Integrate Airtame 2 into your network

Key facts

• Stream performance is mainly based on your network's performance

• Airtame supports both WiFi, Ethernet, and PoE (Sold separately)

• For best results: PoE > Ethernet > 5GHz > 2.4GHz > Airtame AP

• Airtame can be implemented in most networks as long as it meets the requirements.

• "WiFi forwarding" will bridge Airtame's AP with the default gateway of the Airtame device. It can be an Ethernet connection as well. Thus, providing users on the hotspot with the Internet. This may not be preferable due to security concerns in some corporate environments. 

• You can configure Web Proxy. See more info here.

Network requirements

• "Client Isolation" or "NAT Mode", typically enabled on a Guest WiFi, must be disabled since it prevents the computer and Airtame from being able to communicate with each other on the network. (For alternatives, see our section below on Multi-Network setups for internal & guest access)

• "Multicast" must be allowed for Airtame to show up in the Airtame app, 

• An NTP server must be accessible for time synchronization. Either an internal NTP (specified by the DHCP option 42) or permission to access external NTP servers.

• 802.11n/ac router and/or access points (5GHz Recommended)

• WPA or WPA2 (802.1x SSL Supported)

• RSSI: < -40dbm=Excellent | -40dBm to -50dBm=Good | >-50dBm=Poor

• Stable Ping time below 10ms at peak hours

• To use Airtame PoE Adapter, you will need to have PoE enabled switch or injector

•  Not Supported: Captive-Portal Login Networks and WEP

   

Required ports access

Airtame uses different network ports for different functions. These ports must be open and available for Airtame to work as expected. This should be checked in your network controller as well as your firewall. ️Airtame and Airtame Cloud rely on accurate time provided by NTP Servers. This means that access to an NTP server is essential.

Note that "..." means that if this port is not available the next available port is used.

Automatic discovery

Airtame uses "Multicast" to advertise itself on the network for the Airtame app to discover and list all nearby Airtame devices on the same network. The protocol used is SSDP/UPnP

To allow discovery, Multicast must be enabled on the network and all VLANs used for streaming. If Multicast is not enabled on your network, you will still be able to start a stream by typing the IP address shown on the TV into the Airtame app.

Setting up discovery across various VLANS required additional configurations. Please check this article: Step 4: Set up auto-discovery & Multicast routing between VLANs

In case you are using a simplified solution like Aruba or Meraki, the Service ID is: urn:airtame-com:device:airtame:1

Manually disable discovery

For Airtames only used for digital signage, discovery can be disabled to reduce clutter on the list of streaming devices in the Airtame app.

Multi-Network setups for internal & guest access

Despite being able to handle one WiFi and one Ethernet connection, Airtame can be connected to multiple networks at once. If you'd like to connect Airtame to various networks simultaneously, like internal and guest networks, here are some diagrammed examples in order of recommendation

Note that you can change the Homescreen overlay text shown on the screen to match the setup you've chosen so that employees and guests know how to connect. We have made some templates that you can copy and paste here.

1. New Airtame VLAN in a Demilitarized Zone (DMZ)

The is by far the best way to connect Airtame to more than one network. It is the most secure as it is all handled by your firewall; it will give a great performance as all traffic flow through Ethernet (via Airtame PoE adapter or Ethernet adapter) or 5GHz, and it simplifies the network administration. All instructions are explained here: How to create a VLAN setup using DMZ.

2. Using an existing VLAN

Alternatively, the Airtames can be placed on the guest network and routing the specific ports from the internal network to the guest network. This will allow internal and guest users to stream without giving guests access to the internal network. This may go against your organization's security practices hence we do not endorse this over the DMZ method listed before this option.

3. Using both connections (WiFi + Wired)

Airtame can handle one WiFi connection and one Ethernet connection simultaneously (to two different networks). This setup is more accomplishable and maintains security but can also go against your organization's security practices as the networks could technically get bridged since the route to the same Linux kernel. The only drawback is that the guest WiFi may not provide the same quality as the wired internal connection. See how to set Airtame up using an Ethernet adapter. To complement this setup, you can customize the on-screen instructions for your internal and guest users.
 

4. Using Airtame's own WiFi for guests

This setup entails connecting Airtame to your internal network and enabling Airtame's own hotspot AP that creates WiFi inside the room that guests can connect to. The Airtame can even show the WiFi name and password so that guests can help themselves when they enter the room and look at the TV.

This is our least recommended setup for the following reasons:

1. You may already have guest WiFi which will confuse your guests.

2. Guests will lose Internet connection unless "WiFi forwarding" is enabled.

3. "WiFi Forwarding" can be a security vulnerability since it opens a portal to your network to forward the internet connection. 

4. Airtame's own WiFi doesn't perform as well as your expensive network equipment. Although the 5GHz AP will perform better than the 2.4GHz AP for streaming.

️To download a PDF of our deployment guide, click here for Airtame 1 and here for Airtame 2