip pim rp-address 192.168.1.1
ip pim sparse-mode
ip pim ssm
ip igmp snooping
ip igmp snooping querier
ip igmp snooping version 3

2. QoS (Quality of Service) Configuration

For stable media streams in SMPTE 2110, the network needs to be optimized with QoS. Using DiffServ (DSCP) tags to prioritize media traffic is a common practice.

Recommended QoS configuration:

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mls qos
class-map match-all PTP
  match ip dscp 46
class-map match-all VIDEO
  match ip dscp 34
class-map match-all AUDIO
  match ip dscp 26
class-map match-all ANC
  match ip dscp 18

policy-map MEDIA-POLICY
  class PTP
    priority level 1
    police cir 1000000000
  class VIDEO
    priority level 2
    bandwidth percent 70
  class AUDIO
    priority level 3
    bandwidth percent 15
  class ANC
    bandwidth percent 5
  class class-default
    bandwidth percent 10

3. PTP (Precision Time Protocol) Configuration

SMPTE 2110 uses IEEE 1588 Precision Time Protocol (PTP) for synchronization. Therefore, switches need to be PTP-aware and provide Boundary Clock or Transparent Clock support.

Recommended PTP configuration:

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ptp mode boundary
ptp domain 24
ptp priority1 128
ptp priority2 128
ptp timescale ptp
ptp log-sync-interval -2
ptp log-announce-interval 1

4. VLAN Configuration

In SMPTE 2110 networks, it is recommended to use separate VLANs for each type of traffic. Recommended VLAN separations are as follows:

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vlan 100

name VIDEO-NETWORK
vlan 200

name AUDIO-NETWORK
vlan 300

name PTP-NETWORK
vlan 400

name CONTROL-NETWORK

Using separate VLANs for video and audio enables better management of network traffic and improves performance. If the network has a large-scale media infrastructure, using separate VLANs for video and audio is recommended. In smaller systems, using a single VLAN is possible, but QoS configuration needs to be carefully adjusted.

5. Interface Configuration

Interfaces in SMPTE 2110-compatible switches need to be configured appropriately for multicast and PTP traffic.

Recommended interface configuration:

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interface TenGigabitEthernet1/0/1
description CAMERA-1
switchport mode trunk
switchport trunk allowed vlan 100,300
spanning-tree portfast trunk
mls qos trust dscp
service-policy input MEDIA-POLICY
ptp forward

Routing Mechanisms

Routing Mechanisms Diagram

In SMPTE 2110 networks, routing should be carefully planned to optimize multicast and unicast traffic.

1. Multicast Routing (PIM - Protocol Independent Multicast)

SMPTE 2110 broadcast streams are optimized through routers using PIM Sparse Mode (PIM-SM) or PIM Dense Mode (PIM-DM). PIM-SM is generally preferred because it increases bandwidth efficiency.

2. Dynamic Routing with SDN (Software-Defined Networking)

SDN-based switches provide more flexible routing and bandwidth management in SMPTE 2110 networks. SDN protocols like OpenFlow help dynamically optimize media streams.

3. Segment Routing and MPLS

In large-scale SMPTE 2110 networks, Segment Routing and MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching) can be used to prioritize and optimize media streams.

Conclusion

Proper design of SMPTE 2110 network infrastructures directly affects the quality and stability of media streams. While it is critical for switch configurations to support multicast, QoS, and PTP, optimizing routing mechanisms ensures efficient transmission of media data flows. A SMPTE 2110-compatible network structure provides an important infrastructure for high-quality media broadcasts with proper planning and implementation.