Availability and performance are critical considerations when deploying a network optimized for video surveillance. With more arrangements requiring always-on video, networks must support the video data they carry.
There are multiple options for providing a highly available network, but as a best practice, IEEE 802.1aq, aka shortest path bridging, offers unrivaled performance and resiliency. Since each video management system has a different tolerance to network disruption, you should plan your network to support your VMS properly.
What Is Shortest Path Bridging?
Shortest path bridging is a computer networking technology standardized by IEEE as 802.1aq and IETF as RFC 6329, respectively. It simplifies the creation and configuration of Ethernet networks using loop-free topology. This technology supports large-scale virtualization to enable multipath traffic routing for path optimization and faster convergence without blocking links.
SPB replaces the traditional network protocol stack with a single protocol (IS-IS), making it easier to maintain and operate. The SPB protocol calculates the shortest paths to build efficient network topology and relay information about operational tasks to the switches. It improves the distribution of service membership information, like the availability of a multicast networking stream.
Benefits of Shortest Path Bridging
Shortest path bridging (SPB) with Alcatel-Lucent Enterprises (ALE) is reliable and offers these additional benefits:
- Optimized traffic flow: SPB ensures that video streams take the most efficient path across the network, reducing latency and improving video quality.
- Increased redundancy: SPB supports automatic failover, ensuring continuous video feed availability even if a link or switch fails.
- Simplified network configuration: Unlike traditional spanning tree protocols, SPB eliminated the need for manual VLAN configuration, making it easier to set up and manage large surveillance deployments.
- Improved bandwidth utilization: By using all available links in a mesh topology, SPB maximizes bandwidth efficiency, reducing congestion and jitter in video streams.
- Multicast efficiency: SPB optimally handles multicast traffic, ensuring smooth transmission of live video feeds to multiple monitoring stations without unnecessary duplication.
Improved Network Efficiency and Performance
Like adding lanes to a highway, aggregating links with an SPB-supported network allows all links to be constantly active and load-balancing, increasing the maximum throughput. Similarly, when a link fails, IEEE 802.1aq will enable tens of thousands of video streams to converge in a sub-second window.
SPB enhances network efficiency because all links forward traffic without blocked links or loop prevention protocols. Using all available physical connections streamlines load sharing, leading to more efficient operations. Besides, multipath routing boosts efficiency and enhances network resource use.
Simplified Network Management
SPB can significantly improve throughput and convergence time compared to other protocols, including multiple forms of spanning trees. Its ease of integration allows for seamless implementation within existing networks and, when appropriately configured, provides a highly available network infrastructure.
Hypersegmentation enables a secure network zone that is challenging to breach. It also overcomes legacy network limitations like the number of VLANs deployed. It’s easy to expand the network by adding, changing or removing elements without limiting the number of nodes or impacting the existing network and services.
Enhanced Scalability and Flexibility
SPB network technology is versatile and flexible enough to deploy throughout an entire network, from data centers and campuses to remote locations. You can scale to support growing business needs by adding up to hundreds of new nodes and ports. Various industries can use this tech with data centers spanning various countries and continents. Even with more links, the network has impressive capacity and redundancy.
Better Fault Tolerance and Recovery
In a traditional spanning tree-based network, a network device failure could cause substantial video loss when evaluating the VMS’ fault tolerance and the time needed to restore a failed link or device. Considering the time to regain video is critical to determining what an IP video-optimized network needs.
While various routing protocols can provide fast convergence, shortest path bridging is a far better solution because of its simplicity and overall reliability. SPB’s automatic configuration reduces the potential for human error. The IS-IS protocol is the SPB network’s control panel, providing a global view of the network topology to facilitate faster connectivity restoration after failure.
Implement Shortest Path Bridging in Your Network
Implementing shortest path bridging provides scalable and efficient solutions that enhance the efficiency of Ethernet networks. BCD is an integrated hardware and software solutions provider certified by leading video management software and digital camera manufacturers. We help integrators and end users build high-quality surveillance systems using innovative modern shortest path bridging. We also exclusively offer rugged switches from Alcatel-Lucent Enterprises.
Contact us today to speak to a representative who’ll answer any more questions you have about shortest path bridging for video surveillance.
