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In this article I will explain how to enroll your Dante devices into Dante Domain Manager (DDM). Dante Domain manager is the software for connecting devices located in different sub-networks. Most Dante networks -from small to large- are managed by the Dante Controller software only because all the devices are in one subnetwork. But if you need to connect Dante equipment located in different subnets on the network you are stuck. Dante multicast messages do not pass a router. That’s where DDM comes in.
For connection between different sub-networks there are two options. The recently launched cloud solution Dante Director (which we will investigate and share soon in a different report) and Dante Domain Manager (DDM). In this article I guide you through the steps to add your Dante equipment into the DDM manager.
Let’s enroll devices into DDM, the easy scenario
Step 1. Log-in to your account on the DDM software. You can do this in two ways. From a browser or from the Dante Controller. When using a browser you need to know the IP address of the DDM server. Within Dante Controller you can click on the little network icon within Dante Controller and enter your account information there.
Step 2. Check if you can find your domain/subnet listed in DDM. Click on it. It should show no devices.
Step 3. Go to the unmanaged devices tab in the DDM application (or Dante Controller) and search for your devices. You can use a filter in DDM for this as well.
Step 4. Now you know where your devices are, so it is time to enroll them. Go to the DDM application, select your devices in the “unassigned tab” and drag them into your domain tab. Congratulations, your devices are now enrolled.
TIP: Beside finding the DDM by IP number it is also possible to search the server by its FQDN (domain name). For this to work (also over subnets), your DHCP server must also specify a gateway, DNS server and search domain. But it could be the way to go when different people must work on your Dante system and knowing that IP numbers are not the easiest way to remember the server ID.
Let’s enroll not connected devices into DDM, the -less- easy scenario
What if you don’t find your Dante devices in the “unmanned tab”? DDM does not know your Dante devices, yet. This is for instance the case when the DDM server location is in another subnet than your devices. Follow the next step to get them known in DDM:
Check the above-described steps 1 – 3. If you don’t find your devices in the unmanaged tab nor with a search action in DDM, you need to connect the devices first.
Step 4. Open the Dante Controller application from Dante Domain Manager. The Dante Controller computer should be in the same subnet as the devices you want to add.
Step 5. Go in Dante Controller to the menu and select: “Devices/connect devices to DDM/”.
Step 6. Select the devices that you want to add to the DDM and press Ok.
Step 7. DDM knows now the Dante devices. You can check this in Dante Controller by selecting in the top bar the group “unassigned”.
Step 8. Go back to the DDM browser window and select the unmanaged devices tab.
Step 9. Select your devices and drag them into your domain tab. Congratulations, your devices are now enrolled.
What about the subscriptions?
Just in case always first save your current subscriptions as a preset before starting to enroll into DDM.
In general, if there are subscriptions between the devices before the enrollment, than these subscriptions should remain after the enrollment. Make sure all devices are enrolled in DDM. In case for some reason the connection does not reconnect automatically you can always select the saved preset and activate the subscriptions in this way.
Administration tip
Think about device naming before implementing a DDM. Correct names helps finding your devices in DDM more easy. For instance, add a subnet identifier to the device name or add phrases that describe a location.
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About DanteSupport
DanteSupport is an independent platform for Dante equipment and networks. We perform tests and reviews of equipment in our own Dante lab and share the results on our platform. We have a vision for Dante in the recording and pro-studio environment as well as in the music instrument segment. By experimenting and testing we want to find out what AoIP can do for us.
