- Posted
- Apr 1, 2005
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Top ten reasons to implement console servers
Network administrators who manage distributed real-time enterprise-wide applications and networks are coping with more challenges than ever.
Networks are growing in size and scope, with the demand for greater integration of applications and services further complicating the picture. Increasing demands are being placed on network performance and availability.
One solution lies in being able to remotely manage and monitor all network equipment, especially the application and web servers that drive mission-critical business operations from a central location. Centralised remote management can eliminate the high costs associated with travel to fix faulty equipment and enable network administrators to respond to problems throughout a globally dispersed network infrastructure in a small fraction of the time that it used to take, perform corrective actions from anywhere in the world at anytime, and address any staffing shortages that would otherwise hinder effective management of the systems.
Console management solutions can solve many of the challenges facing network administrators by enabling them to:
- centrally manage a globally dispersed network infrastructure
- ensure connectivity to enterprise network equipment even if the network is down
- authenticate users through secure access
- lower overall network management costs
The top-ten reasons presented in this document on why network administrators should consider console management solutions provides a compelling argument for how console servers increase network performance, dramatically reduce downtime, and save operating costs.
These reasons discuss specific network-management challenges and how console servers - devices that are connected to the serial port (aka console or emergency port) of a piece of network equipment and through which console management is performed - can alleviate pain-points throughout the network infrastructure.
10. When unexpected events occur on console ports, emergency alerts are triggered and logged for troubleshooting purposes
Console servers can send an email or page to users when an event occurs, reducing server downtime by proactively notifying them when problems may occur. Because all events are captured in a data log, users are better equipped to isolate then fix a server problem.
In fact, through this type of proactive notification, network administrators will frequently resolve a network problem before end users even know about it.
9. Multi-platform support allows console servers to be used anywhere in the network infrastructure, even with Windows servers
As console-port connections do not rely on target operating systems, network services, or software agents, remote access is always possible through direct serial connection or a terminal (console) server. This flexibility means that console servers can work on virtually any network equipment with a serial port, regardless of operating system, even Microsoft Windows.
With the introduction of Windows.NET 2003 Standard Server operating system (OS) software, Windows servers are no longer required to have a keyboard, video monitor, and mouse (KVM).
Because console servers enable more effective systems management across Unix, Linux, and now Windows servers, network administrators can realize cost and time savings when managing a widely disparate infrastructure.
8. Learning and using console servers is fast and simple
Network administrators can access console servers through telnet or SSH (Secure Shell) using the same command-line interface for each type of equipment (eg, Cisco IOS, Unix, Linux, Windows, Solaris, etc.) to which they are connected. Most network administrators already know these interfaces, meaning there is nothing new for them to learn in order to operate a console server.
7. Console servers provide an extra layer of security for the network
If a network is attacked, remote access may be the only way to connect to network equipment, diagnose a problem, and restore functionality. However, network administrators do not want to sacrifice the security of the network by adding remote access capabilities. Console servers can provide an integrated solution for addressing security in four primary areas: authentication, authorisation, encryption, and firewall access. In other words, everything to keep network assets safe is included on a console server.
Console servers provide a wide variety of authentication and security features that go far beyond simple passwords. Dial-in connections can be required to exercise PAP (password authentication protocol) and/or CHAP (challenge handshake authentication protocol) authentication, or they can be validated using authentication servers supporting such methods as Radius, NIS (network information system), or LDAP (lightweight directory access protocol) over the network. Incoming network connections can be restricted to a set of specific IP addresses using built-in features such as IPsecurity or a firewall.
Console servers offer encryption methods such as SSH v2.0 and SSL (secure socket layer) to ensure that encrypted data is externally unreadable and protected even when accessed remotely.
Firewall capabilities are built into some console servers to make them less visible to external networks, hackers, and unauthorised personnel. With this functionality, both the console server itself and the network equipment 'behind' it are protected from potential security threats. A console server's firewall capabilities can safeguard network equipment through packet filtering, disabling ports or IP addresses to prevent pinging or hacking, and restricting TCP (transmission control protocol) / UDP (user datagram protocol) connections when the console server or attached equipment is not in use.
6. Network administrators can manage a wide range of business and computing equipment
Frequently, network administrators have to manage other types of business and computing devices besides network equipment. Examples include UPS, PBX, building maintenance systems, building access systems, warehouse systems (bar coding), etc.
All of these devices have a serial port and, therefore, can be attached to and accessed through a console server. This added dimension of being capable of managing other types of business and computing devices is especially important with smaller network administration staffs where resources are at a premium.
5. Console servers perform in-band and out-of-band management of network equipment to cover all the bases
Console servers have the flexibility to perform both in-band and out-of-band management of network equipment. For bigger operations where network administrators may be using enterprise management tools such as HP OpenView for in-band management of their network infrastructure, console servers complement these software packages with out-of-band management capabilities for times when the network goes down.
Using in-band management, console servers can work over a network to provide everyday access to equipment through a single point of contact. In addition, console servers can use real-time, out-of-band communications through the console (or emergency management) port that is built into most servers and networking equipment. This type of remote access is critical, especially when a server or piece of network equipment is offline due to the network being down or a faulty network connection.
4. Save space and money by eliminating modems and phone lines for each piece of network equipment
A dial-up connection and modem for each piece of equipment in a network infrastructure can be very expensive, requires physical space in the data centre, and can be complex to manage. Console servers are a cost-effective solution that addresses all of these issues by connecting multiple serial ports from various types of equipment, then enabling them to be accessed and monitored from a single point of contact. Network administrators can purchase one phone line and modem that connects to a single console server, which, depending on port density, can connect up to 48 network devices.
3. Console servers enable centralized management from a single location
Console servers enable network administrators to remotely manage application and web servers as well as other types of network equipment through their console management port by converting their character-based serial data flows into standard IP (internet protocol) data flows. Once converted to IP, these types of equipment can be placed on a network, then managed via a VPN (virtual private network), LAN (local area network) or WAN (wide area network), or the internet from a single, centralised location.
With this flexibility in access, management of application servers and network equipment can occur anywhere at any time. This type of access makes console servers ideal for network administrators who are grappling with the management of widely disparate, complex operations that include remote or unmanned sites, co-location facilities, and data centres in secure or isolated areas. Console management products free up administrative resources to focus on more productive tasks, while reducing the total cost of ownership (TCO) of managed equipment.
2. Console servers help reduce downtime of mission-critical network equipment
The combination of proactive emergency notification via email alerts or paging and remote access using out-of-band management gives network administrators the best opportunity to maintain as close to 100% uptime of their networks as possible.
For critical applications, some console servers come equipped with dual-input power supplies that protect against inevitable system failure of mission-critical systems such as servers, storage-area-network components, and other network-infrastructure components.
1. Network administrators can access their equipment even when the network goes down
Dial-in capability provides back-door access to a console server in the event that the network goes down. Serial or dial-in access can bypass a lost IP connection to restore network connectivity and server operation. In this manner, console servers ensure continuous access and uptime that would otherwise be impossible without having an onsite service technician to fix problems as they arise.
Conclusion
In today's highly competitive marketplace, large companies cannot afford the lost productivity and lack of access to information that occurs when mission-critical business applications or the network infrastructure that supports them fails. Companies need to operate in real-time, and that expectation drives the need to pursue the unattainable - 100% uptime for all business applications and networks. While 100% uptime is not a reality, striving toward and getting as close to it as possible is the mandate from corporate executives to their IT managers.
With the loss of millions of dollars and the consequent effect on customer satisfaction at stake when applications and/or networks go down, the success of the business can hinge on how much companies can minimise downtime.
Console servers address the need for 100% uptime head-on by enabling network administrators to centrally manage a globally dispersed network infrastructure, ensure connectivity to enterprise network equipment even if the network is down, protect assets through secure access, and lower overall network management costs.
** Lantronix products are distributed in Australia by PowerCorp (02) 9476 3466
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