Commercial Integrator + Security Sales September 2024 - 39

PARTNER INSIGHTS
SPONSORED CONTENT
NETGEAR Engage Controller: Central
Management of Your AV Switch Deployment
This free, lightweight, portable application has integrators raving about its simplicity and utility
in their commercial and residential AV networks.
AS OUR INDUSTRY has transitioned and become much
more network centric, customer demands have evolved, as
have the tools that AV integrators need. NETGEAR, long celebrated as
an IT and internet company, ventured into the AV sector after Laurent
Masia, senior director of product line management, discovered and
sought to seize on a new opportunity with AV.
Masia highlights the limitations of circuit-based AV installations,
noting high cost and scalability challenges. He describes NETGEAR's
strategic shift toward developing dedicated Ethernet switches tailored
for AV applications over the past decade. " Previously, audio and video
distribution went through a circuit-based fabric, which can be good,
but [which is] expensive and not very scalable, " Masia explains. " So,
NETGEAR engineers began developing software 10 years ago, and
they developed dedicated Ethernet switches only for the AV world. "
Masia emphasizes the role of software controllers in automating
network detection and configuration, thus streamlining what was
once a complex and costly process across multiple switches and panels.
Network switches can be a headache for integrators and users, he
says, " [since] the process of ensuring multiple switches are configured
correctly is difficult and time-consuming. "
Over time, NETGEAR became a leading force in the AV world. It all
began with the NETGEAR AV OS on the switches themselves; eventually,
that evolved into the Engage Controller. The free, lightweight,
portable application makes configuring a system easy, earning acclaim
among influential integrators. " The Engage Controller is a software
tool that automatically detects new and old switches on the local
network and configures the switches in a single location that can be
accessed via an app, " Masia explains. The Engage Controller is available
for M4250, M4300 and M4350 switches commonly used in AV
networks. You can even use it to upgrade firmware on the switches.
The Engage Controller underlines NETGEAR's commitment to
serve AV channel stakeholders. Integrators rave about the central
management tool and commend its user-friendly interface, which
offers visibility into everything from network topology to sites, credentials
and configuration info. Consolidating management and troubleshooting
tasks onto a single platform that can be run from a USB
thumb drive, the Engage Controller eliminates the need for individual
switch configuration. This enhances efficiency and ease of use for
integrators and end users in commercial and residential settings alike.
Upon logging into the switch, Masia explains, " End users are presented
with two interfaces: one for IT and one for AV users. The profiles
in the AV interface...eliminate the need to navigate through backend
technology. " The ability to color-code and customize ports - all from a
free application - enhances integrators' control and confidence.
According to Paul Mueller, director of engineering at AVI SysThe
Engage Controller underlines NETGEAR's commitment
to serve the AV channel. Leading integrators are
raving about the central management tool.
tems, NETGEAR engineers have always intuitively understood IP.
When NETGEAR entered the AV space, Mueller says, the company's
engineers " ...went out to other manufacturers across the industries,
obtained samples and began building systems alongside integrators,
becoming subject matter experts on the physical material, as well as
software. " The Engage Controller is the culmination of NETGEAR's
collaborative efforts with industry partners and developers, reflecting
feedback and expertise integrated throughout its development.
An Engineer-Based Support Team
A key integrator demand is always to have a support team whose
members understand the industry and its nuances. This led Masia to
create an engineer-based support team that, he says, has grown " ...
from two or three engineers to 22 engineers [globally]. " That means
integrators can always access a true subject matter expert when
working with NETGEAR switches and the Engage Controller.
Shawn Wallin, UC deployment engineer at AVI Systems, says that,
when his team has run into challenges on projects, they just email
the support team. They'll connect with an expert by phone shortly
thereafter. " It's hugely beneficial, " he declares, " since we're talking to
individuals familiar with the different AV products. "
Notably, NETGEAR has sought to bring together AVI Systems
engineers and other integrator leaders to discuss what they want in
products. This really stands out to Mueller. " NETGEAR directly addressed
what was necessary for the AV industry, " he declares.
NETGEAR's Engage Controller is an essential software tool for AV
integrators' toolbox. With its interface for AV users and the ability
to customize switches, the tool makes it easy to access, control and
troubleshoot any network switch deployment.
Learn more about NETGEAR at netgear.com/engage.
PHOTO COURTESY OF NETGEAR.

http://www.netgear.com/engage

Commercial Integrator + Security Sales September 2024

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