Review: Netgear M4250 Network Switch
By Jennifer P
Shawn Lan of Streaming Media Producer recently posted his review article on the NETGEAR M4250 line of network switches. The Netgear M4250 series of switches is a line of advanced Ethernet switches designed for use in professional AV (audio-visual) environments. These switches offer a number of features that make them well-suited for use in live streaming and other video production applications.
NewTek introduced the NDI protocol in April 2016 as a way to send high-quality audio and video signals over standard Ethernet networks. The NewTek TriCaster was the first device to support NDI, and since then, the protocol has gained widespread adoption throughout the video production industry.
NDI has been embraced by many major companies in the video production world, including camera manufacturers, software developers, and video switcher manufacturers. This has resulted in a wide range of NDI-compatible products, including cameras, encoders, decoders, video switchers, and more.
Managed Network Switch
The managed network switch is an important component of an NDI workflow, but it can also be intimidating for many video producers who are not familiar with network management. However, the Netgear M4250 AV line of switches is an excellent option for those looking to get started with NDI workflows.
One of the reasons why the Netgear M4250 AV line of switches is a good choice is because it is specifically designed for audio and video applications. It comes preconfigured with optimized settings for NDI workflows, so there is no need for users to navigate a complex user interface designed for network management.
Additionally, the Netgear M4250 AV line of switches is the only option listed under Network Products in the NDI Marketplace, which is a testament to its quality and compatibility with NDI workflows. While other managed switches can be configured to work with NDI, they may require more technical expertise and time to set up.
AV User Interface
The Netgear M4250 AV line of switches is a great option for setting up an NDI workflow, especially for those who may not have extensive networking experience. The switch has two UI options, the Main UI and the AV UI, with the latter being designed specifically for NDI workflows. Additionally, the M4250 is the only switch listed under Network Products in the NDI Marketplace, which suggests that it is the de facto standard for the industry.
While it is possible to configure other managed switches to work with NDI workflows, it may require navigating a user interface designed for network management, which could be intimidating for those who are not networking experts. Furthermore, using a different switch could limit the peer base for support.
The Networking Best Practice-White Paper guide and the archived “NDI Network Guidelines” document can be helpful resources for those who want to configure their own switch. However, they may require making decisions for most of the settings discussed, which could be overwhelming for those who are not comfortable with networking. Ultimately, the M4250 is a simple and efficient option for setting up an NDI network, as it can be configured quickly and properly using the AV console.
Bandwidth
It’s important to prioritize NDI traffic to ensure that it’s not delayed or dropped, as sustained throughput is needed for video signals. Segmenting the NDI traffic from other data and internet traffic is a best practice to ensure that the network is optimized for NDI workflows. Multicasting, which NDI uses, is a more efficient way to distribute data to multiple recipients on a network. With multicasting, the data is sent to a designated group of recipients who have expressed interest in receiving the data, rather than being sent to every device on the network like with broadcasting. This helps to minimize the amount of unnecessary network traffic and reduce the risk of network congestion or saturation. IGMP is the protocol used to manage and control multicasting on a network.
Read the full review from Streaming Media Producer HERE
Learn more about NETGEAR M4250 Network Switches HERE