Vertiv discontinued their Avocent ACS6000 line of serial console servers at the end of 2018 and will stop supporting them on July 31, 2023 (or whenever your warranty expires). The Vertiv Avocent ACS EOL guide recommends the ACS8000 series as a direct replacement, but before you make the switch you should consider all your options.
In this blog, we’ll directly compare the ACS6000 to the ACS8000, as well as recommend an alternative replacement option for your EOL serial consoles.
Vertiv Avocent ACS EOL Model: ACS6000
The Vertiv Avocent ACS6000 series is an enterprise data center serial console server with support for remote out-of-band management and zero touch provisioning (ZTP). Vertiv offers on-premises management via their DSView™ management software, CLI (command line interface), and web app. The ACS6000 supports advanced authentication via Radius, TACACS+, LDAP/AD, NIS, and Kerberos, as well as one-time passwords (OTP). However, its automation capabilities are limited to ZTP and auto-sensing ports.
Vertiv Avocent ACS6000 tech specs
| Serial console features: |
|
| Pinout auto-detection: | Cyclades and Cisco pinouts |
| Vendor neutral: | No |
| CPU: | PPC440Epx @ 533 MHz |
| DRAM: | 256MB |
| Maximum ports: | 48 |
| Cellular failover: | 3G/4G failover and OOB |
| Sensors: | Internal temperature sensor |
| Operating system: | Linux OS and DSViewTM management software |
| On-premises management: | DSViewTM, CLI, web app |
| Cloud management: | No |
| Automation: |
|
| Automation for end devices: | No |
| Guest OS support: | No |
| Authentication servers: |
|
| Hardware security: | Embedded FIPS 140-2 module |
| Two-Factor Authentication: | Yes |
| Power management: |
Power management integrated with serial session as well as the Vertiv GXT UPS |
Vertiv Avocent ACS EOL Replacement Option: ACS8000
Vertiv’s direct replacement for the EOL ACS6000 is the ACS8000 series. To make your migration easier, the ACS8000 supports your existing ACS6000 configuration files and CLI scripts. In addition, the ACS8000 delivers new features such as an upgraded CPU, more RAM, and an environmental sensor port with support for temperature, humidity, leak, pressure, and contact sensors.
Where the ACS8000 really improves upon the old EOL series is with automation—it supports RESTful API Python and Perl scripts and automated management of PDU (power distribution unit) and UPS (universal power supply) products. However, the ACS8000 still only provides on-premises management, and it doesn’t support integrations with third-party automation and orchestration solutions.
Vertiv Avocent ACS6000 vs. ACS8000 tech specs
| Vertiv Avocent ACS6000 | Vertiv Avocent ACS8000 | |
| Serial console features: |
|
|
| Pinout auto-detection: | Cyclades and Cisco pinouts | Cyclades and Cisco pinouts |
| Vendor neutral: | No | No |
| CPU: | PPC440Epx @ 533 MHz | Dual-core ARM® Cortex™-A9 MPCore™ with CoreSight™ |
| DRAM: | 256MB | 1GB |
| Maximum ports: | 48 | 48 |
| Cellular failover: | 3G/4G failover and OOB | 3G/4G failover and OOB |
| Sensors: | Internal temperature sensor |
|
| Operating system: | Linux OS and DSViewTM management software | Linux OS and DSViewTM management software |
| On-premises management: | DSViewTM, CLI, web app | DSViewTM, CLI, web app |
| Cloud management: | No | No |
| Automation: |
|
|
| Automation for end devices | No |
|
| Guest OS support: | No | No |
| Authentication servers: |
|
|
| Hardware security: | Embedded FIPS 140-2 module | Embedded FIPS 140-2 module |
| Two-Factor Authentication: | Yes | Yes |
| Power management: | Power management integrated with serial session as well as the Vertiv GXT UPS | Power management integrated with serial session as well as the Vertiv GXT UPS |
Vertiv Avocent ACS EOL Replacement Option: Nodegrid Serial Console Plus (NSCP)
The ACS8000 addresses some of the weaknesses of the EOL ACS6000 series. However, if your enterprise needs a NetDevOps data center solution with next-gen features like cloud management and vendor-neutral orchestration support, then Vertiv’s models fall short.
The Nodegrid Serial Console Plus (NSCP) from ZPE Solutions delivers these features and more in a high-density, 96-port 1U rackmount design. The NSCP also provides hardened device security with on-board features like secure boot, encrypted disk, TPM 2.0 and geofencing, as well as embedded firewall security and SAML 2.0 authentication. Plus, the NSCP runs on Nodegrid OS, an open Linux-based architecture with full support for NetDevOps automation and orchestration solutions like Docker, Chef, Puppet, and Ansible.
Head-to-head: ACS6000 vs. ACS8000 vs. NSCP tech specs
| Vertiv Avocent ACS6000 | Vertiv Avocent ACS8000 | Nodegrid Serial Console Plus (NSCP) | |
| Serial console features: |
|
|
|
| Pinout auto-detection: | Cyclades and Cisco pinouts | Cyclades and Cisco pinouts | Cisco pinout |
| Vendor neutral: | No | No | Yes |
| CPU: | PPC440Epx @ 533 MHz | Dual-core ARM® Cortex™-A9 MPCore™ with CoreSight™ | Intel x86, 64 bit |
| DRAM: | 256MB | 1GB | 4GB |
| Maximum ports: | 48 | 48 | 96 |
| Cellular failover: | 3G/4G failover and OOB | 3G/4G failover and OOB | 5G/4G/LTE and Wifi failover and OOB |
| Sensors: | Internal temperature sensor |
|
External USB attached sensors:
Plus, a 7-port USB hub |
| Operating system: | Linux OS and DSViewTM management software | Linux OS and DSViewTM management software | Flexible, open, 64-bit Linux-based Nodegrid OS optimized for integration with third-party automation and orchestration tools |
| On-premises management: | DSViewTM, CLI, web app | DSViewTM, CLI, web app | Nodegrid Manager |
| Cloud management: | No | No | ZPE Cloud Manager |
| Automation: |
|
|
|
| Automation for end devices | No |
|
|
| Guest OS support: | No | No | Ability to run VMs and Docker |
| Authentication servers: |
|
|
|
| Hardware security: | Embedded FIPS 140-2 module | Embedded FIPS 140-2 module |
|
| Two-Factor Authentication: | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Power management: | Power management integrated with serial session as well as the Vertiv GXT UPS | Power management integrated with serial session as well as the Vertiv GXT UPS |
|
Though the Vertiv Avocent ACS8000 series provides a close match to the capabilities of the EOL ACS6000 series, it fails to deliver the advanced features you need to achieve NetDevOps transformation. Only the Nodegrid Serial Console Plus gives you intuitive cloud management, hardened device security, and full automation and orchestration support.
Ready to replace your Vertiv Avocent ACS EOL serial console server with the Nodegrid Serial Console Plus?
Contact ZPE Systems online or call 1-844-ZPE-SYS.