Dante relies on multicast traffic for certain types of audio and video distribution, and in networks where multicast usage is significant, IGMP snooping should be enabled to keep that traffic under control. Without it, multicast packets get flooded to every port on a switch, which can waste bandwidth and create unnecessary load on connected devices.
IGMP is specifically recommended in mixed networks, for example where Dante coexists with IP video on the same network segment (not recommended solution), or where a substantial number of multicast audio flows are in use. On the other hand, if a network carries Dante audio only and has few or no multicast flows, IGMP is not a strict requirement.
When configuring IGMP snooping for Dante, keep the following in mind:
Dante devices support both IGMP v2 and v3, so switches should be configured to work with either version depending on what the rest of the network uses.
Exactly one IGMP Querier should be elected per VLAN. Having more than one active querier on the same VLAN can lead to inconsistent multicast group membership and unpredictable behaviour, so this should be verified during setup.
Query intervals should be kept short (~30 seconds), while timeout values should be set long (~125 seconds). This combination helps the network respond quickly to changes in group membership while avoiding premature timeouts that could interrupt active multicast flows.
Getting IGMP snooping configured correctly helps ensure that Dante's multicast audio and video traffic reaches only the devices that need it, keeping the network efficient and reducing the risk of dropouts caused by unnecessary multicast flooding.
If you are interested in other network configuration tips for Dante, check following document for network administrators: Dante Information for Network Administrators