HDMI over IP using multiple switches? Yes, and can VLANs secure the primary network?
HDMI over IP using multiple switches? Yes, and can VLANs secure the primary network?
I have a challenging situation here. We manage a large structure with offices on the ground floor and the main switch located upstairs on the eastern side. Initially, our IT team placed a Cisco 300G switch in the office and connected it to the main switch via Ethernet. From there, we extended the network to the smaller office using a daisy chain setup. Recently, we added a DVR for security and wanted to broadcast its HDMI feed to monitors throughout the building. The DVR offers HDMI output but requires additional hardware like computers; however, it provides a clean signal that could be routed. I’m wondering if we can use an HDMI over IP device to transmit the HDMI signal directly from the switch port to the main switch, then down to the office switch. After that, the office switch could forward the signal to the HDMI-over-IP receiver without disrupting other network traffic. This would avoid needing to move the signal across VLANs and keep everything organized. I’m curious if this approach is feasible and whether it requires a different VLAN configuration. If it works, I’d likely set it up within its own VLAN for simplicity. My main worry is that HDMI over IP transmitters often target video-only devices and might not handle full network traffic efficiently.
As long as they function as genuine HDMI over IP devices—there are indeed those that rely solely on Ethernet and lack IP support—the setup should work fine. You’ll likely need to assign the correct VLAN, enable the switch, and ensure packets are routed properly. IGMP snooping might be useful if you’re dealing with unicast or multicast traffic, but otherwise there shouldn’t be any obstacles.
Thanks! You're right, those traditional HDMI over cable connections don't support IP functionality. I'd really need an IP address for them to participate in a VLAN.
By restricting which ports carry VLANs—such as using trunk ports only for intended traffic—you prevent data from reaching unintended destinations. This is especially useful for multicast or broadcast scenarios. Another option is to turn on IGMP, which automatically restricts multicast to ports with matching receivers. IGMP snooping is usually active by default on devices like the Cisco 3750X, though I’m unsure about the 300G model. IGMP also needs a Querier in each VLAN, which can be configured on the core switch (e.g., 3750X). These settings become irrelevant if your chosen system relies on unicast traffic instead.
I updated the status; I set up the HDMI over IP devices and placed them in a private VLAN. I added the trunk port to connect to the adjacent switch, which now includes that VLAN. On the other switch, I configured the port for the receiver device to use just that VLAN. Everything is functioning perfectly! Thanks to both of you!