Console servers were developed to meet the needs of system administrators, to manage the multiple platforms in their data centers. Originally were simply reverse terminal servers, using telnet sessions to gain access to serial console management ports on target servers and routers from a remote system. Security then was added (most console server vendors use Linux with OpenSSH and other security modules) as were other features such as serial data logging and alerts. So a new class of console server product was established - quite distinct from its terminal server origins.
Console servers provide these administrators with the solid and secure access to their system consoles they need. They also provide remote access so crucial IT infrastructure can be managed in a distributed environment. All of the quality console server vendors (Cyclades, Avocent, Opengear, Raritan, Digi, Lantronix, MRV, Logical Solutions) have solutions with the features that meet the classic console management needs:
- secure, authenticated, encrypted access to serial console ports
- out-of-band access for disaster recovery
- session monitoring, logging and alerts
- local and remote in-band access
SysAdmin recently published a review of leading console servers, which lists the important features, and confirms that the quality console servers all provide a robust and secure solution for reliably accessing, monitoring, and controlling multiple servers and devices.
The leading vendors all provide system administrators with direct console access for troubleshooting and diagnostics; and enable them to reconfigure and reboot their servers. They also enable the managers to use the console ports to monitor and control network devices (firewalls, routers), and more general appliances (building security and power switches).
Opengear - the technology leader
Serial console port management is extremely valuable for low level diagnosis and configuration (eg EMS, BIOS access, Linux boot messaging) and for command line management of Linux and many legacy devices. However serial consoles provide negligible management access at the applications level and have limited application in controlling Microsoft computers. Also today most computers, routers and power devices are managed by default using network consoles with graphical console access tools like HTTP or RDP - even at the lowest level.
So Opengear developed and embedded Secure Tunneling (SDT) technology into all of its console server products. So administrators can use the one gateway to remotely manage all their systems and network appliances - using text-based console tools (serial port/ telnet/SOL) or graphical desktop tools and technologies (VNC/ RDP/ HTTPS/X11/UDP).
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Opengear has the only console servers that provide integrated network console and serial console access. System administrators with IM42000 or CM4000 solutions can use a single device to securely remotely manage all their systems and network appliances. They can manage in-band (though the Internet or an enterprise LAN or VPN); or out-of-band (with dial-in or failover broadband). And they can access and control their remote computers and devices through its text-based serial console port, or using its graphical network console interface. SDT delivers secure remote management from the applications layer (with X11, RDP VNC), through the operating system and BIOS layers; right down to the server's BMCs and IPMI service processors, and external power control hardware. |
