Tips for Media-over-IP Network Design

This presentation provides a design flow and some common pitfalls when broadcast network engineers consider their Media-over-IP (MoIP) network architecture and configure network switches. In addition to the essential technology such as VLAN, VRF, IGMP, PIM, and OSPF I introduced at the NAB 2022 IPShowcase, you can also see how to verify the network design and some issues that have happened in the design so far, and some key points to consider in your logical design. One of the current biggest issues in the design and development of the SMPTE ST-2110-based broadcasting facilities is the shortage of Media-over-IP (MoIP) network design engineers who understand both broadcasting and network communications. This is the topic that has been discussed for several years, and I have been working to train engineers over the past years through my experience of the MoIP network design, the situation is getting worse and more serious as the number of the facility developments increases. This presentation can help the target audience, broadcast engineers, who are studying or to study MoIP network technology. When trying to build an actual ST-2110-based network, the first question would be how we design a specific IP network. Unlike peer-to-peer SDI network where we can focus on the physical connection, the data on the MoIP network can be transmitted with inbounded multiple streams in an Ethernet optical cable, and multicast routing settings are required in its network switches. In other words, not only physical design but also logical design becomes more important. The more complicated the system becomes, the more complicated the logical configuration becomes. The network architecture design and its IP addressing could be a key to success of the reliable and scalable network. These technique and idea would be similar as the ones in software engineering, which kind of knowledge and skill set has never been needed by broadcast engineers before. If the SDN controller manages the configuration of its network switches in the near future, it may be possible to build a system without knowing specifically how to implement the logic network design. However, once the network occurs in trouble, engineers who don’t have the network design skill would be at a loss, there should be a risk that we would not be able to analyze to take workarounds. For this reason, I believe it is necessary to study the fundamental skill of such appropriate MoIP network design. At the previous NAB2022 IPShowcase, I introduced the essential terminologies for configuring network switches that network engineers should know (VLAN, VRF, Multicast routing, IGMP, PIM, OSPF, LAG/LACP Such). At this IBC2022 IPShowcase, in addition to that, I would like to explain how to verify the designed logical network. In addition, I would like to share some information about the actual issues I have faced so far. One of the issues is that an unintended network path could be routed by OSPF in the event of a network switch failure. Some streams that should have been disconnected could be transmitted with other path and put pressure on the bandwidth of other streams. Another issue is that the short time of IGMP leave/join could be in trouble with bandwidth when a PIM join driven by an IGMP join is issued before a PIM prone driven by an IGMP leave is completed. It may cause more streams than expected to pass for a moment, affecting other streams. Due to the increasing scale and complexity of MoIP network, the design workflow of logic design and verification has become similar as the workflow of the design, implementation, and verification of software, rather than the conventional simple setting and confirmation workflow. Efficient verification workflow has become particularly important in the MoIP network design, and the concept, preparation, and planning have become the key to success your MoIP network. Project managers of the MoIP facility development also should be understood such kind of changing workflow.