Router & switch setup

Start with a flat LAN. Add complexity only when the show requires it.

Show Distro does not require a specific router. It requires one trusted IPv4 subnet, unrestricted local device-to-device traffic, DHCP, and enough end-to-end Ethernet capacity for the files and video the show will carry.

The products below are candidates to evaluate, not endorsements or compatibility guarantees. A model enters the tested configuration library only after its exact hardware and firmware pass a complete rehearsal.

Show Distro Network Profile v1

This is a concrete example for a dedicated show router. The addresses are examples, not requirements; another private IPv4 range works if every Show Distro device remains on the same subnet.

Start with the router’s normal router mode.

On many routers, the private LAN, DHCP, outbound internet access, standard MTU, and lack of port forwards are already defaults. The table identifies what is usually automatic, what to verify, and what to configure.

SettingRecommended settingWhat to do
LAN subnetRouter’s private subnet, or 10.23.0.0/24Usually default. Change it only if it conflicts with another connected network.
Router / gatewayRouter default, or 10.23.0.1Usually default.
DHCPOn; router default pool, or 10.23.0.100–199Usually default.
DHCP reservationsControl, Main, Backup, Director, and infrastructureConfigure once. Keep each show address stable.
WANDHCP · optionalUsually default. Connect upstream only when internet access is needed.
Internet egressOutbound HTTPS · TCP 443Usually default. No inbound WAN rule is required.
Local device accessAllow LAN-to-LANVerify. Main LANs usually allow it; guest networks often do not.
Port forwardingNoneUsually default. Do not create a Show Distro port forward.
UPnP / NAT-PMPOffVerify. Defaults vary by router.
MTU1500Usually default.
Show Wi-FiOptional · main LANOptional. Do not use a guest network; confirm client isolation is off.
IPv6May remain enabledNo change. Show Distro uses IPv4 for local discovery and control.

Defaults vary by model, firmware, and operating mode. “Usually default” means the common starting behavior—not a substitute for the pre-show check.

Download the reference profile This JSON is a readable specification. It does not make changes to a router.
Physical connection order

Venue network → router WAN. Router LAN → show switch. Control, Main, Backup, and Director laptop → show switch. Leave WAN empty when internet is not needed.

Choose the architecture first

Simplest

One router with enough LAN ports

Choose this for a compact travel system. Look for at least four multi-gigabit LAN ports, one separate WAN option, DHCP reservations, configuration export, and optional private Wi-Fi.

Most expandable

Router plus a separate switch

Choose this when you need more ports, PoE access points, multiple 10GbE endpoints, managed VLANs, or easier replacement of one failed component.

Port planning

  • Count a wired port for Control, Main, Backup, Director, the router uplink, and any Companion, NDI, or infrastructure devices.
  • For fast distribution, give Control, Main, and Backup the desired link speed. One 10GbE uplink does not make 1GbE endpoints transfer at 10GbE.
  • A router with one fast LAN port needs a separate multi-gigabit switch if several Macs must exchange files at that speed.
  • Use Cat6 or better for new multi-gigabit show cabling. Label and test every cable before the system enters service.
  • Prefer hardware that can export its configuration and can be restored without a cloud account.
Core Show Distro does not require a managed switch.

An unmanaged multi-gigabit switch is the simplest choice for a flat show LAN. Add management only for monitoring, VLAN policy, PoE, or an NDI design that has been deliberately engineered.

Hardware worth evaluating

These examples cover different operating styles. Show Distro has not certified them. Confirm current port assignments, firmware, configuration export, local administration, and availability before purchase.

CandidatePhysical capabilityWhy it is interestingWhat to verify
ASUS RT-BE88U 10GbE RJ45, 10G SFP+, four 2.5GbE, four 1GbE, built-in Wi-Fi 7. A compact all-in-one path with enough physical ports for a small Show Distro system. Exact WAN/LAN port assignment, firmware version, local-only administration, export/restore, and sustained multi-port throughput.
QNAP QHora-322 Three 10GbE RJ45 and six 2.5GbE RJ45 ports; no built-in Wi-Fi. A high-port-count wired appliance that may avoid a separate switch for a compact multi-gigabit rig. QuRouter configuration workflow, LAN switching behavior, export/restore, firmware recovery, and the separate access point plan.
UniFi Cloud Gateway Fiber 10GbE RJ45, two 10G SFP+, and four 2.5GbE RJ45 ports. A managed ecosystem when the show already uses UniFi switches or access points. Local operation without cloud dependency, same-VLAN peer traffic, configuration backup, and whether an additional 10GbE switch is needed.
MikroTik RB5009UG+S+IN One 10G SFP+, one 2.5GbE RJ45, and seven 1GbE RJ45 ports. A compact, flexible RouterOS platform for an engineer who wants explicit control. RouterOS expertise, the need for a separate multi-gigabit switch, configuration rollback, and who owns show-day support.
Firewalla Gold Pro + switch Two 10GbE and two 2.5GbE routed ports; no built-in Wi-Fi. A gateway-focused option with a simpler policy interface when a separate show switch is already planned. Required setup workflow, external switch and access point, local recovery, and whether its security features can be frozen for show use.

Port counts above come from each manufacturer’s current specification page. They describe hardware only—not Show Distro validation, switching performance, firmware quality, or suitability for a particular show.

A safe configuration library

Show Distro can support router setup through a controlled, testable configuration library.

  1. Now
    Vendor-neutral profile

    A readable reference configuration that an operator or network engineer can reproduce on any suitable router.

  2. After hardware testing
    Version-pinned text recipes

    One recipe for an exact model and firmware, with no credentials, plus a backup procedure, checksum, test record, and rollback steps.

  3. Later
    In-app deterministic setup assistant

    Show Distro identifies a supported device, backs it up, shows a configuration diff, asks for explicit approval, applies known settings, verifies the LAN, and offers rollback.

No blind restore files.

Binary backups may contain administrator credentials, device identifiers, certificates, or hardware-specific settings. Show Distro should never publish or apply one as a generic template.

Acceptance test for every recipe

  • Factory-reset setup and rollback both succeed on the named firmware.
  • WAN can be removed without interrupting local Show Distro operation.
  • Discovery, pairing, content distribution, WebRTC confidence feeds, and external control pass.
  • DHCP reservations survive reboot and the router does not enable port forwarding or client isolation.
  • Advertised 1, 2.5, or 10GbE paths sustain the required transfer without thermal or stability problems.
  • If NDI multicast is enabled, IGMP snooping and a querier are configured and tested; otherwise NDI remains in its normal unicast mode.

NDI recommends standard MTU, flow control, and—only when multicast is used—IGMP snooping and a querier. See the official NDI switch guidance.