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Comparing In-Band Management VS OOB Management

by | Jul 29, 2022 | Data Center Management, Minimize Impact of Disruptions, Out of Band Management, Remote Network Management, Uncategorized

in band vs out-of-band management
In a previous blog, we discussed the differences between out-of-band (OOB) networks and out-of-band (OOB) management. An OOB network is a separate network used to manage, orchestrate, and troubleshoot the primary production network. OOB management is the term for the network management that occurs on the out-of-band network. This differs from in-band management, which takes place on the main network alongside production traffic.

In this blog, we’ll compare In-band vs out-of-band management and explain why modern enterprise networks need out-of-band.

What is In-band management?

In-band management is the network management that occurs on the same channel as data communications. Network administrators connect to the device they want to manage (e.g., a router, switch, etc.) using protocols like Telnet/SSH or SNMP. In-band management requires the administrator to connect over the primary LAN interface—or the WAN, for remote network management.

The in-band network management workflow must compete with production traffic for bandwidth since they use the same network architecture. In addition, if the primary LAN, WAN, or ISP experiences problems or goes offline, administrators lose the ability to connect to network devices for troubleshooting remotely. That means they need to physically connect to the serial ports on affected devices, which could be hundreds or thousands of miles away.

What is OOB management?

Out-of-band (OOB) management takes place on a separate channel known as an out-of-band network. This keeps management and orchestration workflows from adding latency to the production network. It can also provide a redundant connection to manage remote network infrastructure in case the primary WAN, LAN, and/or ISP goes down.

An OOB network may have its own LAN architecture, with a jump box (also known as a jump server) providing management access. This box connects to both the In-band and OOB network, so administrators can remotely connect to the jump server from the primary LAN and use it to access OOB management. Ideally, this secondary LAN is wholly isolated from the primary, with its own DNS, DHCP, and other critical network services. This will allow engineers to troubleshoot even if those services are unavailable on the primary LAN. However, administrators will be cut off if any of these services goes down on the OOB network.

Another approach to OOB management uses serial consoles (also known as console servers, serial console routers, serial console switches, or terminal servers). Serial consoles connect to the networking infrastructures via managed serial ports, giving administrators management access to many different devices from one centralized system. Unlike a jump box, serial consoles have a direct serial connection to the devices they manage, which means administrators can still view and troubleshoot this infrastructure even if critical network services are down.

An OOB serial console provides two or more network interfaces, so you can connect them to the primary ISP/WAN and a secondary network (such as a DSL, dial-up, or cellular connection). This secondary network acts as a failover if the primary goes down, giving engineers an alternative path to critical infrastructure. It also creates a dedicated out-of-band network for management and orchestration, leaving the production network free for critical business traffic.

Comparing In-band vs Out-of-band management

Many organizations still use In-band management simply because it’s easier and doesn’t require any extra hardware. To get out-of-band management, you must purchase, configure, and install dedicated hardware on top of your in-band infrastructure. However, while sticking with In-band management may save you some time and money now, it’s sure to cost you in the long run. In-band management negatively impacts the performance of the production network and doesn’t provide access to remote equipment if the primary LAN or WAN goes down.

In Band Management vs OOB Management
In band management OOB management
Management traffic creates latency on the production network Allows for complex management and orchestration workflows without impacting performance on the production network
Can’t remotely troubleshoot if the WAN or LAN goes down Provides an alternative path to critical remote infrastructure even if WAN or LAN services are unavailable
No additional hardware needed Requires additional hardware
Easy to set up May involve more complicated network configurations

Why you need OOB management

Modern businesses expect 24/7 availability of network resources. When an outage occurs, your engineers need to be able to quickly troubleshoot and restore services so you can keep your SLAs and avoid lost business. This is especially difficult when your critical infrastructure is housed off-site in remote data centers.

As your enterprise network grows in size, complexity, and geographic distribution, there is a need for greater automation and orchestration so engineers can keep up. Automation reduces the risk of human error, improving the network’s reliability and security.

However, complex network automation and orchestration workflows often require more resources and bandwidth. Running network automation tasks through In-band management creates performance issues on the production network, such as an increase in latency and dropped packets. OOB management is required if you want to take advantage of automation without negatively impacting the speed and reliability of your primary network.

When using In-band management, a WAN outage or remote equipment failure means wasting valuable time and money on truck rolls or on-site managed services. Out-of-band management gives network administrators a dedicated, redundant path to remote equipment so they can diagnose and fix issues without ever leaving the office. They can begin troubleshooting as soon as a failure occurs, allowing your organization to recover quickly and reducing the negative impact of an outage on customers and shareholders.

Learn more about In-band vs Out-of-band management

OOB management is superior to In-band management because it allows for resource-intensive network automation and orchestration without impacting production performance. OOB management also empowers network administrators to remotely troubleshoot and recover from outages, even if the primary WAN or LAN is offline.

Read more about OOB management:

→   How to Choose Secure Out-of-Band Management
→   Why Out-of-Band Remote Access is Critical for Branch Networking
→   Why You Need a Next-Gen OOB Console Server

Want to learn more about In-band vs Out-of-band management?

Contact ZPE Systems at 1-844-4ZPE-SYS to see a live demo of how Nodegrid OOB management solution makes OOB easy to deploy on top of existing infrastructure, with hardware/software that help automatically configure networks, and more.

Contact US

What is a Serial Console’s Role in Modern Enterprise Networks?

by | Jul 27, 2022 | Data Center Management, Data Center Resilience, DevOps, Increase Productivity, NetDevOps, NetDevOps Transformation, Network Automation, Out of Band Management, Power Management, Remote Network Management, Scripting, Serial Consoles, Uncategorized

what is a serial console

Serial consoles have been used to manage business networks since the 80s, but things have changed significantly since then. What is a serial console’s role in modern enterprise networks? In this blog, we discuss the history and evolution of serial consoles as well as the exciting functionality provided by the latest generation.

What is a serial console?

A serial console—a console server, terminal server, serial console router, or serial console switch—is a networking device used to manage other devices. It connects to servers, switches, routers, and other equipment using the serial port (hence the name). Network administrators can then use the serial console to access all connected devices in the data center, server room, or network closet in which it’s installed.

Serial consoles allow admins to manage critical infrastructure without needing to log in to each separate device individually. A serial console also provides out-of-band (OOB) management, creating a completely separate network that’s dedicated to infrastructure management and troubleshooting. OOB management allows you to remotely troubleshoot, monitor, and administer your infrastructure, and more.

How serial consoles have evolved over time

A basic serial console—also called a Generation 1 serial console—provides consolidated remote access to critical infrastructure. It uses a secondary network connection (such as a dial-up modem or cellular SIM card) so admins can control and troubleshoot equipment without relying on the main production network. Using a Gen 1 serial console, admins can access each connected device’s CLI (command line interface).

Gen 1 serial consoles are relatively limited in control, security, and automation. For example, many Gen 1 serial consoles can only manage devices from the same vendor (or a small pool of supported manufacturers). A Gen 1 serial console also lacks in-depth security features like hardware encryption, and generally can’t integrate with third-party Zero Trust Security policies and controls. Plus, most Gen 1s completely lack automation capabilities, or limit you to basic CLI scripts for single tasks.

Gen 2 serial consoles

Frustration over these limitations led to significant advancements in the second generation of serial consoles, or Gen 2. With Gen 2 serial consoles, admins get more control, added security features, and expanded automation capabilities.

For instance, most Gen 2 consoles offer management functionality for third-party devices. These serial consoles also have some built-in security features like Trusted Platform Module (TPM) and frequently support advanced authentication methods like AD/LDAP, Kerberos, and RADIUS. Gen 2 serial consoles also allow for greater automation using Python scripts, APIs, and zero touch provisioning (ZTP).

While Gen 2 serial consoles offer more multi-vendor support than their extremely limited predecessors, they still fall short of true vendor neutrality. For instance, managing third-party and legacy devices often requires expensive adapters or complicated configuration tweaks. Many Gen 2 serial consoles also lack support for Zero Trust integrations such as SAML 2.0 (e.g., Okta, Ping, DUO), making it impossible to completely secure your out-of-band network.

Finally, while Gen 2 serial consoles introduce more automation capabilities, their closed architectures make it impossible to implement end-to-end NetDevOps automation. For example, you might only be able to use one specific scripting language or an approved set of playbooks. It’s also common for Gen 2 serial consoles to only support ZTP of connected devices from the same vendor, so you’re either limited in your automated provisioning capabilities or your choice of infrastructure solutions.

Gen 1 serial consoles provide remote, out-of-band management of multiple devices using CLI commands and scripts over a serial connection. Gen 2 evolved to incorporate more devices, more security features, and more automation capabilities. However, the serial console needed to develop even further to handle the needs of a modern enterprise network.

What is a serial console’s role in modern enterprise networks?

Today’s enterprise network is larger, more complex, and more distributed than Gen 1 serial console developers could have possibly imagined. Network administrators and engineers need to monitor, manage, and troubleshoot infrastructure devices from many different vendors in many different locations. Networks are also constantly threatened by cybercriminals using sophisticated hacking techniques and state-of-the-art malware. Plus, modern businesses must ensure near-constant availability and optimal network performance to stay competitive. Gen 1 and Gen 2 serial consoles simply can’t deliver the control, security, and resilience required by enterprise networks today.

The new Gen 3 serial console addresses older generations’ limitations through true vendor neutrality, multi-layered zero trust security, and end-to-end automation capabilities.

Total infrastructure control

Gen 3’s complete vendor neutrality makes it possible to extend your automation capabilities—including zero touch provisioning—to every physical and virtual asset in your environment, regardless of manufacturer. Gen 3 serial consoles also give network administrators a virtual presence in remote network locations (like data centers and branch offices) through which they can monitor environmental conditions in the rack, power-cycle and enter the BIOS menu of devices, manage power load distribution, and more.

This control is delivered via high-speed OOB (such as a 5G/4G cellular SIM card), giving you 24/7 remote access to critical enterprise infrastructure, even during an ISP outage. Plus, Gen 3 serial consoles use centralized cloud management, which means engineers can manage and troubleshoot remote infrastructure from anywhere, anytime.

A Gen 3 serial console is based on an open architecture, x86 OS, that supports integrations with your choice of infrastructure solutions, cloud services, and automation toolkits. It also includes flexible port configurations and legacy pinouts to control a variety of devices, such as PDUs, IPMI devices, and environmental monitoring sensors.

Comprehensive security

On a hardware level, Gen 3 serial consoles use features like encrypted disks, UEFI secure boot, and TPM 2.0 to ensure unauthorized users can’t access management functionality. Additionally, the OS is frequently updated and patched against new security vulnerabilities before they can be exploited. The Gen 3 serial console also automatically checks the integrity of all newly integrated hardware and software to ensure there are no backdoor vulnerabilities.

A Gen 3 serial console’s vendor-neutral platform supports easy integrations with a variety of zero trust security controls. For instance, you can manage user access to a Gen 3 serial console through third-party Identity and Access Management (IAM) solutions, allowing you to follow zero trust best practices like 2FA, SSO, and dynamic trust verification. A Gen 3 serial console can also integrate with on-premises and cloud-based network security solutions such as next-generation firewalls (NGFW), Secure Access Service Edge (SASE), and Security Service Edge (SSE).

A Gen 3 console includes robust onboard security features, which reduces the risk of an attacker using a stolen serial console to access your management network (and ultimately, your production systems and data). Its open architecture also enables integration with zero trust security controls and providers.

End-to-end automation

The open architecture of a Gen 3 serial console makes it possible to integrate with your choice of infrastructure automation and orchestration tools, or directly host VMs and Docker containers so you can run your own tools. With a Gen 3 serial console, you can use solutions like Ansible, Chef, Puppet, or Kubernetes to automate deployments. You can also use any API you want to automate any workload you need to, no matter how complex.

Gen 3’s advanced automation capabilities enable full pipeline automation so you can achieve NetDevOps transformation. Gen 3 serial consoles also facilitate immutable infrastructure, allowing faster and more agile deployments, updates, and replacements of critical network resources.

With a Gen 3 serial console, you can create a fully-automated network environment. This allows engineers to work more efficiently and reduces the risk of human error causing an outage or security breach.

Nodegrid Serial Console Plus (NSCP)

A Gen 3 serial console, like the Nodegrid Serial Console Plus (NSCP), gives you complete remote control over every component of your network infrastructure, regardless of location or manufacturer. Nodegrid also secures your OOB management network using zero trust security best practices and comprehensive onboard features. Finally, the Gen 3 NSCP allows you to automate whatever tools you want to use, so you can efficiently manage a complex enterprise network without sacrificing speed, security, or control.

 

Learn more about Gen 3 serial consoles:

→   Comparing the Best Console Servers for Data Centers in 2022
→   What Makes a Gen 3 Serial Console?
→   Why You Need a Next-Gen OOB Console Server

What is a serial console’s role in modern enterprise networks?

Schedule a demo of the Gen 3 Nodegrid Serial Console Plus to see for yourself!

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How to Use a Cloud Managed Gateway Router to Optimize OT Automation

by | Jun 23, 2022 | Edge Computing, EdgeOps, Failover Connectivity, Increase Productivity, Minimize Impact of Disruptions, NetDevOps, Network Automation, Remote Network Management, Simplify Branch Infrastructure, Streamline Deployments, Uncategorized

cloud managed gateway router

The right cloud managed gateway router simplifies edge network management and unlocks remote access to operational technology (OT). In this blog, we’ll explain what OT automation is, how to manage it with a gateway router, and what to look for in an ideal solution.

What is operational technology (OT)?

Operational technology, or OT, controls equipment interacting with the physical world. The term is used to differentiate these systems and devices from information technology (IT), focused on non-physical data computing.

OT manages the physical equipment used for industrial manufacturing, water and energy utilities, medical procedures, building management, and other physical processes.

Some examples of operational technology include:

  • Programmable logic controller (PLC) – Controls assembly lines, industrial machines, robotic devices, and other manufacturing processes.
  • Supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) – A control system for high-level supervision of industrial machines and processes, including PLCs.
  • Building management system (BMS) and Building automation system (BAS) – manage a building’s mechanical and electrical equipment such as lighting and HVAC.

OT facilitates industrial automation, by reducing manual intervention required to control and optimize physical technology. OT automation systems are traditionally isolated from IT networks, running on specialized industrial computers. However, modern OT systems are converging with IT to allow operators to manage them via network-connected PC or even from a cloud platform.

Using a cloud managed gateway router to optimize OT automation

Frequently, OT devices operate outside your main headquarters, in remote facilities such as factories, warehouses, data centers, and branch offices. In the past, that meant you needed operational technology installed at each location, with operators on-site to monitor OT automation computers. However, IT/OT convergence enables you to connect operational technology to edge network gateway routers, facilitating remote control via specialized software or a cloud-based application.

Gateway routers connect remote facilities to WAN or SD-WAN architectures, providing seamless and secure access to enterprise network resources. They also provide administrators with access to monitor and manage edge network routing and security. Some gateway routers also function as serial console routers, which means they can be used to directly manage the devices connected to them—including operational technology. A cloud managed gateway router with serial console capabilities gives administrators the ability to control remote networking and OT systems anywhere.

One of the issues with remote OT automation is that it may consist of several different systems and applications. For example, a managed service provider (MSP) may need to control HVAC, power distribution, security systems, and other infrastructure for many different clients using a variety of OT computers. They may even have some old analog gauges in place which they monitor with a cheap IoT camera.

Each of these disparate OT systems has its own application or cloud portal that operators must learn, configure, and manage, which is inefficient and creates risk of human error. A vendor-neutral cloud managed gateway router can solve this problem by bringing all your OT applications together under one unified platform.

What to look for in a cloud managed gateway router

Not all cloud managed gateway routers are optimized for OT automation. Let’s examine what an ideal solution looks like.

★ Hardware

The gateway router itself should use high quality hardware, and it should integrate with high quality operational technology hardware as well. You should secure the router hardware with features like cryptographic modules and geofencing to prevent tampering if the devices are stolen or intercepted in transit. A vendor neutral gateway router also needs to support various hardware connections such as RS-232, RJ-45, USB, and IPMI so you can ensure compatibility with your various OT systems, including analog and IoT solutions.

★ Operating System

The OS that runs on the cloud managed gateway router should be hardened and frequently patched to prevent hackers from exploiting vulnerabilities. The provider will update an ideal solution, so you don’t have to constantly stay abreast of all new security vulnerabilities or keep on top of the vendor’s patch schedule. A vendor neutral gateway router should run on an open, Linux-based OS to allow easy integrations with OT software.

★ Zero touch provisioning

Zero touch provisioning (ZTP) allows you to automatically deploy device configurations over a network connection. A cloud managed gateway router should have ZTP capabilities both for itself and for other connected devices. This eliminates the need for pre-staging so that you won’t risk a configured device falling into the wrong hands during shipping. It also reduces the need for engineers to travel on-site to install and configure new devices, saving time and money.

★ Connectivity

The gateway router’s primary job is to provide remote systems and users with a reliable connection to the enterprise network, ideally using SD-WAN technology. It should also provide a dedicated out-of-band (OOB) management connection, so administrators have reliable access to control and troubleshoot the remote network. An ideal solution includes high-speed failover via 4G/5G to ensure seamless connectivity for both administrators and end-users.

★ OOB provisioning and management

Provisioning and changing device configurations over the production network is risky. There’s always the chance that a configuration mistake could take the whole network offline. That’s another reason why a cloud managed gateway router should provide an OOB network connection, so you can deploy and modify device configurations without affecting the production network.

★ Orchestration

A cloud managed gateway router should provide orchestration so you can coordinate automated tasks and workflows across all your OT systems. This brings all OT applications together behind one pane of glass, facilitating efficient management and powerful optimization. End-to-end OT automation at the edge is only possible with a truly vendor-neutral gateway router that supports integrations with your choice of OT solutions, automation tools, and scripting languages.

A cloud managed gateway router with these features will empower efficient OT automation at the edge.

Why choose the Nodegrid cloud managed gateway router solution?

The Nodegrid line of cloud managed gateway routers delivers powerful edge network management optimized for operational technology automation. Features like secure zero touch provisioning and gen 3 OOB management support efficient and low-risk operational technology deployments while ensuring constant availability. Nodegrid’s vendor-neutral hardware, operating system, and cloud-based management platform can integrate all your OT solutions for true end-to-end orchestration.

Learn more about edge network orchestration:

→  Simplifying Network Edge Orchestration with a Single Platform
→  Edge Computing Trends to Expect in the Post-Covid World
→  Out-of-Band Is a Lifesaver for Critical Edge Networking. Here’s Why…

Learn more about the Nodegrid cloud managed gateway router.

Call 1-844-4ZPE-SYS or  Contact us online!

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Part 2: Immutable Infrastructure: Best Practices for Network Professionals

by | Jun 16, 2022 | Actionable Data, DevOps, Increase Productivity, NetDevOps, Network Automation, Scripting, SD-WAN, Uncategorized

immutable infrastructure best practices
Immutable infrastructure involves servers, network appliances, and other devices which are never updated or changed. In part 1 of our blog series, we discussed the most inherent challenges with the immutable infrastructure paradigm. This post will cover immutable infrastructure best practices that you should follow to overcome these challenges and fully embrace immutable principles in your enterprise.

Immutable infrastructure best practices for network professionals

Infrastructure as Code (IaC)

Infrastructure as code, or IaC, uses software abstraction to separate infrastructure configurations from the underlying hardware, allowing you to write configurations as repeatable scripts that you can deploy to many different devices. It also facilitates automation and orchestration through tools like RedHat Ansible, which stores and automatically executes configuration scripts according to predefined playbooks.

IaC is used traditionally for physical and virtual server configurations, but you can also use it to create and maintain virtualized network device configurations. This is sometimes called network infrastructure as code or software-defined networking (SDN). SDN goes beyond just abstracting configurations from the underlying networking hardware. It virtualizes your entire network, creating an overlay for managing and optimizing network routing, load balancing, segmentation, and more.

IaC is an immutable infrastructure best practice because it allows you to create and deploy configurations quickly and at scale. It enables truly immutable infrastructure that you can copy, delete, and replace at will. Without IaC, you must provision each new and updated instance manually. Even with a large team of engineers, updates could take a long time, and intermediate periods during which different versions of the same server or network configuration were active simultaneously will appear. Plus, manual configurations are error-prone, and mistakes could create vulnerabilities in your network.

Infrastructure as code and network infrastructure as code allow you to deploy virtual configurations programmatically and automatically. For immutable infrastructure, IaC is frequently used to deploy and configure images for containers and other virtualized environments.

Golden images

A golden image is a standardized template for physical or virtualized infrastructure. You start with a base image with only the software and settings required universally across all instances of that device. Then, you install any agents or services needed for monitoring, threat detection, analysis, etc. Finally, you harden the image with security policies and tools, and patch any known security vulnerabilities. Once the golden image is complete, you freeze it so no further changes can be made.

Best practices for creating, securing, and updating golden images for immutable infrastructure include:

  • Incorporate as many dependencies and settings as possible in your golden image to reduce the amount of configuration that needs to happen at deployment. This will ensure that the golden image you’ve tested and validated is as close as possible to the final production configuration. It will also make it faster and easier to scale.
  • Continuously scan and analyze golden images for new security vulnerabilities. That way, you can create and deploy patched versions as soon as possible, hopefully before a malicious actor has time to exploit those vulnerabilities.
  • Fully decommission old images once they’ve been replaced with newer, more secure versions. This will ensure a consistent and secure environment, and decrease the risk of accidentally spinning up new instances with old images.
  • Store golden images in multiple locations on a micro-segmented network. Use zero trust security to create granular policies and build  customized micro-perimeters around your golden images. This will protect your images from exfiltration or unauthorized modifications. It will also ensure access to golden images for recovery purposes even if you must isolate particular micro-segments during a breach.

Golden images for virtualized servers and network devices can be deployed, modified, and updated through IaC orchestration platforms—Like AWS, Azure, etc. This further streamlines the provisioning of immutable infrastructure, ensures consistent configurations across instances, and facilitates fast and easy scaling.

Stateful and persistent data

You should strive to make infrastructure and data as ephemeral as possible. Still, there are cases where you’ll need data to persist as you’re creating, deleting, and copying immutable resources. For stateful and persistent data, you should use mountable storage attachable to new instances when old ones are terminated.

Make sure you separate the ephemeral data from stateful/persistent data, so you only keep what you absolutely need to. This will help you reduce storage costs and simplify your overall operations. In addition, you should ship log files off immutable instances and send them to a centralized monitoring server as frequently as possible to ensure they persist.

Implementing immutable infrastructure best practices in your enterprise

Many of these immutable infrastructure best practices rely on modern, software-defined technology stacks, making it challenging to apply them to legacy infrastructure. You also need clear, centralized orchestration to see and control every piece of your immutable infrastructure, even across highly distributed networks with remote branch and edge locations. Finally, all of your immutable infrastructure solutions must work together seamlessly regardless of vendor or ecosystem.

ZPE Systems can solve all these challenges with the Nodegrid network orchestration solution. Nodegrid supports network functions virtualization (NFV), which turns your physical networking appliances into virtualized solutions you can configure and manage through IaC and SDN. Nodegrid’s vendor-neutral serial console servers also support legacy pinouts, so you can bring your legacy physical infrastructure under your immutable orchestration umbrella.

The ZPE Cloud network orchestration platform can also control remote data center, branch, and edge infrastructure. You can host your choice of SD-WAN (software-defined wide area networking) solution on your Nodegrid devices or use ZPE Cloud’s SD-WAN app. This technology allows you to extend the reach of your virtualized network orchestration to your WAN architecture. To dig even deeper, you can use the SD-Branch app to control branch and edge LANs as well.

The ZPE Cloud platform and all Nodegrid devices are truly vendor-neutral, allowing integrations with leading third-party IaC, SDN, and security providers. Nodegrid empowers you to create a tightly-integrated, seamless immutable infrastructure solution for total network control.

See how Nodegrid can help you implement immutable infrastructure best practices in your enterprise.

Call 1-844-4ZPE-SYS to view a free demo.

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Why You Need a Next-Gen OOB Console Server

by | May 26, 2022 | Data Center Management, Failover Connectivity, Increase Productivity, Minimize Impact of Disruptions, NetDevOps, NetDevOps Transformation, Network Automation, Out of Band Management, Remote Network Management, Serial Consoles, Uncategorized

oob console server

An OOB (out-of-band) console server is a fundamental data center tool that allows you to view, manage, and troubleshoot critical remote infrastructure on a dedicated network connection.

While the functionality of generation 1 console servers is limited, generation 2 models evolved to include features like automation and security. Now, as more enterprises embrace NetDevOps, there’s a need for greater automation and orchestration, which is why next-generation or generation 3 console servers are emerging.

In this post, we’ll discuss the advantages of a next-gen OOB console server and how these devices address the challenges and limitations of previous generations.

The importance of an OOB console server

An out-of-band console server may also be referred to as a serial console, serial console server, or serial console switch. There are also OOB serial console routers which include gateway routing functionality for small branch offices and use cases for edge data centers.

OOB console servers are tools fundamental for data center infrastructure management; they connect to all your remote network devices and give you the ability to control them on a dedicated management network remotely. This network is completely separate from the WAN circuit and internal LAN, and is accessed typically via cellular, dial-up, or DSL modem.

Out-of-band data center access is crucial for a few key reasons:

  1. It provides 24/7 remote access to your critical data center infrastructure even if your WAN link goes down, allowing you to troubleshoot and recover without expensive truck rolls.
  2. You can still view and manage remote devices even if malicious actors compromise your production network or data center infrastructure without exposing yourself.
  3. Conducting resource-intensive network orchestration on a dedicated management plane reduces the performance impact on your production network and end-users.

Why do you need a next-gen OOB console server?

As modern enterprise networks have grown more complex and distributed, so have network and data center management workflows. This complexity makes it harder for engineers to efficiently manage their workloads and increases the risk of human error, especially with multi-vendor and hybrid network infrastructures.

These pain points led to the evolution of automated network management tools and solutions. Automation increases the speed and efficiency with which network administrators can provision, monitor, and optimize an infrastructure while reducing the risk of human error. Gen 2 OOB console servers have automation capabilities and scripting support that help fill the gap for data center management. Plus, Gen 2 serial consoles automate tasks like infrastructure provisioning (via zero touch provisioning, or ZTP) and basic troubleshooting (such as refreshing DNS or power-cycling) to reduce the amount of tedious manual work.

However, the needs and pain points of modern enterprises continue to evolve. It’s not enough to use individual, disparate scripts and solutions to automate specific tasks or workloads, especially to achieve NetOps or NetDevOps transformation. Gen 2 OOB console servers offer some automation support, but typically limit you to a particular vendor ecosystem or API library. Since enterprise networks consist of many different vendor solutions and devices, this rigidity leaves you with gaps in your automation coverage.

That’s why a new generation of console servers is rising to meet this challenge. Next-gen OOB console servers, also known as Gen 3, promise to deliver end-to-end automation and NetDevOps data center orchestration.

What to look for in a next-gen OOB console server

For an OOB console server to be truly next-gen, it must be able to dig its automation hooks into every device and solution in your rack. That means it needs to be vendor-neutral and include support for legacy systems not originally designed for automation.

In addition, a next-gen OOB serial console switch should support integrations with the third-party automation and orchestration tools of your choosing. That means both the hardware and software need to be vendor-neutral.

A next-gen console server should also provide high-speed OOB access and failover. Many Gen 1 and Gen 2 solutions use dial-up or 3G cellular connections, which can be slow and unreliable. Plus, 3G will be phased out (in the United States) by the end of this year. This leads to frustration when engineers try to troubleshoot and restore remote data center infrastructure as quickly as possible, and also hampers automation and orchestration efforts.

Another issue to consider is scalability. A next-gen OOB console server needs to provide enough managed ports for you to grow your data center infrastructure without needing to upgrade your management device continuously. You can even get modular serial consoles that allow you to expand or swap out port configurations as needed.

Last but not least, your next-gen console server needs to include and support advanced security controls. Imagine installing a preconfigured device that has unknowingly been infected. This could be like installing a trojan horse into your infrastructure. A next-gen OOB console server should include enterprise-grade security features and integrate with zero trust security controls and policies.

Orchestrating critical data center infrastructure with a next-gen OOB console server

Next-gen or Gen 3 OOB console servers deliver end-to-end automation and orchestration capabilities, so you can efficiently control complex data center infrastructure. A next-gen solution includes vendor-neutral hardware and software, high-speed OOB access and failover, the ability to scale up or down as needed, and enterprise security features and functionality.

The Nodegrid next-gen OOB console server solution from ZPE Systems delivers true end-to-end automation for critical data center infrastructure. Nodegrid’s vendor-neutral hardware and software can control all your vendor solutions, so there are no barriers to automating anything and everything. For example, Nodegrid zero touch provisioning (ZTP) can extend to all connected devices, allowing you to deploy remote data center infrastructure with the push of a button.

The Nodegrid Serial Console S Series can even control legacy and mixed environments, so you can upgrade your data center infrastructure at your own pace without losing automation capabilities. The open architecture, Linux-based Nodegrid OS supports integrations with third-party automation solutions so you can create a customized orchestration platform that suits your enterprise’s unique use cases and staff skillsets.

Nodegrid delivers high-speed remote out-of-band access and failover via two dual-SIM high-speed 4G/5G/LTE slots, plus you can upgrade to 5G without having to do a forklift upgrade. With up to 96 managed ports in a streamlined 1U rack-mounted device, the Nodegrid Serial Console Plus can handle enterprise-scale deployments or scale with you as you grow. The Nodegrid next-gen OOB console server also keeps management and orchestration secure, with onboard security features like UEFI secure boot, properly integrated TPM 2.0 security, encrypted solid-state disks, and geofencing.

The Nodegrid Serial Console from ZPE Systems is a true next-gen OOB console server. It delivers end-to-end automation, high-speed OOB access and failover, scalable port configurations, and enterprise-grade zero trust security features.

Learn more about OOB console servers:

★  Comparing the Best Console Servers for Data Centers in 2022
★  Out-of-Band Network Management: Fundamental Principles & Use Cases
★  How to Choose Secure Out-of-Band Management

See the Nodegrid OOB console server at work.

Call 1-844-4ZPE-SYS to request a demo. 

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