Network Interfaces, Services, & Protocols

Q-SYS provides many network-related services and functions across multiple network adapters (interfaces). Q-SYS Core processors, peripherals, and some I/O cards include network interfaces.

Note: Many network services on the Q-SYS Core can be enabled or disabled on a per-adapter basis in Q-SYS Core Manager or Enterprise Manager. For more information, see Q-SYS Core Manager > Network > Services.

Q-SYS Core Processors

Q-SYS Core processors include at least two network interfaces.

  • LAN A: Included on all Q-SYS Core processors, LAN A is required for use with the primary Q-LAN network. (If the Q-LAN network is not redundant, LAN A must be used for Q-LAN.) LAN A can also be used for other functionality.
  • LAN B: Included on all Q-SYS Core processors, LAN B is required for use with the secondary Q-LAN network. It can also be used for other functionality.
  • AUX LAN / AUX A, B: Except for the Q-SYS Core 110f, Q-SYS Core processors include one or more AUX ports that can be used for non-time-sensitive networking applications.

Note: Q-SYS does not support routing between LAN interfaces (also known as inter-NIC-routing).

Q-SYS Peripherals

Some Q-SYS peripherals have both LAN A and LAN B interfaces. Connect each interface to the network corresponding to the same interface on the Q-SYS Core processor.

Note: Q-SYS peripherals cannot be placed on LAN A and LAN B when there is only a single network.

Q-SYS I/O Cards

Some Q-SYS I/O cards include network interfaces, which are used exclusively for the card's intended purpose. These include:

  • Dante™ audio bridge card (CDN64)
  • AVB bridge card (CAN32)
  • CobraNet™ digital input/output card (CCN32).

Note: Although the AES/EBU digital input card (CIAES-16) includes RJ-45 connectors, it does not support Ethernet in any context.

These high-level network services and their underlying protocols can be enabled or disabled on the Q-SYS Core processor on a per-adapter basis (except as noted) in Q-SYS Core Manager or Enterprise Manager.

Note: See Q-SYS Core Manager > Network > Services for more information.

= Can be enabled on the LAN adapter.

Network Service / Function Description / Protocols Used LAN A LAN B AUX LAN

Q-SYS Device Discovery

Required to allow Q-SYS software applications, such as Q-SYS Designer, to automatically discover the Core on a LAN. If disabled, then Hard Links must be used to locate the Core on the network.

Protocols: Q-SYS Discovery Protocol (QDP): Multicast UDP 224.0.23.175 on Ports 2467-2470 and Unicast on Port 6504

Q-SYS Designer Communications - Legacy

Required to downgrade the Core to v7.1 or lower firmware versions. Requires that either Q-SYS Device Discovery is enabled or Hard Links are used to locate the Core on the network.

Protocols:

  • Q-SYS Control Binary (QCB): TCP Port 1700
  • Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP): TCP Port 80

Q-SYS Designer Communications - Secure

This required service allows secure connection, design file load, and control communications with the Core when using Q-SYS Designer Software version 7.1 or higher. Requires that either Q-SYS Device Discovery is enabled or Hard Links are used to locate the Core on the network.

Protocols: Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS): TCP Port 443

Note: This service cannot be disabled.

Q-SYS Core Redundancy

Required to use the Core with another in a redundant pair.

Protocols:

  • Q-SYS Discovery Protocol (QDP): Multicast UDP 224.0.23.175 on Ports 2467-2470 and Unicast on Port 6504
  • Q-SYS Control Binary Secure (QCBS): TCP Port 1704

 

Q-SYS Audio Enabled Peripherals

Required when using any Q-SYS peripheral device that provides audio streaming.

Protocols:

  • Q-SYS Discovery Protocol (QDP): Multicast UDP 224.0.23.175 on Ports 2467-2470 and Unicast on Port 6504
  • IEEE-1588 (2008) Precision Time Protocol (PTPv2): Multicast UDP 224.0.1.129 Ports 319 - 320

 

Q-SYS Control Peripherals

Required when using the Core with any Q-SYS TSC touch screen control device.

Protocols:

  • Q-SYS Discovery Protocol (QDP): Multicast UDP 224.0.23.175 on Ports 2467-2470 and Unicast on Port 6504
  • Q-SYS Control Binary Secure (QCBS): TCP Port 1704
  • Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS): TCP Port 443

 

Q-SYS UCI Viewers - Windows and iOS

Required when using the Core with any Q-SYS UCI Viewer application. Requires that either Q-SYS Device Discovery is enabled or Hard Links are used to locate the Core on the network.

Protocols:

  • Q-SYS Control Binary Secure (QCBS): TCP Port 1704
  • Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS): TCP Port 443

Q-SYS PTZ-IP Cameras

Required to use Q-SYS PTZ-IP Cameras (PTZ-12x72 and PTZ-20x60) with the Q-SYS Core.

Protocols: Web Services Discovery (WSD): Multicast UDP 239.255.255.250 on Port 3702

 

Q-SYS NC Series Cameras

Required to use Q-SYS NC Series Cameras with the Q-SYS Core.

Protocols: Q-SYS Discovery Protocol (QDP): Multicast UDP 224.0.23.175 on Ports 2467-2470 and Unicast on Port 6504

 

Q-SYS External Control Protocol - ASCII

Required to allow control of the Core from a third-party control system using the ASCII-based Q-SYS External Control Protocol.

Protocols: TCP Port 1702

Q-SYS Remote Control Protocol - JSONRPC

Required to allow control of the Core from a third-party control system using the JSONRPC-based Q-SYS Remote Control Protocol.

Protocols: TCP Port 1710

Secure Maintenance & Support

Allows secure communications for diagnostics by QSC engineering if remote support is requested, authorized, and provided by the user. This can safely be disabled in most situations.

Protocols: Secure Shell: TCP Port 22

Enabled for all NICs

Q-SYS Device Discovery via mDNS / Bonjour

Allows accessing the Core on a LAN via hostname – rarely used in normal operation. Note that some Q-SYS Plugin developers leverage the mDNS service for various functions so disabling this service could impact the performance of some plugins.

Note: The use of Software Dante in your Design will automatically enable its required mDNS functionality on the LAN(s) to which Software Dante is deployed.

Protocols: Multicast Domain Name Service (mDNS): Multicast UDP 224.0.0.251 on Port 5353

Hovermon Audio

Allows the Q-SYS Designer Software application to listen to audio throughout the DSP design for troubleshooting purposes. Can be disabled for security reasons if desired.

Protocols: Outbound from Q-SYS Core: UDP Ephemeral Port

Of the protocols and functions supported by Q-SYS, some require the transmission and reception of multicast packets, while others (such as Q-LAN) are time sensitive, requiring guaranteed and timely delivery of packets through the network.

In the following tables:

  • Multicast protocols require that multicast traffic is allowed on the network. If the total bandwidth of traffic on the network exceeds 1Gbps, you must configure IGMP snooping on the network switch. See Network Switches & Infrastructure and Addressing & Routing.
  • Time-sensitive protocols require a network that can deliver packets with low latency and low jitter. For these protocols and functions, QSC recommends that you configure Quality of Service (QoS). See Network Switches & Infrastructure.
Protocol Multicast Time-sensitive

Q-SYS Discovery

 

Q-SYS Control

    

Audio Clocking (PTPv2)

Q-LAN Audio

  

Q-LAN Video

  

AES67

Dante Audio

  

VoIP Telephony Control (SIP/TLS)

    

VoIP Telephony Audio (RTP/SRTP)

  

Other Media Streaming

Protocol / Function Multicast Time-sensitive

mDNS

 

Audio Clocking (PTPv1)

Dante Audio

  

The CAN32 is a 100 Mbps device. IGMP snooping is not required on AVB-compliant networks.

Protocol / Function Multicast Time-sensitive

IEEE1722.1 (Device discovery, control, connection)

 

MSRP (Stream Reservation Protocol)

 

Audio Clocking (PTPv2)

AVB Audio (QoS handled by IEEE802.1Qat in switch)

  

The CCN32 is a 100 Mbps device. CobraNet devices do not support IGMP snooping. CobraNet Audio packets are usually unicast, but can be configured as multicast.

Protocol / Function Multicast Time-sensitive

Conductor Beat Packets

Discovery and Device Connection (SNMP)

 

CobraNet Audio

These are the other network functions on the Q-SYS network and the Q-SYS Core network adapters they use.

Function LAN A LAN B AUX LAN

Audio Clocking (PTPv2)

 

Q-SYS Control Scripting

Q-SYS Softphone Control - SIP/TLS

Q-SYS Softphone Audio - RTP/SRTP

AES67 Streaming Audio

 

Dante Streaming Audio

 

Media Streaming, Rx/Tx

WAN Streaming, Rx/Tx