Multicaster is bundled with our free DMX-Workshop software package.
Multicaster is a small Windows programme aimed at helping developers/engineers to diagnose whether sACN/multicast networks are well configured. In a badly configured network (where multicast is being converted to broadcast), everything will seem fine until it breaks.
The application connects via two network interfaces, both connected to ports on the same switch. That allows Multicaster to send packets and analyse the results.
To download the DMX-Workshop suite, please complete the brief registration form. The .exe file installs a full suite of applications including DMX-Workshop, Bandwidth-Tester, Art-Route, Multicaster, rdmInspect and ACT.
Resources
- Tech tips – sACN in large systems – Part 1
- Tech tips – sACN in large systems – Part 2
- Tech tips – sACN in large systems – Part 3
Multicaster investigations
| wdt_ID | Entry | Manufacturer | Part Number | Firmware version | Multicast support claimed | Multicast support detected by Multicaster II | How was the network setup | Conclusions | Tested by | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Netgear | GS728TPP | 6.0.1.16 | 512/1024 | 510 | The switch was configured as a querier and snooping enabled. | sACN friendly switch up to around 500 universes. | Wayne Howell / Artistic Licence | 02/06/2019 |
| 2 | 2 | TP-Link | TL-SG105S | Not visible | Claims to be snooping capable | 0 | This is an unmanaged switch so no specific setup, although connected to a Netgear GS728TPP operating as a querier. | Not sACN friendly. | Wayne Howell / Artistic Licence | 02/06/2019 |
| 3 | 3 | Netgear | GS105EV2 | 1.6.06 | 64-128 depending on bandwidth | 127-128 | The switch was configured as a querier and snooping enabled. | sACN friendly switch up to around 100 universes. | Thierry Dupont / Robert Juliat | 11/06/2020 |
| 4 | 4 | Zyxel | GS1200 | 2/27/2023 | Undefined | 125 | Snooping enabled | Supports 125 universes sACN | Mark Lapierre | 27/02/2023 |
| 5 | 5 | Netgear | GS108T | 2/27/2023 | Undefined | 164 | Snooping enabled | Supports 164 universes sACN | Mark Lapierre | 27/02/2023 |
| 6 | 6 | Cisco | CBS250-8FP-E-2G | 3.2.0.84 | 255 | 253 | The switch was configured as a querier and snooping enabled, unregistered multicast is filtered. | Supports 253 universes sACN | Mark Tober | 13/03/2023 |
| 7 | 7 | Ubiquiti | USW-24-PoE | 5.76.7.13442 | Not documented | 0 | The switch was configured as a querier and snooping enabled, but it's impossible to disable the flooding of unknown multicast. | Not sACN friendly. | Mark Tober | 13/03/2023 |