Building a Proper Network, Standard Parts

R/C Manual	4. BUILDING A PROPER NETWORK

4. Building a Proper Network

4.1 STANDARD PARTS

Networks used for remotely controlling 1788A’s are built from standard Ethernet components such as Routers, Hubs and Switches. Standard CAT5/6 Ethernet cabling is used throughout.

4.2 NETWORKING SPEED

The network can run at 10 Base-T and 100 Base-T speed. We recommend using 100 Base-T hardware, especially when the number of preamps and controllers exceeds a few units.

4.3 DHCP SERVER

The Aphex 1788A network requires a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol Server (DHCP Server). This is because IP addresses are not hardware assignable to individuals in the network constellation. Each IP address must be served up dynamically, on demand. This greatly simplifies the administration and flexibility of the network in certain ways.

The DHCP Server can be a hardware unit or a computer configured to be a DHCP Server. Hardware DHCP Servers usually take the form of a DSL Internet Router. These are inexpensive and reliable. You need not have an Internet connection. In fact, we highly recommend avoiding it. The Internet Port should just be left open.

Fig. 4-1. Typical DSL Router

(Containing DHCP Server)

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
Internet

Important Rules

1.Be sure your DHCP Server has ports 1198 and 1199 available and unlocked.

2.Only one DHCP Server can be allowed to exist on the LAN. If any additional Routers are attached to the LAN, they must have their DHCP Servers disabled.

4.4CAT 5/6 WIRING

A 1788A network likes to run clean. No error correction is used, although fault tolerance is built into the system. Anything less than Cat 5 cable is risking dropped commands. Standard commercial wire is suitable.

4.5 HUBS & SWITCHES

Unless your system is very small, you will need to gain more Ethernet ports than what came on your Router. Or, you may need to run one long network line from the Router to a remote rack of 1788A’s. In that case, we recommend incorporating Switches rather than Hubs to expand the network. Figure 2-5 shows some examples where Switches are shown to split out from the Router. Hubs, although cheaper, are not recommended. We have seen them jam up requiring a complete restart with as few as four 1788A’s.

4.6 SHARING EXISTING LANs

Usually, the Aphex preamps and controllers can share almost any conventional LAN with certain minimum requirements. First, there must be a DHCP Server on the LAN. Second,

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4. BUILDING A PROPER NETWORK