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Providing Out-of-Band Connectivity to Mission-Critical IT Resources

When IT Goes Dark: What I Wish I Knew 20 Years Ago

by | May 16, 2025 | Data Center Resilience, DevOps, Failover Connectivity, Improve Network Security, Increase Productivity, Micro-segmentation, Minimize Impact of Disruptions, Monitoring & Reporting, Network Automation, Out of Band Management, Power Management, Remote Network Management, Scripting, Serial Consoles, Simplify Branch Infrastructure, Streamline Deployments, Vendor Neutral Platform, Zero Touch Provisioning (ZTP), Zero Trust Security

Ahmed Algam

“No one ever tells you this part…”

My name is Ahmed Algam. I am a Network & Systems Administrator for ZPE Systems – A Brand of Legrand, with over 20 years of experience in network administration, system infrastructure, Microsoft ERP solutions, and enterprise IT management. I have a B.S. in Computer Science and will soon complete my Master’s of Information and Data Science.

In the early days of my IT career, I learned how to build systems from scratch, configure networks, and apply patches.

Like many, I was trained to focus on the obvious goals: keep things running, keep everything secure, and automate what I can.

But what no one taught me? What to do when everything goes dark – literally.

That’s exactly what happened recently.

ZPE’s Fremont branch lost power unexpectedly and without notice from our provider.

One by one, our services went down

  • ESXi Hosts
  • Backup Servers
  • VPN Tunnels
  • Core Routers and Switches

Here is the part that I wish I knew 20 years ago…

You won’t be rescued by dashboards, spreadsheets, or documentation when IT goes dark. What WILL save you is system design, specifically out-of-band management.

And for which I am lucky that design did save us.

Without Out-of-band (OOB), I would have had to spend the whole night at the office manually rebooting, configuring, and troubleshooting everything. It’s a nightmare for IT admins because you might get the call while you’re attending your kids’ sporting events, attending college courses, or spending quality time with your family. IT emergencies can really intrude on your life outside of work. It’s just part of the job.

But I was so grateful to have OOB because it gave me a separate path dedicated to recovery, which was just what I needed. I was able to instantly remote-into my infrastructure without leaving home.

IMI and OOBM are a dedicated path to system recovery

Image: Isolated Management Infrastructure uses out-of-band management (OOBM) serial consoles to access production devices when they are offline.

Within minutes, I was able to:

  • Remotely connect through our OOB console
  • Restart critical infrastructure
  • Monitor recovery independently of the production path

I didn’t have to head for the office or change the plans I had with my family. With our OOB system in place, I knew that I could fix the problem, have services restored before sunrise, and still get a good night’s sleep.

This wasn’t luck

It was the result of:

  • Planning for the worst-case scenario, not just the routine
  • Having OOB in all essential areas
  • Testing access methods instead of assuming they’ll just work
  • Separating management traffic from production flows
  • Staying calm with an architecture designed to withstand chaos

 

Even highly-skilled IT teams come to a full standstill during disruptions

It has nothing to do with a lack of talent or skill. The reason is their inability to access the malfunctioning systems.

So here’s my advice to every IT professional:

  • Now is the time to prepare for the worst
  • Make an OOB network
  • Separate management paths from production (and test access!)

    Because when the lights go out, that’s when real IT begins.

    Starlink setup guide

    Here’s How You Can Set Up Out-of-Band Management

    My colleagues recently created this guide on how to set up an out-of-band network using Starlink. It includes technical wiring diagrams and a guided walkthrough.

    You can download it here: How to Build Out-of-Band With Starlink

    Discover More OOB and IMI Resources

     

    Ahmed Algam LinkedIn

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    Ahmed Algam on LinkedIn

    Out-of-Band vs. Isolated Management Infrastructure: What’s the Difference?

    by | May 9, 2025 | Data Center Management, Data Center Resilience, DevOps, Edge Computing, Improve Network Security, Increase Productivity, Micro-segmentation, Minimize Impact of Disruptions, Monitoring & Reporting, Network Automation, Out of Band Management, Power Management, Remote Network Management, Scripting, Serial Consoles, Streamline Deployments, Vendor Neutral Platform, Zero Touch Provisioning (ZTP), Zero Trust Security

    Out-of-band vs IMI
    To stay ahead of network outages, cyberattacks, and unexpected infrastructure failures, IT teams rely on remote access tools. Out-of-band (OOB) management is traditionally used for quick access to troubleshoot and resolve issues when the main network goes down. But in the past decade, hyperscalers and leading enterprises have developed a more advanced approach called Isolated Management Infrastructure (IMI). Although IMI incorporates OOB, it’s important to understand the distinction between the two, especially when designing infrastructure to be resilient and scalable.

    What is Out-of-Band Management?

    Out-of-Band Management has been around for decades. It gives IT administrators remote access to network equipment through an independent channel, serving as a lifeline when the primary network is down.

    Traditional out-of-band provides a secondary path to production equipment

    Image: Traditional out-of-band solutions provide a secondary path to production infrastructure, but still rely in part on production equipment.

    Most OOB solutions are like a backup entrance: if the main network is compromised, locked, or unavailable, OOB provides a way to “go around the front door” and fix the problem from the outside.

    Key Characteristics:

    • Separate Path: Usually uses dedicated serial ports, USB consoles, or cellular links.
    • Primary Use Cases: Though OOB can be used for regular maintenance and updates, it’s typically used for emergency access, remote rebooting, BIOS/firmware-level diagnostics, and sometimes initial provisioning.
    • Tools Involved: Console servers, terminal servers, or devices with embedded OOB ports (e.g., BMC/IPMI for servers).

    Business Impact:

    From a business standpoint, traditional OOB solutions offer reactive resilience that helps resolve outages faster and without costly site visits. It also reduces Mean Time to Repair (MTTR) and enhances the ability to manage remote or unmanned locations.

    However, solutions like ZPE Systems’ Nodegrid provide robust capability that evolves out-of-band to a new level. This comprehensive, next-gen OOB is called Isolated Management Infrastructure.

    What is Isolated Management Infrastructure?

    Isolated Management Infrastructure furthers the concept of resilience and is a natural evolution of out-of-band. IMI does two things:

    1. Rather than just providing a secondary path into production devices, IMI creates a completely separate management plane that does not rely on any production device.
    2. IMI incorporates its own switches, routers, servers, and jumpboxes to support additional critical IT functions like networking, computing, security, and automation.

    Isolated management infrastructure provides a fully separate management path

    Image: Isolated Management Infrastructure creates a completely separate management plane and full-stack platform for maintaining critical services even during disruptions, and is strongly encouraged by CISA BOD 23-02.

    IMI doesn’t just provide access during a crisis – it creates a separate layer of control and serves as a resilience system that keeps core services running no matter what. This gives organizations proactive resilience from simple upgrade errors and misconfigurations, to ransomware attacks and global disruptions like 2024’s CrowdStrike outage.

    Key Characteristics:

    • Fully Isolated Design: The management plane is physically and logically isolated from the production network, with console access to all production devices via a variety of interfaces including RS-232, Ethernet, USB, and IPMI.
    • Backup Links: Uses two or more backup links for reliable access, such as 5G, Starlink, and others.
    • Multi-Functionality: Hosts network monitoring, DNS, DHCP, automation engines, virtual firewalls, and all tools and functions to support critical services during disruptions.
    • Automation: Provides a safe environment for teams to build, test, and integrate automation workflows, with the ability to automatically revert back to a golden image in case of errors.
    • Ransomware Recovery: Hosts all tools, apps, and services to deploy the Gartner-recommended Secure Isolated Recovery Environments (SIRE).
    • Zero Trust and Compliance Ready: Built to minimize blast radius and support regulated environments, with segmentation and zero trust security features such as MFA and Role-Based Access Controls (RBAC).

    Business Impact:

    IMI enables operational continuity in the face of cyberattacks, misconfigurations, or outages. It aligns with zero-trust principles and regulatory frameworks like NIST 800-207, making it ideal for government, finance, and healthcare. It also provides a foundation for modern DevSecOps and AI-driven automation strategies.

    Comparing Reactive vs. Proactive Resilience


    Purpose
    Deployment
    Services Hosted
    Typical Vendors
    Best For
    Out-of-Band
    Recover access when production is down
    Console servers or cellular-based devices
    None (access only)
    Opengear, Lantronix
    Legacy networks, branch recovery
    IMI
    Maintain operations even when production is down
    Full-stack platform (compute, network, storage)
    Firewalls, monitoring, DNS, etc.
    ZPE Systems (Nodegrid), custom-built IMI
    Modern, zero-trust, AI-driven environments

    Why Businesses Should Care

    For CIOs and CTOs

    IMI is more than a management tool – it’s a strategic shift in infrastructure design. It minimizes dependency on the production network for critical IT functions and gives teams a layered defense. For organizations using AI, hybrid-cloud architectures, or edge computing, IMI is strongly encouraged and should be incorporated into the initial design.

    For Network Architects and Engineers

    IMI significantly reduces manual intervention during incidents. Instead of scrambling to access firewalls or core switches when something breaks, teams can rely on an isolated environment that remains fully operational. It also enables advanced automation workflows (e.g., self-healing, dynamic traffic rerouting) that just aren’t possible in traditional OOB environments.

    Get a Demo of IMI

    Set up a 15-minute demo to see IMI in action. Our experts will show you how to automatically provision devices, recover failed equipment, and combat ransomware. Use the button to set up your demo now.

    Schedule a Demo

    Watch How IMI Improves Security

    Rene Neumann (Director of Solution Engineering) gives a 10-minute presentation on IMI and how it enhances security.

    Cisco Live 2024 – Securing the Network Backbone
    Watch My Presentation

    Discover More OOB and IMI Resources

     

    Overcoming the Challenges of PDU Management in Modern IT Environments

    by | May 2, 2025 | Actionable Data, Data Center Management, Data Center Resilience, Failover Connectivity, Improve Network Security, Increase Productivity, Micro-segmentation, Minimize Impact of Disruptions, Monitoring & Reporting, Network Automation, Out of Band Management, Power Management, Remote Network Management, Scripting, Serial Consoles, Streamline Deployments, Vendor Neutral Platform, Zero Touch Provisioning (ZTP), Zero Trust Security

    Overcoming PDU Management Challenges

    Power Distribution Units (PDUs) are the unsung heroes of reliable IT operations. They provide the one thing that nobody pays attention to unless it’s gone: stable, uninterrupted power. Despite their essential role in hyperscale data centers, colocations, and remote edge sites, PDU management often remains one of the least optimized and most overlooked areas in IT operations. As organizations grow and expand their infrastructure footprints, the challenges associated with PDU management multiply to create inefficiencies, drive up costs, and expose critical systems to unnecessary downtime.

    Why PDU Management is a Growing Concern

    For enterprises that have adopted traditional Data Center Infrastructure Management (DCIM) platforms or out-of-band (OOB) solutions, it might seem like power infrastructure is already covered. However, these tools fall short when it comes to giving teams granular control of PDUs. Many only support SNMP-based monitoring, which means teams can see status data but can’t push configurations, perform power cycling, or recover unresponsive devices. OOB solutions also rely on a single WAN link, which can fail and cut off admin access.

    DCIM and OOB solutions lack PDU Management capabilities

    This lack of control results in IT teams still having to perform routine power management tasks on-site, even in supposedly modernized environments.

    The Three Major Challenges of PDU Management

    1. Operational Inefficiencies

    Most PDUs still require manual interaction for updates, configuration changes, or outlet-level power cycling. If a PDU becomes unresponsive, or if firmware updates fail mid-process, SNMP interfaces become useless and recovery options are limited. In these cases, IT personnel must physically travel to the site (sometimes covering long distances) just to perform a simple reboot or plug in a crash cart. This introduces unnecessary downtime, drains IT resources, and slows incident resolution.

    2. Slow Scaling

    As businesses grow, so does the number of PDUs deployed across their infrastructure. Yet when it comes to providing network capabilities, power systems are not designed with scalability in mind. Even network-connected PDUs lack support for modern automation frameworks like Ansible, Terraform, or Python. Without REST APIs, scripting interfaces, or integration with infrastructure-as-code platforms, IT teams are left managing each unit individually through outdated web GUIs or vendor-specific software. This manual approach doesn’t scale and leads to costly delays, especially during site rollouts or large-scale upgrades.

    3. High Administrative Overhead

    Enterprises managing hundreds or thousands of PDUs across distributed environments face overwhelming complexity. Without centralized visibility, tracking the health, configuration status, or firmware version of each device becomes impossible. When each PDU requires its own login, manual updates, and independent troubleshooting processes, power management becomes reactive, not strategic. This overhead increases the risk of misconfigurations, security gaps, and service disruptions.

    Best Practices for Modern PDU Management

    To move beyond these limitations, organizations must rethink their approach. The goal is to eliminate on-site dependencies, enable remote control, and consolidate management across all PDUs. This is where Isolated Management Infrastructure (IMI) comes into play.

    1. Enable Remote Power Management

    Connect PDUs to a dedicated management network, ideally through both Ethernet and serial interfaces. This allows for complete remote access, from initial provisioning to ongoing troubleshooting, even if the primary network link goes down.

    2. Automate Everything

    Adopt solutions that support infrastructure-as-code, automation scripts, and third-party integrations. By automating tasks like firmware updates, power cycling, and configuration pushes, organizations can drastically reduce manual workloads and improve accuracy.

    3. Centralize Administration

    Deploy a unified platform that can manage all PDUs, regardless of vendor or model, from a single interface. Centralization enables consistent policies, rapid issue resolution, and streamlined operations across all environments.

    Learn from the Experts: Download the Best Practices Guide

    ZPE Systems has worked with some of the world’s largest data center operators and remote IT teams to refine their power management strategies. IMI is their foundation for resilient, scalable, and efficient infrastructure operations. Our latest whitepaper, Best Practices for Managing Power Distribution Units in Data Centers & Remote Locations, dives deep into proven strategies for remote management, automation, and centralized control.

    What you’ll learn:

    • How to eliminate manual, on-site work with remote power management
    • How to scale PDU operations using automation and zero-touch provisioning
    • How to simplify administration across thousands of PDUs using an open-architecture platform

    Download the guide now to take the next step toward smarter, more sustainable IT operations.

    Thumbnail – Best Practices Guide for Managing PDUs
    Download Guide

    Get in Touch for a Demo of Remote PDU Management

    Our engineers are ready to show you how to manage your global PDU fleet and give you a demo of these best practices. Click below to set up a demo.

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    More PDU Management Resources:

     

    KVM Switch vs. Serial Console: Understanding the Key Differences and Best Use Cases

    by | Apr 3, 2025 | Actionable Data, Data Center Management, Data Center Resilience, DevOps, Failover Connectivity, Improve Network Security, Increase Productivity, Micro-segmentation, Minimize Impact of Disruptions, Monitoring & Reporting, Network Automation, Out of Band Management, Power Management, Remote Network Management, Scripting, Serial Consoles, Simplify Branch Infrastructure, Streamline Deployments, Vendor Neutral Platform, Zero Touch Provisioning (ZTP), Zero Trust Security

    KVM Switch vs Serial Console

    In IT infrastructure management, two essential tools often come into play: KVM switches and serial consoles. While they may seem similar at first glance, understanding their distinct functionalities is crucial for system administrators. In this guide, we’ll break down their differences, use cases, and how they can work together for optimal infrastructure management.

    What is a KVM Switch?

    A KVM (Keyboard, Video, Mouse) switch is a hardware device that allows users to control multiple computers from a single keyboard, monitor, and mouse. This setup eliminates the need for multiple peripherals, streamlining IT operations.

    Benefits of using a KVM switch:

    • Centralized Management: Control multiple servers from one console.
    • Space & Cost Efficiency: Reduces clutter and hardware costs in server rooms.
    • Graphical Interface Access: Enables GUI-based management for various operating systems.
    • Remote Management: Some KVM switches offer IP-based remote access for IT teams.

    KVM switches are ideal for data centers, server management, and IT environments where GUI access is necessary.

    What is a Serial Console?

    A serial console, also called a console server, provides remote access to devices via serial ports. It is primarily used to manage network equipment such as routers, switches, and firewalls — especially when network access is unavailable.

    Key advantages of serial consoles:

    • Out-of-Band Management: Provides access even when the primary network is down.
    • Command-Line Interface (CLI) Support: Essential for configuring network devices.
    • Improved Security: Enables remote troubleshooting without exposing devices to the main network.
    • Multi-Vendor Support: Works with various networking and industrial hardware.

    Serial consoles are indispensable for network management, disaster recovery, and remote troubleshooting of mission-critical systems. They provide low-level access to equipment and serve as an administrative lifeline when the primary network is not working properly.

    KVM Switch vs. Serial Console: A Side-By-Side Comparison

    Feature
    Access Type
    Primary Use Case
    Connectivity
    Best For
    Network Dependency
    KVM Switch
    Graphical (GUI) access
    Managing multiple computers
    Video & USB interfaces
    Servers, desktops, workstations
    Requires active network/IP-based models available
    Serial Console
    Command-line (CLI) access
    Managing network devices
    Serial ports (RS-232, USB)
    Routers, switches, firewalls
    Works without network access

    When to Use a KVM Switch vs. Serial Console

    Choose a KVM switch if:

    • You need to manage multiple servers with a graphical interface.
    • Your IT infrastructure includes Windows, Linux, or other GUI-based systems.
    • Remote desktop-style management is required.

    Choose a serial console if:

    • You need to configure network hardware like routers and firewalls.
    • Out-of-band management is crucial for your IT setup.
    • You need access when the primary network fails.

    Combining KVM Switches and Serial Consoles for More Capability

    Many IT environments benefit from using both KVM switches and serial consoles in tandem. This setup allows IT teams to efficiently manage both graphical and command-line-based systems, ensuring comprehensive remote access and troubleshooting capabilities. The drawback to this is that it requires deploying more devices, which not only increases costs, but also increases complexity and workloads for IT teams.

    Simplify IT Management with ZPE Systems’ Nodegrid Devices

    Why choose between a KVM switch and a serial console when you can have both in a single device? ZPE Systems’ Nodegrid solutions combine KVM and serial console functionality into an all-in-one platform, simplifying IT infrastructure management.

    Why choose Nodegrid?

    • Unified Management: Access servers, routers, switches, and more from one interface.
    • Enhanced Security: Secure out-of-band management with built-in Zero Trust architecture.
    • Remote Access: Control your entire infrastructure from anywhere, even during network failures.
    • Scalability: Streamline operations for edge, branch, and data center environments.

    Upgrade your IT management with the versatile, secure, and efficient out-of-band solution. Browse our collection of products that combine KVM and serial console functionalities, and get in touch for a free demo.

    Set up a Demo

    See KVM & Serial Console Functionality in This Tech Demo

    Jordan Baker (Tech Writer) shows how to migrate your existing solution to Nodegrid, and gives a 5-minute tech demo of what it’s like to manage serial connections, PDUs, and KVM switches, all from one interface. Watch now and visit our serial console migration page for special offers.

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    Out-of-Band Monitoring: What it is and Why You Need It

    by | Feb 13, 2025 | Actionable Data, Data Center Management, Data Center Resilience, DevOps, Failover Connectivity, Improve Network Security, Increase Productivity, Micro-segmentation, Minimize Impact of Disruptions, Monitoring & Reporting, Network Automation, Out of Band Management, Power Management, Remote Network Management, Scripting, Serial Consoles, Streamline Deployments, Vendor Neutral Platform, Zero Touch Provisioning (ZTP), Zero Trust Security

    Out-of-band monitoring what it is and why you need it

    Network reliability and security are mission-critical for organizations. Yet, relying solely on in-band networks for monitoring and management creates a significant risk. When the primary network experiences an outage or breach, IT teams need to scramble to regain control. Out-of-band monitoring offers a dedicated pathway for monitoring and managing devices, so teams have reliable, always-available access to ensure resilience. But, how does out-of-band monitoring work? What can it monitor? Why is it essential to a network resilience strategy? Let’s find out.

    What is Out-of-Band Monitoring and How Does it Work?

    Out-of-band monitoring is a network management strategy that uses a dedicated management network, separate from the production network, to monitor and manage critical infrastructure. Whereas in-band monitoring relies on the same data network used by users and applications, out-of-band monitoring remains isolated and operational even if the main network is down.

    How does out-of-band monitoring connect to devices?

    • Console Access via Serial Ports: Out-of-band monitoring uses serial console ports on routers, switches, firewalls, and servers to provide direct access to the device’s command-line interface (CLI). This connection bypasses the primary network entirely.
    • Dedicated Management Interfaces: Many modern devices come with a dedicated management Ethernet port (e.g., Cisco’s management interface or HP iLO for servers). These ports are linked to an out-of-band network, allowing secure remote access.
    • Secure Remote Access Gateways: Centralized console servers or remote access gateways aggregate connections to multiple devices, making it easy to manage a large number of endpoints from a single interface.

    Teams can gain remote access to out-of-band console servers via dedicated cellular, ISP, Starlink, or other connection that is separate from the main network.

    Network diagram showing how out-of-band management works

    Image: An out-of-band network provides dedicated connectivity that’s separate from the main network. NOC admins can gain access to out-of-band console servers via cellular, dial-up, ISP, or other connection, and manage all data center/branch devices connected to the console servers.

    What can out-of-band monitor and manage?

    • Network Device Status: Real-time monitoring of routers, switches, and firewalls for availability, performance, and errors.
    • Power Systems: Monitoring and managing power distribution units (PDUs) to ensure stable power, perform remote power cycling, and maintain updated firmware.
    • Server Health: Tracking CPU, memory, disk usage, and hardware diagnostics for servers through out-of-band management interfaces like IPMI, Dell iDRAC, or HP iLO.
    • Environmental Conditions: Temperature, humidity, and physical security sensors can be monitored to detect and respond to environmental threats in data centers and remote sites.
    • Network Connectivity: Ensures WAN links, including primary and backup connections (cellular or satellite), are functioning properly.

    How Out-of-Band Monitoring Improves Resilience

    Out-of-band monitoring significantly enhances network resilience by providing independent access to critical infrastructure. With transparency into device health, network performance, and other systems, teams can stem issues before they have a chance to develop into outages or security breaches. If any problems do occur on the main network, this out-of-band lifeline lets teams instantly respond rather than forcing them to dispatch on-site technicians.

    1. Always-On Access
      Out-of-band networks operate independently from production traffic, ensuring that administrators can maintain visibility and control even when the primary network is congested or down.
    2. Incident Recovery and Diagnostics
      When the primary network is compromised, out-of-band allows IT teams to perform root cause analysis, reconfigure devices, and restore services without relying on affected in-band connectivity.
      • Example: During a DDoS attack, out-of-band provides a clean path to troubleshoot and block the attack at the firewall.
      • Example: If a firmware update causes a network device to become unresponsive, the out-of-band console allows administrators to roll back changes or restore from backup.
    3. Secure and Segmented Access
      Out-of-band isolates management traffic from business data, reducing the attack surface and preventing lateral movement by attackers. Combined with multi-factor authentication (MFA), access control lists (ACLs), and encrypted tunnels, out-of-band becomes a secure channel for managing sensitive infrastructure.
    4. Proactive Monitoring and Automation
      Advanced OOB solutions enable proactive monitoring of device health and predictive failure analysis. Integrated automation tools can trigger alerts, backups, or failover mechanisms when certain thresholds are reached.

    Secure Out-of-Band Monitoring with ZPE Systems’ Nodegrid Platform

    When implementing out-of-band monitoring, ZPE Systems’ Nodegrid platform offers a secure, vendor-agnostic solution designed for modern IT environments.

    Why Nodegrid Stands Out:

    • Universal Compatibility: Nodegrid supports a wide range of network devices and servers, integrating with Cisco, Juniper, Dell, Palo Alto Networks, and more.
    • Consolidated Devices: Nodegrid is a multi-function, drop-in solution that replaces six or more traditional management devices, including servers, routers, switches, cellular, and others.
    • Built-In Cellular and Starlink Failover: Ensure remote sites stay connected through cellular 4G/5G or satellite (Starlink) connections when traditional WAN links fail.
    • Centralized Management: Nodegrid provides a unified management interface that enables IT teams to monitor, manage, and automate infrastructure from a single dashboard.
    • Security First: Nodegrid and ZPE Cloud are the industry’s most secure platform, with features like role-based access control (RBAC), network segmentation, and encrypted communications to safeguard management traffic.

    Nodegrid Data Lake interface visualizing data points using graphs and meters.

    Image: ZPE Cloud enables data collection and analyses for out-of-band monitoring, allowing users to monitor infrastructure metrics, visualize trends, and take a proactive approach to maintaining uptime.

    Out-of-band monitoring is essential for any organization prioritizing uptime and security. The Nodegrid platform by ZPE Systems offers secure, scalable solutions like the 96-port Nodegrid Serial Console Plus for hyperscale data centers and the Nodegrid Gate SR for remote sites. With support for automation, APIs, and custom alerts, Nodegrid simplifies out-of-band monitoring for complex networks while ensuring continuous control, even during outages.

    Explore Nodegrid for Drop-In Out-of-Band Monitoring

    See why Nodegrid is the drop-in out-of-band monitoring solution trusted by hyperscalers, telecom, retail, and hundreds of global organizations. Request a demo today.

    Request a Demo

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    Out-of-Band Deployment Guide

    by | Dec 30, 2024 | Data Center Management, Data Center Resilience, Failover Connectivity, Minimize Impact of Disruptions, Monitoring & Reporting, Out of Band Management, Power Management, Remote Network Management, Serial Consoles, Streamline Deployments, Vendor Neutral Platform

    Out-of-band management (OOBM) is a network resilience strategy that involves moving the control plane of critical infrastructure, such as routers, switches, and servers, to a separate network. Doing so isolates the control plane from the production network so it won’t be negatively affected by equipment failures, ISP outages, or ransomware attacks. 

    This guide describes two out-of-band deployment types and highlights three key best practices to maximize network resilience.

    Out-of-band deployment types

    Deployment Type
    End-of-Row
    Top-of-Rock
    Description
    Deploying OOBM devices at the end of every row in the data center
    Deploying OOBM devices at the top of every rack in the data center
    Pros and Cons
    ✔ Requires fewer OOBM switches
    ✔ Lower cost
    ✔ Reduced management complexity
    ✘ EoR device is a single point of failure for the row
    ✘ Cable management is messier
    ✘ Less flexibility
    ✔ Cables stay in the rack
    ✔ Eliminates a single point of failure
    ✔ Provides greater flexibility to modify, upgrade, or scale
    ✘ Requires more OOBM switches
    ✘ Additional switches could affect throughput, power draw, and cost
    ✘ Increases management complexity

    End-of-row OOBM deployments

    ZPE Graphic Request IR Nov 4

    In an end-of-row (EoR) out-of-band deployment, one or more OOBM switches are installed in every row of data center infrastructure, rather than in every single rack. All the serial cables for infrastructure devices in a particular row are run to wherever the OOBM switch (also known as a serial console or console server) is located, which is typically at the end of the row.

    An EoR deployment requires fewer OOBM devices than a ToR deployment, which reduces costs and management complexity. It also simplifies scaling, as new racks full of infrastructure could be added to the row without requiring additional OOBM serial consoles.

    On the other hand, that one serial console becomes a single point of failure for the entire row’s OOBM functionality. If that device becomes unavailable because of a botched update or malware attack, management teams lose OOBM access to the entire row. Cable management is also more difficult because serial cables must run from every device in every cabinet to the EoR console server. Plus, EoR deployments are less flexible, because upgrading or swapping out a single OOBM device affects an entire row of infrastructure.  

    Top-of-rack OOBM deployments

    ZPE Graphic Request IR Nov 4 (1)

    In a top-of-rack (ToR) out-of-band deployment, one or more OOBM switches are installed in every single rack in the data center. This keeps all serial cables inside the rack, which simplifies cable management. Instead of a single point of failure for the whole row, each serial console only affects one rack, enhancing resilience. Teams can also upgrade or swap out devices without worrying about what’ll happen to the entire row, making ToR deployments a little more flexible. 

    The main drawback of a top-of-rack deployment is that it requires more OOBM console servers than an EoR architecture. This makes OOBM deployments more expensive and adds more devices for teams to manage and monitor. It also increases the power draw in the data center, further driving up costs (and carbon footprints), and adds more network hops to local traffic, which could affect throughput.

    Multi-layered OOBM deployments

    ZPE Systems – A diagram showing a multi-layered, out-of-band, isolated management infrastructure

    A third, less common approach is to deploy OOBM devices both top-of-rack and end-of-row. This makes the OOBM network highly resilient to both outages and ransomware attacks, providing a completely isolated management environment while maintaining the flexibility of a ToR deployment. 

    Out-of-band deployment best practices

    The following best practices can help improve the flexibility, security, scalability, and resilience of out-of-band deployments.

    Vendor-neutral platforms

    Using vendor-neutral OOBM console servers helps consolidate data center management in a single platform. These devices can manage infrastructure from any vendor and integrate with third-party solutions for security, automation, troubleshooting, and more. Vendor-neutral OOBM deployments reduce management complexity and costs, while ensuring easy scalability.

    OOBM security

    OOBM devices and networks must be protected against compromise to keep bad actors from commandeering the control plane. The best practice is to use OOBM switches with strong hardware security, SAML integrations for multi-factor authentication (MFA) and single sign-on (SSO), embedded firewalls, and frequent firmware/software updates to patch new vulnerabilities. 

    Infrastructure automation

    OOBM serial consoles should support automation to improve scalability and efficiency, while reducing complexity and recovery times. At a minimum, they need zero-touch provisioning (ZTP) to automatically configure new infrastructure devices over the network. Advanced solutions like the Nodegrid Serial Console Plus can also host or integrate third-party automation for things like configuration management, security monitoring, troubleshooting, and even AIOps.

    Streamline your out-of-band deployment with Nodegrid

    Nodegrid OOBM switches can be deployed top-of-rack, end-of-row, or both to improve the resilience of any data center architecture. They have an open architecture that can integrate and host other vendors’ software and virtualized network functions for security, automation, and much more. Nodegrid serial consoles and all connected devices can be remotely managed from a single, on-premises or cloud-based software platform, significantly reducing management complexity. Plus, Nodegrid is frequently patched and comes back with security features like BIOS protection, UEFI Secure Boot, self-encrypted disk (SED), Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0, an embedded firewall, and SAML 2.0 integrations.

    Reach out to ZPE Systems for more help comparing end-of-row vs. top-of-rack deployments or to see a demo of the Nodegrid platform in action.

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