While we do not specifically certify or recommend particular models of switches, customers have reported that the Netgear M4250 Series, Cisco SG350 series, and D-Link DGS-1210 series of switches generally work very well for smaller, isolated networks. See Configuring a Network Switch for Shure Devices and Dante/AES67 for switch-specific configuration guides.
If you are connecting or uplinking to a campus, corporate, or enterprise network, we highly recommend bringing all equipment back to the IDF and connecting to enterprise-grade access-layer switches. We also recommend that your VLANs do not span across buildings and that their IPv4 Subnet Mask is /24 (255.255.255.0; total of 254 IP addresses) or smaller. See our Enterprise Network Troubleshooting Checklist for more details.
Here are some additional tips for selecting a switch:
- Avoid switches on our list of Disqualified Network Switches for Shure Dante Devices.
- A Gigabit switch is recommended especially for connections between devices sending Audio over IP in the system. Examples of such devices are Microflex Wireless components (MXWAPT, MXWANI), Microflex Advance products (MXA920, MXA910, MXA710, MXA310), Audio Processors (P300-IMX, IntelliMix Room), and Audio Interfaces (ANI devices).
- Generally, a managed switch that has a built-in graphical user interface is preferred because it will allow you to turn on or off any features that could affect performance of the system and network.
- The switch should support DSCP, often referred to as QoS (Quality of Service). Generally, this protocol is turned on but may need to be manually configured depending on the network topology or settings. If you are unsure about this, you may need to contact the IT department or network administrator that is responsible for the network.
- Avoid switches that employ the 802.3az protocol, otherwise referred to as Energy Efficient Ethernet, or select a managed switch that will allow you to turn this feature OFF even if the switch employs. This feature is intended to conserve energy by putting currently unused ports into a "sleep" state. This kind of operation can cause interruptions in Dante and AES67 clocking, which will lead to dropouts. This is particularly problematic for systems involving multiple Microflex Wireless Access Points.
- Make certain the switch has the appropriate PoE or PoE+ for the specific Shure products.
