Blackmagic Design Ethernet Switch 360P

Blackmagic Design Ethernet Switch 360P

The Blackmagic Design Ethernet Switch 360P is an industry-first network switch engineered specifically for the film and television industry. It is designed to bridge the gap between complex IT networking and traditional broadcast workflows, offering high-performance SMPTE ST 2110 IP video distribution with a familiar, router-style interface.

Core Functionality

• Broadcast-Optimized Layout: Unlike standard IT switches, all Ethernet connections are located on the rear panel. This matches the cabling direction of other broadcast gear (like decks and converters), keeping rack wiring clean and secure.

• Plug-and-Play 2110 IP: Pre-configured for SMPTE 2110 multicasting. It eliminates the need for deep IT knowledge to set up IP video routing, as the switch handles complex IGMP and multicast settings automatically.

• Hybrid Control Interface: The front panel features a Videohub-style control surface with a machined metal spin knob, a 2.2-inch color LCD, and shortcut buttons. Users can route IP video sources as if they were switching a traditional SDI router.

Technical Features

• 16 Independent 10G Ports: Features 16 x 10G Base-T RJ45 ports. These are slightly interleaved on the rear to allow easier physical access for connecting and disconnecting cables in a dense rack.

• Dual 100G QSFP Sockets: Includes 2 x 100G Ethernet ports for high-speed "backbone" connections. These are ideal for looping multiple switches together or connecting high-speed storage like the Blackmagic Cloud Store Max.

• Visual Status Monitoring: Includes both HDMI and SDI monitor outputs. These display a real-time status dashboard showing every port's link speed and live data transfer graphs—providing instant visual confirmation of network health.

• NMOS & PTP Support: Fully compliant with NMOS IS-04/05 for discovery and connection management. It also supports PTP (Precision Time Protocol) v2 to ensure all connected IP video devices stay perfectly synchronized.

Technical Specifications

Operational Insight

The Ethernet Switch 360P is the ideal "core" for small-to-medium 2110 IP setups, such as fly-packs or boutique post-production houses. Because it looks and acts like a video router on the front, video engineers can perform "takes" and route sources without needing to access a command-line interface or web-based IT management tool.

By using the HDMI monitor output, a technician can see exactly which ports are under heavy load. If a 4K stream is stuttering, the bandwidth graph will immediately show if a port is hitting its 10G limit, allowing for rapid troubleshooting during live events.