Support FAQ

FAQ

Out of Band (OoB) power control

Opengear console servers give Administrators secure OoB access to serial, network attached and embedded power control devices. So in a remote office if there are problems with the broadband modem/firewall or a management server, which prevents regular remote broadband access to the site, you can OoB connect to the IM/CM/SD4000 then access the power switch. The recalcitrant firewall, switch or server can then be power cycled. Then when rebooted it can (if necessary) be reconfigured, still operating OoB, using RDP VNC HTTP, IPMI, SoL or other iLO management tool. For more details on:

serial control of port power strips using their command line console refer faq 242
serial control of port power strips using the Management Console refer faq 231
network control of power strips and embedded power devices using HTTP/HTTPS commands and IPMI refer faq 257

The examples below outline OoB control of IP Power 9258, using its LAN browser interface and its serial interface:

OoB - Browser control of IP Power 9258

The IP Power is a simple browser controlled power switch, without the security features needed for open public network connection or remote OoB control. However these features and more are added when the IP Power is coupled with a console server.

browser control OoB access

The console server provides secure public access with SDT, and it provides OoB access through a dial in modem (or alternate broadband connection for IM4200). To configure the console server for OoB dial-in access:

Connect a modem to the console server console port using a 319004 adaptor with standard UTP Cat 5 cable (the CM4001 has a DB9 console port, so it will need to use a 31900 and a 319004 adaptor)
Configure the console server for OoB dial-in and set up the remote client dial-in software (refer faq 268)
Configure the console server with the IP Power 9258 as a HTTP accessible Host (so it can be controlled securely with SDTConnector)
Configure SDTConnector so it will access the remote the console server using dial out, then connect to the IP Power using HTTP

OoB - RS232 Serial port control of IP Power 9258

The IP Power is a principally a browser controlled unit, with power control effected over the LAN using http commands, or a browser. The IP Power RS232 serial port mainly provides diagnostic and status information (e.g. sending out its IP address and power on messages during Power On Self Test). However the IP Power serial port also supports emergency power control, and this can be accessed using the IM/CM/SD4000 Console Manager. To configure the IP Power for serial control:
serial port OoB access

Ensure you have the latest version of firmware for the IP Power (V1.3.8A and later) and IM/CM4000 (post V2.1.0u7)
Connect the IP Power 9258's CONSOLE RS232 port to the LOCAL console ports on IM/CM4000. For CM4001/SD4002 devices this connection will use a standard UTP Cat 5 cable with a 319000 adapter at each end. For all other console servers the connection will require only one 319000 adaptor.
Configure the console server gateway for OoB dial-in and set up the remote client dial-in software (refer faq 268)
Set up the console server with IP Power 9258 configured as a serially controlled power strip device (refer faq 231)
Configure SDTConnector so it will access the remote the IM/CM/SD4000 gateway using dial out, then connect to the Console Manager (refer faq 264)