NETGEAR AV Align Controller

NETGEAR Align Controller: From network infrastructure to AV platform
For a decade, NETGEAR has been the switching backbone that AV-over-IP runs on, now for the first time they are building the layer above it, turning AV infrastructure into an open, cloud-managed application platform. Meet the NETGEAR Align Controller, the first platform purpose-built for what AV networks actually need above the switch layer.
Built for AV
The Align Controller runs NETGEAR Engage and the NETGEAR AV OS, software engineered from the ground up for how AV traffic behaves on a network. And it’s backed by a partner ecosystem of over 600 manufacturers, with real interoperability testing behind every profile, so when an integrator specifies a deployment, they can be confident everything works together before they touch it on-site. Deployments that once took hours are now plug-and-play. Management that used to require a a site visit is now remote, from anywhere in the world.
And this is just the beginning. The platform is designed to grow, supporting third-party applications alongside NETGEAR’s own and evolving alongside every installation it supports.

Grandmaster timing, on-board
PTPv2, SMPTE ST 2110 GM/BC, and gPTP AVB run natively - no external clock device required. Sub-microsecond synchronization across your entire AV infrastructure.
Every critical service, one appliance
NTP, DNS, DHCP, and Syslog run directly on the GB406, consolidating the network infrastructure your AV deployment depends on into a single, hardened appliance.
Deploy in seconds
Power via PoE++ (802.3bt Type 4) means no dedicated power circuit and no extra rack space required. Half-width, shallow TU - fits virtually any rack.

One box, endless applications
The NETGEAR Align Controller is the first dedicated appliance to host NETGEAR Engage, NETGEAR’s AV network management platform for designing, configuring and managing AV-over-IP deployments. But it goes further than management. Precision timing and core network services, functions that have always required separate devices, are built right in. The Align Controller runs as a grandmaster clock and supports PTPv2, SMPTE ST 2110, gPTP AVB, and AES67. NTP, DNS, DHCP, and Syslog services are also built in. One device instead of four.
For integrators, the impact is immediate: less time configuring infrastructure, more time focused on the deployment itself. For end users, it means a more stable, resilient network from day one.
Remote Engage access
The Align Controller supports secure remote access to Engage for up to five concurrent users via the NETGEAR Insight portal (license required) and allows them to configure, monitor, and troubleshoot without having to be on-site.
The NETGEAR Align Controller starts shipping in August 2026. Simply connect it to an existing switch using PoE++, no dedicated power circuit needed, and it’s ready to go. It’s half-width 1U, so there’s room for a backup unit even when rack space is tight. Full specs can be accessed here.