Operation Manual; DBC Network Bridge; 8.3 A Closer Look at CobraNet - Page 78

Operation Manual

DBC Network Bridge

page 78

Figure 8.3  Star Network Topology

Figure 8.4  Multi-Star Topology

The MAC address does uniquely identify each TCP/IQ component and 
can be used to establish the physical location of the unit. The binding of 
the MAC address to the IQ address through the use of the TCP/IQ Utility 
assures that each TCP/IQ component is physically in the right position. 
The use of the IP address establishes the Local Area Network (LAN) and 
what components reside within that LAN. The Subnet Mask associated 
with each IQ Component tells what IP addresses can be assigned to a 
particular LAN. The Subnet Mask is also four numbers (0-255) sepa-
rated by periods. For example, a subnet mask of 255.255.0.0 and an IP 
address of 126.126.1.123 says that all IP addresses in that LAN are in 
the IP address range of 126.126.1.1 to 126.126.1.255.

If a TCP/IQ controller is on a different network than the TCP/IQ compo-
nents, communications must occur through an IP router. TCP/IQ dis-
covery requires the use of broadcast Ethernet data packets onto the 
network. These broadcast commands cannot be done through an IP 
router, therefore a Discovery Proxy is required. The establishment of 
this proxy is done in TCP/IQ by naming the IP address of a known com-
ponent on the component network as the Discovery Proxy within IQWin 
or TCPIQ Util.

8.3 A Closer Look at CobraNet 

CobraNet is a licensed technology developed by Peak Audio, Inc. con-
sisting of proprietary communications protocol, firmware and hardware. 
It allows reliable, deterministic transmission of digital audio over a 
100Base-T Fast-Ethernet network.

This section provides an overview of CobraNet. Peak Audio has pro-
vided a number of technical papers that describe CobraNet in detail. 
These papers are available at http://www.PeakAudio.com.

8.3.1Fast Ethernet

(100Base-T)

Fast Ethernet (100Base-T) uses a hub to interconnect all network nodes 
to form a star topology (see Figure 8.3). In the star topology all PCs are 
connected to a centralized hub. Messages are sent from the originating 
PC to the hub, which then transmits the message either to the whole 
network or, if a switched hub is used, to the destination PC only. Hubs 
may be active or switched.

In larger Fast Ethernet networks, additional hubs, concentrators, and 
other network hardware are used to form a larger network, as shown in 
Figure 8.4.