Purpose-Built AV Platform

NETGEAR Align Controller GB406

The NETGEAR Align Controller GB406 is a purpose-built AV platform that consolidates AV management, timing and essential network services in a compact, half-width 1U appliance. It hosts NETGEAR Engage, supports local and licensed remote access, and provides four 2.5G Ethernet ports and two 10G SFP+ ports.

What is the NETGEAR GB406 Align Controller?

The GB406 is a rack-mountable controller for modern AV-over-IP and broadcast operations. It combines NETGEAR Engage management, PTPv2 and gPTP AVB timing, DHCP, NTP, DNS and Syslog services with an Ubuntu and Docker application platform in one appliance.

6 Ports Four 2.5G Ethernet ports and two 10G SFP+ ports

AV Timing PTPv2 Grandmaster, Boundary Clock and gPTP AVB support

PoE++ IEEE 802.3bt Type 4 Class 8 primary power input

16GB RAM Octa-core Intel processor with LPDDR5 memory

NETGEAR’s Purpose-Built AV Platform

A consolidated layer for AV management, applications, timing and network services.

The Align Controller is designed as the layer above the switching infrastructure used by AV-over-IP deployments. It provides a single appliance for hosting NETGEAR Engage, operating essential network services and supporting AV timing protocols.

Its platform architecture is based on Ubuntu and Docker and is designed to support additional NETGEAR applications and integration with third-party solutions over time. Third-party application support beyond the included three-month period requires the optional five-year electronic licence.

Centralised AV Network Management

Manage supported AV infrastructure locally or through licensed cloud remote access.

NETGEAR Engage Host

Provides centralised configuration and monitoring for supported NETGEAR AV switches, Pro Routers and WiFi 7 access points used in AV networks. Offline provisioning is also supported.

Local Browser Access

The browser-based GUI supports up to five concurrent local users on the LAN through HTTPS.

Optional Remote Access

NETGEAR Insight Cloud remote management is available with the optional GB406P60-10000S five-year electronic licence.

Integrated Timing for AV and Broadcast Networks

Native timing services reduce the need for a separate external clock appliance.

The GB406 includes a Grandmaster Clock for IEEE 1588 PTPv2, SMPTE ST 2110 and ST 2059-2, AES67 and gPTP AVB. It can support up to six PTPv2 or AVB gPTP instances using supported timing profiles and their respective BMCA settings.

Each PTPv2 or AVB gPTP instance must be attached to one VLAN and one physical interface. The Align Controller supports PTP 2.0; PTPv1 and PTPv2.1 are not supported.

The supplied datasheet states support for up to 1,000 Boundary Clock or Ordinary Clock clients, with each port able to handle up to 200 clients.

Essential Network Services in One Appliance

Consolidate services used by an AV network onto the GB406.

DHCP Server

Provides DHCP templates, major DHCP options and active client classification rules. Engage can host VLAN DHCP servers on the Align Controller.

Syslog Server

Centralises log collection, storage and retention from devices supporting the standard Syslog protocol over UDP or TCP.

NTP Server

Provides time synchronisation across network devices, including local reference clock and local Stratum configuration.

DNS Server

Supports forward and reverse lookups, authoritative DNS, recursive resolution and DNS zone management.

Multi-Gigabit and 10G Connectivity

Six network interfaces support flexible VLAN and network profile assignments.

Four 2.5G Ports

Four Intel I226 ports support 100Mbps, 1Gbps and 2.5Gbps speeds. One port also functions as the PoE++ powered-device input.

Two 10G SFP+ Ports

Two Intel X710-BM2 SFP+ ports support 1Gbps and 10Gbps connections.

VLAN Assignment

Any of the six LAN ports can be assigned to VLANs in untagged PVID mode or tagged trunk mode using Network Profiles.

Flexible Power and Compact Installation

A half-width, shallow 1U design with two available power inputs.

The primary power input is a 2.5G PoE++ powered-device port supporting IEEE 802.3bt Type 4 Class 8 and up to 90W. This allows the GB406 to be deployed without a dedicated AC circuit at the appliance.

A 54V/1.66A external power adapter is included as the secondary power source. The two inputs provide 1+1 seamless power redundancy.

The unit has a half-width, shallow 1U rack-mountable form factor. It can be installed independently or paired with a second half-width GB406 in one rack space using the included pairing kit.

Processor, Memory and Expandable Storage

An application platform designed to run NETGEAR services and supported applications.

Octa-Core Processor

16GB LPDDR5 Memory

Includes 16GB of LPDDR5 system memory for the controller platform and supported applications.

Storage Expansion Bay

Includes 64GB of internal eMMC storage and a SATA III 6Gbps M.2 2242 expansion bay for a compatible solid-state drive.

Designed for Modern AV Operations

The supplied datasheet identifies deployment environments that benefit from a consolidated AV management platform.

Broadcast and Media

Supports broadcast and media installations that rely on standards-based timing, network services and centralised management.

Live Events and Staging

Provides a compact platform for AV deployments that require accessible management and integrated infrastructure services.

Corporate and Enterprise AV

Consolidates management and network services for corporate and enterprise AV-over-IP environments.

Campus and Multi-Site AV

Optional cloud access allows authorised teams to reach the Engage Controller remotely through a browser.

What Is Included?

Package contents supplied with the NETGEAR GB406 Align Controller.

NETGEAR Align Controller GB406
External 54V/1.66A power adapter and local AC power cord
USB Type-C to USB-A 2.0 console cable
Two rubber caps for the SFP+ sockets
Four rubber footpads for tabletop use
One-unit rackmounting standard brackets
Pairing kit for two half-width GB406 controllers in one rack space
Installation guide supplied by QR code

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers about the NETGEAR Align Controller GB406.

How many network ports does the GB406 have?

It has six network ports: four 2.5G Ethernet ports and two 10G SFP+ ports.

Can the NETGEAR GB406 be powered by PoE?

Yes. One 2.5G port functions as a PoE++ powered-device port supporting IEEE 802.3bt Type 4 Class 8 and up to 90W.

Is an AC power adapter included?

Yes. A 54V/1.66A external power adapter and local AC power cord are included as the secondary power source.

Does the GB406 support remote management?

Yes. NETGEAR Insight Cloud remote management is available with the optional GB406P60-10000S five-year electronic licence.

How many local users can access the controller?

The browser-based local interface supports up to five concurrent users on the LAN through HTTPS.

Which AV timing standards are supported?

The GB406 supports IEEE 1588 PTPv2, SMPTE ST 2110 and ST 2059-2, AES67 and gPTP AVB timing.

Which network services run on the GB406?

The appliance provides DHCP, NTP, DNS and Syslog services.

Can storage be expanded?

Yes. The GB406 includes an expansion bay for a SATA III 6Gbps M.2 2242 solid-state drive.

What is the GB406 form factor?

It is a half-width, shallow 1U rack-mountable appliance.

What warranty is supplied with the GB406?

The supplied product information lists a NETGEAR Enterprise five-year limited warranty. Product registration is required within 90 days of purchase, and the stated coverage conditions apply.

Licence note: Local browser-based access is supported without the optional remote-management licence. NETGEAR Insight Cloud remote management and third-party application support beyond the included three-month period require the optional GB406P60-10000S five-year electronic licence.

Installation note: This product is intended for indoor use. The initial VLAN 1 address supplied in the datasheet is 192.168.1.250 with subnet mask 255.255.255.0 and can be changed to a static address during installation.

(GB406)

NETGEAR Align Controller GB406 Specifications

Review the hardware, networking, management, timing, power, physical, environmental and package specifications.

Specification	Details
Product Details
Brand	NETGEAR
Product	Align Controller
Model	GB406
Asia-Pacific Ordering Code	GB406-100AJS (Japan and Australia)
Form Factor	Half-width, shallow 1U, rack-mountable
Processor, Memory and Storage
Processor	Intel Amston Lake octa-core x7809C, 2.4GHz
Memory	16GB LPDDR5 RAM
Internal Storage	64GB eMMC
Storage Expansion	SATA III 6Gbps M.2 2242 solid-state drive bay, 22 × 42mm The datasheet lists expansion storage performance of up to approximately 550MB/s.
USB Storage Port	1 × USB-A USB 3.0 storage port
Platform Architecture	NETGEAR Store, Ubuntu and Docker
Networking
Total Network Ports	6
2.5G Ethernet Ports	4 × Intel I226 ports supporting 100Mbps, 1Gbps and 2.5Gbps
PoE Powered-Device Port	One 2.5G port supports PoE++ 90W, IEEE 802.3bt Type 4 Class 8
SFP+ Ports	2 × 10G SFP+ ports using Intel X710-BM2, supporting 1Gbps and 10Gbps
Auto-LAG	Supported with NETGEAR AV Managed Switches M4250, M4300, M4350 and M4500
Auto-Trunk	Supported with NETGEAR AV Managed Switches M4250, M4300, M4350 and M4500
LAN Port Configuration	Any of the six LAN ports can be assigned to VLANs in untagged PVID mode or tagged trunk mode using Network Profiles
Power
Primary Power Input	1 × 2.5G PoE++ 90W powered-device port, IEEE 802.3bt Type 4 Class 8
Secondary Power Input	1 × DC connector for the included 54V/1.66A power adapter
AC Input	C14 connector, 100-240V, for the local AC power cord
Power Redundancy	1+1 seamless power redundancy
Maximum Power Consumption	71W / 242.26 BTU per hour
Display and Hardware Interfaces
Touch Panel	2.99-inch TFT LCD touch panel with a 72 × 24.12mm active area Displays status information, including the colours of profiles assigned to ports.
Console Port	1 × USB-C console port
Power Button	1 × power button with power LED
Reset Button	1 × pinhole reset button
Port LEDs	Speed, link and activity
Cooling	1 × PWM fan
Acoustic Level	32.8dB at 25°C
Management
Local Management	Browser-based HTTPS GUI for up to five concurrent local users on the LAN
Cloud Remote Management	NETGEAR Insight Cloud remote management with optional GB406P60-10000S five-year electronic licence
Pre-Installed Management Application	NETGEAR Engage
NETGEAR Engage Functions	Centralised configuration and monitoring of supported AV switches, Pro Routers and WiFi 7 access points, including offline provisioning
Optional Licence	GB406P60-10000S Provides NETGEAR Insight Cloud remote management and third-party application support beyond the included three-month period. Internet connectivity is required for initial NETGEAR Insight onboarding.
Timing Services
Timing Standards	IEEE 1588 PTPv2, SMPTE ST 2110, SMPTE ST 2059-2, AES67 and gPTP AVB
PTP and gPTP Instances	Up to 6 PTPv2 or AVB gPTP instances
Supported Timing Profiles	Default 1588, AES67, SMPTE-2059-2, AES-R16-2016 and 802.1AS AVB with their respective BMCA settings
PTP Version Limitation	PTP 2.0 supported; PTPv1 and PTPv2.1 are not supported
Instance Assignment	Each PTPv2 or AVB gPTP instance must be attached to one VLAN and one physical interface
Clock Client Capacity	Up to 1,000 Boundary Clock or Ordinary Clock clients; up to 200 clients per port
Network Services
DHCP Server	DHCP templates, major DHCP options, active client classification rules and VLAN DHCP server hosting
Syslog Server	Centralised collection, storage and retention using standard Syslog over UDP or TCP, typically port 514
NTP Server	Network time synchronisation with local reference clock and local Stratum configuration
DNS Server	Forward and reverse lookups, authoritative DNS, recursive resolution and zone management
Initial Installation
Default VLAN	VLAN 1
Default IP Address	192.168.1.250
Default Subnet Mask	255.255.255.0
IP Configuration	The VLAN 1 address can be changed during installation; static IP only
Physical Specifications
Width	220mm / 8.66 inches
Height	43.2mm / 1.7 inches / 1U
Depth Without SSD Bay Protruding	230.2mm / 9.06 inches
Depth With SSD Bay Protruding	243.75mm / 9.60 inches
Weight Without Power Adapter	1.7kg / 3.75lb
Weight With Power Adapter	2.1kg / 4.62lb
Reliability
MTBF at 25°C	377,896 hours, approximately 43.1 years
MTBF at 50°C	188,460 hours, approximately 21.5 years
Environmental Specifications
Operating Temperature	0°C to 45°C / 32°F to 113°F
Operating Humidity	5% to 95% relative humidity, non-condensing
Operating Altitude	10,000ft / 3,000m maximum
Storage Temperature	0°C to 45°C / 32°F to 113°F
Storage Humidity	5% to 95% relative humidity, non-condensing
Storage Altitude	10,000ft / 3,000m maximum
Intended Environment	Indoor use only
Certifications
Commercial Class A Marks	CE, FCC, VCCI, RCM, ISED, BSMI and KC
Safety Marks	CB, CE, CSA, RCM and BSMI
Package Contents
Controller	1 × NETGEAR Align Controller GB406
Power Adapter	1 × external 54V/1.66A power adapter and local AC power cord
Console Cable	1 × USB Type-C to USB-A 2.0 console cable
SFP+ Socket Caps	2
Tabletop Footpads	4
Rackmount Brackets	1 set of one-unit rackmounting standard brackets
Pairing Kit	1 kit for installing two half-width GB406 controllers in one rack space
Installation Guide	QR code
Warranty and Support
Enterprise Warranty	5 years
Initial Technical Support	90 days of complimentary technical support through all support channels
Initial RMA Service	Fast RMA replacement after the faulty unit is received
Sprint Support	Not included; available through support contracts with 24/5 technical support and Advance RMA Replacement
Overdrive Support	Not included; available through support contracts with 24/7 technical support, a two-hour SLA for P1 cases and Next Business Day RMA Replacement
Warranty Conditions	Limited warranty valid when purchased from a NETGEAR authorised reseller. Covers unmodified hardware, fans and internal power supplies, subject to the stated conditions. Registration is required within 90 days of purchase.

SKU	GB406
Brand	NETGEAR
Shipping Weight	1.5000kg
Shipping Width	0.230m
Shipping Height	0.100m
Shipping Length	0.220m
Shipping Cubic	0.005060000m3