Executive summary
- Opengear’s Operations Manager (OM) appliances are NetOps console servers providing out-of-band (OOB) management for remote network infrastructure.
- While OM appliances provide some automation capabilities, especially with the upgraded Automation Edition, they offer limited third-party integrations and end-device automation features.
- The OM2200 and OM1200 both lack integrated branch gateway functionality and have limited security features overall.
- The Nodegrid platform from ZPE Systems overcomes these limitations with vendor-neutral OOB serial consoles and branch services routers.
- Nodegrid enables end-to-end automation through end-device ZTP and unlimited third-party integrations with leading tools like Ansible and Chef.
- Nodegrid also consolidates data center and branch networking functionality like gateway routing, 5G cellular failover, and security to provide all-in-one solutions.
Reviewing the Opengear Operations Manager platform
Operations Manager (or OM) is Opengear’s line of NetOps console servers. OM appliances come with Smart OOBTM for out-of-band management, including automated port discovery and VLAN support. Opengear’s x86 Lighthouse platform supports Python scripts and Docker container deployments for NetOps automation. Lighthouse also supports over 100 power vendors’ equipment, allowing it to monitor and control UPS batteries, PDU outlets, and power load balancing. It’s important to note that, while the standard (Enterprise) edition of Lighthouse supports Python and Docker, customers must upgrade to the Automation edition for zero-touch provisioning (ZTP) or other third-party automation integrations. Additionally, OM solutions do not support 2FA or SAML authentication.
Opengear OM2200
The Opengear OM2200 Operations Manager model is designed for data center and high-density use cases. It features 16, 32, 48 serial and 24 serial/Ethernet mixed port configuration options, with an optional global LTE-A Pro cellular module. The OM2200 provides five regional options for dual AC power as well as a dual DC power cord model.
Click here to see a complete Opengear OM2200 Operations Manager product SKUs list.
OM2200 Pros:
- Plenty of RAM and storage space
- Many options for power and serial port configurations
- Uniquely broad support for 3rd-party power equipment
- Some NetOps automation capabilities
OM2200 Cons:
- Requires upgraded software licenses for ZTP and most 3rd-party automation
- No 2FA or SAML 2.0 support
- No managed USB serial ports
- No 5G support
Opengear OM1200
The Opengear OM1200 Operations Manager model is meant for small edge deployments. The compact chassis supports 4 serial, 8 serial, and 8 serial/8 Ethernet port combinations. It provides OOB and failover access via dual Ethernet (SFP Fiber is available on the 4E and 8E models) as well as an optional global LTE-A Pro cellular module.
Click here to see a full list of Opengear OM1200 Operations Manager product SKUs.
OM1200 Pros:
- Compact size
- Cost-effective range of port configurations
- Supports 3rd-party power equipment, Docker, and Python
OM1200 Cons:
- Requires upgraded software licenses for ZTP and most 3rd-party automation
- No 2FA or SAML 2.0 support
- It doesn’t have gateway routing/SD-WAN capabilities
- No 5G support
Opengear Operations Manager limitations
Both the OM2200 and OM1200 models suffer from similar limitations regarding automation, especially with the base version of the Lighthouse software. Even the upgraded Automation Edition, which unlocks ZTP and RESTful APIs, doesn’t provide much automation for end devices beyond running Python playbooks. This limits operational efficiency, slows down new deployments, and impedes the team’s ability to quickly rebuild core infrastructure after a failure or ransomware attack. Another issue with the OM1200, in particular, is that while its compact size will save space in your edge data center and branch office rack, it’s still a single-purpose device. That means you still need to purchase separate solutions for gateway routing, switching, and/or edge compute. These additional devices take up space, cost extra money, and require time to configure and manage.
Opengear alternatives from ZPE Systems
ZPE Systems provides an alternative option for NetOps-enabled OOB console servers called the Nodegrid solution. All Nodegrid devices run on the open, Linux-based, x86 Nodegrid OS which supports VMs and Docker containers to run your choice of third-party automation, software-defined networking/SD-WAN, and security applications. Nodegrid’s robust, onboard security protects lost or stolen devices with features like TPM 2.0, encrypted SSD, UEFI BIOS, secure boot, and geofencing. Nodegrid can also extend ZTP and other automation to legacy and mixed-vendor end devices for end-to-end network infrastructure automation. Try ZPE’s product selector to see which of Nodegrid’s serial consoles or integrated branch routers is right for your deployment. Below, we review the two models that serve as direct replacements for the Opengear OM1200 and OM2200 solutions.
Nodegrid Serial Console Plus (NSCP)
The Nodegrid Serial Console Plus (NSCP) is an alternative to the OM2200 for data center and high-density deployments. The NSCP connects 16, 32, 48, or 96 (Patent No. 9,905,980) serial devices, all in a standard 1U rackmount chassis. Dual SFP+, dual Gigabit Ethernet, and optional Wi-FI and 4G/5G LTE modules provide secure Gen 3 OOB management access and failover, ensuring blazing fast speeds and high performance. Plus, the NSCP comes with two managed USB 3.0 ports for additional flexibility.
Click here to see a complete list of Nodegrid NSCP product SKUs.
Nodegrid Net Services Router (NSR)
The Nodegrid Net Services Router (NSR) is an alternative to the OM1200 for edge data center and branch office use cases. The NSR is a modular, compact device that can deliver gateway routing, switching, serial console, and compute capabilities all in a single appliance. Gen 3 OOB and network failover are provided out of the box via dual SFP+ and dual Gigabit Ethernet ports, with optional modules for WiFi and dual-SIM 5G/4G LTE. Additional NSR modules include:
- 16-port GbE Ethernet
- Storage
- 16-port Serial (for console server capabilities)
- 16-port USB serial
- Compute
- 8-port PoE+
- M.2 Cellular/Wi-Fi/SATA
- 16-port GbE Ethernet SFP
- 8-port Ethernet SFP+
Click here to see a complete list of Nodegrid NSCP product SKUs.
Key takeaways:
While the OM1200 and OM2200 provide OOB management with some automation, they have serious limitations that negatively impact operational efficiency. Nodegrid is an Opengear alternative providing a vendor-neutral OOB management platform that delivers unlimited automation, enhanced security, and all-in-one networking for ultimate operational efficiency.
ZPE Systems offers a range of enterprise branch network management solutions called Nodegrid that serve as an upgrade to Cisco 4351 EOL models. In particular, the Nodegrid Net Services Router (NSR) makes an ideal 4351 replacement due to its modular design, which can be extended with expansion modules for functionality like edge compute, PoE, USB OCP debug, and third-generation (or Gen 3) out-of-band management. Gen 3 OOB allows teams to deploy third-party automation and orchestration workflows over the OOB network to streamline branch provisioning, management, and recovery. Gen 3 OOB ensures 24/7 remote access to branch infrastructure even during network outages, provides a safe environment to recover from ransomware and other breaches, and keeps resource-intensive management workflows from bogging down the production network.
All Nodegrid solutions are completely vendor-neutral, integrating with or even directly hosting third-party software and extending complete visibility and control to legacy and mixed-vendor infrastructure. Nodegrid is essentially a branch-in-a-box, allowing companies to deploy infrastructure automation, network orchestration, branch security, and more on a single device that’s 1RU or smaller. Plus, this entire toolkit is available on an isolated, out-of-band network, ensuring remote teams have 24/7 access to keep business operating even during outages and ransomware attacks for superior network resilience.
