Net3 and VLAN's

As always with networking questions, the answer is "Yes you can, but...."

Combining systems onto VLANS comes with risks. As someone who has worked on several systems involving VLAN segregation of lighting data from other system data, I can tell you we usually have to spend considerable time proving what is at fault - the network or our equipment - when things don't work. VLANs add a layer of complexity that is often unwanted in entertainment systems.

The other issues would certainly be bandwidth (which can be addressed as you mentioned by switching critical links to gigabit/fibre), but the other important consideration for entertainment systems is latency. This is what makes entertainment systems a bit unique - if you're using a network for internet access, it doesn't matter if the odd request gets lost or delivered late - but that is very important when you're talking about a live sound feed or lighting fade. Larger, more complex network gear may, unless you take a lot of care in configuration, actually increase the latency of your network.

So, if it was down to me, I would say no - keep it simple, multiple networks are easier to troubleshoot (especially by folks with a non networking background), and it's clearer to the untrained eye what's going on. The single point of monitioring is a good question, the way we've addressed that in the past is just to use a multi-homed machine - install 2/3 network cards and you maintain the separation of the networks whilst being able to 'see' everything from a single point.

Hope that helps,

Tom

As always with networking questions, the answer is "Yes you can, but...."

Combining systems onto VLANS comes with risks. As someone who has worked on several systems involving VLAN segregation of lighting data from other system data, I can tell you we usually have to spend considerable time proving what is at fault - the network or our equipment - when things don't work. VLANs add a layer of complexity that is often unwanted in entertainment systems.

The other issues would certainly be bandwidth (which can be addressed as you mentioned by switching critical links to gigabit/fibre), but the other important consideration for entertainment systems is latency. This is what makes entertainment systems a bit unique - if you're using a network for internet access, it doesn't matter if the odd request gets lost or delivered late - but that is very important when you're talking about a live sound feed or lighting fade. Larger, more complex network gear may, unless you take a lot of care in configuration, actually increase the latency of your network.

So, if it was down to me, I would say no - keep it simple, multiple networks are easier to troubleshoot (especially by folks with a non networking background), and it's clearer to the untrained eye what's going on. The single point of monitioring is a good question, the way we've addressed that in the past is just to use a multi-homed machine - install 2/3 network cards and you maintain the separation of the networks whilst being able to 'see' everything from a single point.

Hope that helps,

Tom