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šŸ› ļø ToolsšŸ—‚ļø SDKšŸ“„ White Paper
  • Getting Started
    • 🟣What is NDI?
    • šŸ†•Release Notes
    • šŸ“„White Paper
      • Discovery & Registration
        • mDNS
        • Discovery Service
        • Manual Connection
        • NDI Groups
      • NDI Protocols
        • Reliable UDP - NDI 5
        • Multipath TCP - NDI 4
        • UDP with Forward Error Correction – NDI 3
        • Single TCP – NDI 1
      • NDI Related Network Ports
      • Getting video across the network
      • Network Layout
      • Bandwidth
        • NDI High Bandwidth based on SpeedHQ2 (8bit 4:2:2)
        • NDI High Bandwidth based on SpeedHQ7 (8bit 4:2:2:4)
        • NDI HX2 h.264 (8bit 4:2:0)
        • NDI HX2 h.265 (8bit 4:2:0)
        • NDI HX3 h.264 (8bit 4:2:0)
        • NDI HX3 h.265 (8bit 4:2:0)
        • NDI Proxy and bandwidth optimization
      • Network Interface Settings
      • NIC Selection
      • Encoding and Decoding
      • Multicast
      • NDI Administrative Settings
      • Synchronization
      • NDI in the Cloud
    • Glossary
      • NDI Terminology
      • Industry Terminology
  • Using NDI
    • Introduction
    • NDI for Video
      • Digital Video Basics
      • NDI Video Codecs and Format Matrix
      • NDI Encoding Support Matrix
        • Practical NDI Receivers Format Support
        • Practical NDI Transmitters Support
        • Summary Table
      • Interoperability Scenarios
    • NDI for Audio
      • Digital Audio Fundamentals
      • Audio Over IP
      • Technical Facts About NDI for Audio
      • Use Cases
      • Products Using NDI for Audio
    • āš’ļøNDI Tools
      • Release Notes
      • Installing NDI Tools
        • Software License Agreement
        • Privacy Policy
      • NDI Tools Launcher
      • NDI Tools for Windows
        • Access Manager
        • Bridge
          • NDI Bridge automation
          • Configuring Port Forwarding
          • Bridge Tool Logging
        • Remote
        • Router
        • Screen Capture
        • Screen Capture HX
        • Studio Monitor
        • Test Patterns
        • Webcam Input
      • NDI Tools for Mac
        • Access Manager
        • Scan Converter
        • Router
        • Test Patterns
        • Video Monitor
        • Virtual Input
      • Plugins
        • NDI for After Effects
        • NDI for Premiere Pro
        • NDI Output for Final Cut Pro
        • NDI for VLC
        • Audio Direct
        • OBS
    • Utilities
      • Analysis
    • Using NDI with Software
      • Getting Started with NDI in OBS for Windows or Mac
      • Using OBS Studio as a Commentary System
      • Using NDI Tools as a virtual camera in Mac
      • Using NDI and Dante on the same Network
      • Use OBS video + audio on Zoom with macOS
    • Using NDI with Hardware
      • NDI HX upgrades for cameras
      • How to Activate Panasonic Cameras for NDI HX1 — Step-by-Step
      • Recommended Network Switch Settings for NDI
  • Developing with NDI
    • Introduction
    • šŸ“‚SDK
      • Release Notes
      • Licensing
      • Software Distribution
        • Header Files
        • Binary Files
        • Redistributables
        • Content Files
        • Libraries
        • NDI-SEND
        • NDI-FIND
        • NDI-RECEIVE
        • Utilities
        • Command Line Tools
      • CPU Requirements
      • Dynamic Loading of NDI Libraries
      • Performance and Implementation
      • Startup and Shutdown
      • Example Code
      • Port Numbers
      • šŸ”§Configuration Files
      • Platform Considerations
      • NDI-SEND
      • NDI-FIND
      • NDI-RECV
      • NDI Routing
      • HDR
      • Command Line Tools
      • Frame Types
        • Video Frames
        • Audio Frames
        • Metadata Frames
      • Windows DirectShow Filter
      • 3rd Party Rights
      • Support
    • Advanced SDK
      • Release Notes
      • Licensing
      • Overview
      • Configuration Files
      • NDI SDK Review
        • Sending
          • Asynchronous Sending Completions
          • NDI Sending On High Latency Connections
        • Receiving
          • Custom Allocators
            • Video Allocators
            • Audio Allocators
          • Dynamic Bandwidth Adjustment
        • Finding
        • Video Formats
          • Receiver Codec Support Level
          • Frame Synchronization
      • Genlock
      • AV Sync
        • Guidelines
        • Creating and Destroying Devices
        • Recovering Audio
      • Using H.264, H.265, and AAC Codecs
        • Sending Audio Frames
        • Sending Video Frames
        • H.264 Support
        • H.265 Support
        • AAC Support
        • OPUS Support
        • Latency of Compressed Streams
        • Stream Validation
      • External Tally Support
      • KVM Support
      • NDI Advanced SDK FPGA Example Designs
        • Prebuilt uSD Images
        • NDI FPGA Reference Design
          • FPGA Projects
            • Changelog
          • C++ Application Code
            • Changelog
          • linux_kernel
            • Changelog
          • uSD Image Builder
            • Changelog
        • Changelog
    • Utilities
      • Unreal Engine SDK
        • Release Notes
        • Licensing
        • NDI Plugin Installation
        • Simple Setup of Broadcast and Receivers
        • NDI Broadcast Actor
        • NDI Receiver Actor
        • NDI Media Assets
        • Getting Started with Example Blueprint Projects
        • Advanced
      • Free Audio
      • Bridge Service
        • Installation
          • Silent Installation
        • Configuration
          • Web UI
          • Configuration File
          • Manual API Key Management
        • Webhooks
        • WebSockets
        • API
    • NDI Certified
      • Certification Guidelines
        • Interoperability Requirements
        • Technical Requirements
      • Certification Process
        • Pre-certification Checklist
        • Device Testing Methods
          • Camera
          • HDMI Encoder
          • SDI Encoder
          • Decoder
          • NDI Controller
          • NDI Monitor
          • Multicast Testing
        • Detailed process
    • Metadata
      • Metadata Sources
      • Metadata for XML
      • XML Validation
      • Metadata Elements
      • Proposed New Metadata Messages
      • PTZ and Control Messages
      • Undocumented Mysteries
  • Developer Guides
    • Decoding with NDI
    • NDI Bridge Deployment
  • FAQ
    • Index
    • NDI Tools
      • What is the NDI Analysis Tool and where do I get it from?
      • Why does my NDI connection stay active once the source is offline?
      • Why are my changes to the NDI JSON configuration file not being saved?
      • Why is the license for my Panasonic camera not active?
      • How does registration for NDI Tools work?
      • How do I use NDI output with Microsoft Teams
      • The time code on my file is incorrect, how do I change it?
      • Where is Screen Capture (HX) for Mac?
      • How can I make NDI Tools launch automatically?
      • What is the NDI ECCN?
    • NDI Certified
      • What is the NDI Certification Program?
      • Why did you start this certification program?​
      • What happens to my device after it's certified?
      • Is certification mandatory to be a partner of NDI?​
      • I am an OEM manufacturer, can my products be certified?​
      • How long does the certification process take?
      • How do I become certified?​
      • What happens if my product doesn’t meet the requirements for Certification?​
      • Are there any fees to become NDI Certified?
    • Common Issues
      • I'm having trouble getting multicast set up.
      • I'm having trouble with my NDI HX License
      • Why can't I find my Android 14-based NDI devices on my network?
      • Why won’t NDI Tools install on my Windows PC?
      • How do I enable NDI in ā€œNewā€ Microsoft Teams (Windows only)?
      • Why can’t HX Capture display the full resolution of my iPad or iPhone?
      • The NDI HX Camera app won't launch on older phones and iOS
      • Why won't MacOS Sonoma (14.1) recognize NDI Tools as a virtual camera?
      • I'm having issues with Virtual Input for macOS
      • I'm having issues with Final Cut Pro
      • NDI Camera App Issue
    • SDK
      • Where can I find the source code for the FPGA board?
      • What system resources are required to support a design including the NDI FPGA Codecs?
      • Why can’t my h264/265 video be received by an NDI receiver when using the embedded SDK?
      • Can I use the Unreal SDK on Mac?
      • What are the Differences Between the NDI SDK and the NDI Advanced SDK
    • ✨NDI 6
      • Do I need to upgrade to NDI 6 if I'm not using the new features?
      • Is there a fee to upgrade to NDI 6
      • Why doesn't my existing Vendor ID work with NDI 6?
      • How can I get a previous version of NDI Tools or the SDK?
    • NDI HX License Upgrades
      • What is happening with NDI HX Upgrades?
      • Will my existing HX-upgraded camera be affected?
      • I bought a camera before June 30, 2025, but didn't buy an HX license. Can I still get one?
      • I bought a license and a camera but didn't redeem it until after. Can I still get an HX license?
      • If my HX upgrade fails can I transfer the license?
      • Can I sell my upgraded HX camera and keep the license?
      • Will my NDI version work with my current HX license?
      • What does the HX upgrade sunset program mean for camera manufacturers?
      • What will NDI Support do for licenses after the sunset date?
      • I factory reset my camera and forgot the license. Can you help me get it back?
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  1. Using NDI
  2. Using NDI with Hardware

Recommended Network Switch Settings for NDI

Best practices for 2024

NDI is designed to work within your existing network as seamlessly as possible, but we understand that there are still instances where a network administrator would like to see specific settings to employ to get the best possible video in their network. The following are various settings we recommend as a general rule on a managed network:

  1. Network Switch Specifications

    1. Gigabit Ethernet: Ensure all network switch ports support Gigabit Ethernet at least. High Bandwidth NDI can easily use up 250mbps for a single stream at 4K60, and even HX3 can be around 100mbps at the same resolution and framerate

    2. Full Duplex: All ports should be set to full duplex (bi-directional communication).

    3. Backplane Capacity: Ensure the switch backplane supports the full throughput capacity required. Capacity = Number of ports x Speed x 2.

  2. Managed Switch Settings

    1. Quality of Service (QoS): Disable QoS to prevent any potential delays.

    2. Jumbo Frames: Disable Jumbo Frames to avoid fragmentation issues.

    3. Flow Control: Enable Flow Control (Asymmetrical or On) for TCP data transfer.

    4. IGMP Snooping: Enable IGMP Snooping if using multicast.

    5. IGMP Querier: Configure IGMP Querier and Query Interval for each switch in multi-switch networks when using multicast.

  3. Firewalls & Ports

    1. mDNS/Bonjour: Ensure mDNS/Bonjour is accessible for automatic discovery of NDI devices.

    2. NDI Messaging Server: Manual discovery requires access to port 5960 for the NDI messaging server, and subsequent ports starting at 5961 for NDI video streams.

  4. Cabling

    1. Cabling Grade: Use a minimum of CAT5e cabling grade for GigE performance.

    2. Cabling Length: Ensure proper cabling length requirements are met. Network cable can run up to about 100m before the signal starts to degrade simply due to the physics involved.

  5. DHCP Configuration

    1. DHCP: Enable DHCP to simplify setup and network configuration.

    2. Power over Ethernet (PoE): Ensure the switch supports PoE if required by devices. Typically, smaller converter boxes will use POE, or about 15w of power, whereas a camera can use POE+ (~ 25-30w) or even POE++ (up to 100w). A switch may state it’s POE-capable, but only deliver a a certain amount of total power wattage that’s shared across all of the ports.

  6. Additional Tips

    1. Network Latency: Minimize network latency by optimizing the network layout. Additional ā€˜hops’ can add a non-zero amount of delay

    2. Bandwidth Requirements: Ensure sufficient bandwidth for NDI video streams. When using unicast/TCP, the NDI stream is multiplied by the number of concurrent receivers (e.g., if a single camera NDI HX stream is 100mbps, but is being requested by 3 instances of Studio Monitor, then that’s 300mbps total)

    3. There are some known network protocols and applications that directly interfere with NDI- the most notable one being Audinate’s popular AVoIP protocol Dante. When Dante and NDI are used on the same network, it’s generally recommended that they both operate on their own VLAN

  7. WIFI Considerations

    1. While NDI works as a general idea across a network and makes no bearing on the type of network it’s used on, the nature of wifi can impact video performance. While not always recommended, if a device will be on wifi, you’ll want to consider at least a WIFI6 or WIFI7 capable device and infrastructure to get the best possible result with higher bitrates and resolutions. Follow the typical best practices for radio interference.

These settings will help optimize your network switch for NDI, ensuring smooth and reliable video transport. Always test performance with a network analyzer before and after making any changes to ensure the best results. Using a network analyzer to test NDI settings can help you optimize your network performance. We offer a tool called NDI Analysis which is free to download and use and we have a separate page for it on our docs and guides. When using NDI Analysis, the key metric to look for is consistency across the SEND, RECV and MIN/MAX results. If there’s video but those numbers vary greatly, there’s most likely some network delay occurring that could impact performance at some point.

Last updated 5 months ago

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