How do you set up a redundant Dante network?
Quick answer
To set up a redundant Dante network, connect primary and secondary Dante ports on each device to separate, isolated Ethernet switches, then enable redundancy in Dante Controller to automatically fail over if the primary link fails.
Dante redundancy uses two independent networks: a primary and a secondary. Each Dante-enabled device has two Ethernet ports—one for primary, one for secondary. Connect all primary ports to one switch (or a redundant switch pair) and all secondary ports to a separate, isolated switch. Do not interconnect the two networks; they must remain physically separate to avoid loops and ensure true failover.
In Dante Controller, go to the Network View and enable redundancy for each device. The software will then treat the secondary network as a hot standby. Audio streams are duplicated on both networks; if the primary fails, the receiver seamlessly switches to the secondary stream with no glitches. For critical applications, use managed switches with QoS and IGMP snooping to prioritize Dante traffic and reduce latency.
SSOUNDS loudspeaker systems with Dante input modules follow this same principle. When deploying SSOUNDS line arrays or subwoofers in a redundant Dante setup, ensure all amplifiers and DSP units are configured with both primary and secondary connections. Test failover by disconnecting the primary link and verifying uninterrupted audio.
Key things to consider
- Use two separate, isolated Ethernet switches—one for primary, one for secondary.
- Connect each device's primary port to the primary switch and secondary port to the secondary switch.
- Enable redundancy in Dante Controller per device; audio is duplicated on both networks.
- Use managed switches with QoS and IGMP snooping for optimal performance.
- Test failover by disconnecting the primary link to confirm seamless switchover.
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