Network Redundancy

Description

For systems where uptime and reliability matter, network redundancy is essential. nnounce devices* are designed with two independent network interfaces (LAN-A and LAN-B) to ensure continuous operation even during network issues.

This architecture ensures redundancy in all critical areas:

• Two independent network links between the device and the Q-SYS Core

• Redundant control communication between the Core and device

• Redundant UCI (User Control Interface) viewer on touch paging stations

• Redundant, uninterrupted audio based on multicast streaming

The system is built to maintain continuous control, UCI visibility, and audio playback. Audio data is transmitted across both networks simultaneously, allowing for seamless failover without audible drops. Meanwhile, both the control link and UCI web interface actively monitor network availability and automatically switch to the operational path when needed.

In this overview, we’ll walk through how redundancy works in each of these areas — control, UCI, and audio — and explain how the nnounce Q-SYS Plugin handles failover and recovery in real-time.

* nnounce devices with two LAN ports - LAN A and LAN B:

• micnode 2h & 2g microphone stations as well as for

• ionode 4 audio integration platform and

• ampnode 4 amplifier.

Important

• These redundant networks must be configured on separate VLANs, as both interfaces share the same MAC address.

• Redundancy can be used for TCP socket and WebSocket plugin connection types.

Q-SYS Plugin Operation in Redundancy – Control

• Devices are addressed by hostname, and mDNS is used to resolve IP addresses.

• The nnounce plugin scans all Core network interfaces (LAN-A, LAN-B, AUX, etc.) and discovers all IP addresses of the device using mDNS discovery.

• Discovered IPs are checked in sequence, and a control link is activated if any network link is available.

• The WebSocket connection is initially established on one network. If that network becomes unavailable, the plugin will automatically switch to the second network.

UCI Redundancy

• The plugin periodically evaluates network visibility of the Core from the nnounce device.

• This is done by loading the UCI (HTML page) from the Q-SYS Core.

• In case of network problems, the plugin automatically updates the UCI URL to point to a reachable Core IP from the nnounce device.

• Redundant cores are actively checked, and the currently active Core IP is selected.

• The UCI (User Control Interface) is automatically reloaded to the reachable IP. This check is done periodically every 30 seconds (to be verified in the code – Pecan).

Audio Redundancy

• In redundant network configurations, all network interfaces must be selected to receive or transmit audio. This is configured in the Audio Streams configuration settings.

• Redundancy is based on multicast broadcast, and both Core and nnounce devices are transmitting data on all interfaces at all times.

• Both networks will have continuous data usage.

• This continuous data flow allows for uninterrupted audio, with no audible drop during a network switch.

Redundancy Operation Information

• Live calls are terminated if an abrupt network switch occurs between LAN-A and LAN-B.

• The UCI (User Control Interface) will reload automatically within approximately 30 seconds after a network switch.