[debian] Avahi Reflector for Airplay across VLAN

[davyboi]

Hello,

 

Has anyone successfully setup Avahi on Linux to get airplay working across multiple VLANs? If so would you mind sharing how you set it up?

 

I have a school wanting to use Airserver to Airplay their iPad to the staff PC to display on screen. But the iPads are on a different VLAN to the staff PCs. I have found some information online that says Avahi can repeat the Bonjour traffic across the VLANS. So far I have installed Linux Mint (latest version) on a spare netbook, installed the Avahi package and enabled the reflector switch. Its the next stage, configuring the VLANs where I am a little unsure as there seems to be a few different methods online.

 

Anyone got a tried and tested method?

 

 

Thanks Dave

[Cazale]

Which switches are you using? You probably need to enable multicast across vlans.

 

(whether you'd actually want to do that is another matter! It depends on your network, you can introduce a multicast storm).

 

See here if you have Cisco kit: http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/ios-xml/ios/ipaddr_dns/configuration/xe-3s/dns-xe-3s-book/Service-Discovery-Gateway.html

Edited December 15, 2016 by Cazale

[Blue_Cookeh]

I know it's not exactly what you asked for, but are you using HP switches? A lot of them got updates recently that pulled features like the Bonjour gateway across from the Aruba line up, so you may be able to do it on the switch for the time cost of a firmware update

[caffrey]

Have you got routing enabled across the VLANS ? I used a raspberry pi for avahi and it's been working fine for years

[thebatman]

I setup a VM installed Ubuntu 16 LTS server with one nic, then followed this howto.

It was very easy and workes very well.

[davyboi]

I know it's not exactly what you asked for, but are you using HP switches? A lot of them got updates recently that pulled features like the Bonjour gateway across from the Aruba line up, so you may be able to do it on the switch for the time cost of a firmware update

 

They are HP Switches, Cheers will read into that.

[k-strider]

Yes we have done it used Ubuntu virtual machine with two nics in hyper v tagged one in each VLAN and put the software on... in the config just enabled the serfive and added the two eth0 and eth1

[AlanD]

OK ...but wouldn't - and don't use reflector...nor do I use wireless bonjour support (Aerohive - for example support bonjour across VLANs).

 

And the reason we don't use it is that we have 40 or so teacher PCs with Airserver...so its a bit tedious to have a list of 40 clients appearing on your ipad and trying to choose the correct one...especially when the one you are looking for doesn't appear on your first attempt.....

 

There are a free AirServer "apps" which you simply point at the QR code on the PC screen...and hey presto - it connects. No Bonjour across VLANs required...but yes - you do need routing between VLANs (which you need anyway). We use smoothwall for this routing - because its AD aware (unlike most switches) and so we have a rule that allows staff to connect ...but not for student to connect.

 

And we do the same with printing - with a QR code pasted on the side of printers....puts an app on the devices....point at the QR code - and it connects to the printer....again without using bonjour....because again a large number of printers appearing in a dropdown list is really inconvenient.

 

Bonjour is great for home use - and small networks...but not so good for enterprise...unless you have Bluetooth (or QR codes in our case) or something which can narrow down the selection to something manageable.

Edited July 7, 2018 by AlanD

[AlanD]

...Oh and you can also advertise these services using DNS configurations - which would avoid using reflectors..but it would require manual entries for each device...and yes...its a bit complicated....but there are some web guides about how to do it.