NANOG - Are any of you running a console server to access your network
equipment via a serial connection at a remote site? If so, what are you
using and how much do you like it? I have a project where I need to stand
up over 100 remote sites and would like a backdoor to the console just to
be able to see what's going on with the equipment to hopefully avoid a
truck roll for something simple like a hung device. I need 4 console ports
and 1 RJ45 ethernet jack. My quick Google search landed me at
BlackBox LES1204A-3G-R2, but I've never actually used such a device. This
would be for use in the USA.
Thank you in advance.
-ben
I have been using a Sprint 3G modem to a Mikrotik (IP stuff for my use, but
you can just as easily use the serial port for your needs). I pay $10/mo
for a few hundred megabytes/mo.
None of the Mikrotiks have 4 console ports, but you can buy 4 of them cheap.
Josh Luthman
Office: 937-552-2340
Direct: 937-552-2343
1100 Wayne St
Suite 1337
Troy, OH 45373
I use https://www.lantronix.com/products/lantronix-slb/ for small sites but
that looks like overkill for what you are doing. The Lantronix SLB882 has
auto transfer switching (ATS) power management with port control for remote
power management.
NANOG - Are any of you running a console server to access your network
equipment via a serial connection at a remote site? If so, what are you
using and how much do you like it? I have a project where I need to stand
up over 100 remote sites and would like a backdoor to the console just to
be able to see what's going on with the equipment to hopefully avoid a
truck roll for something simple like a hung device. I need 4 console
ports
Hi,
NANOG - Are any of you running a console server to access your network
equipment via a serial connection at a remote site? If so, what are you
using and how much do you like it? I have a project where I need to stand
up over 100 remote sites and would like a backdoor to the console just to
be able to see what's going on with the equipment to hopefully avoid a
truck roll for something simple like a hung device. I need 4 console ports
and 1 RJ45 ethernet jack. My quick Google search landed me at
BlackBox LES1204A-3G-R2, but I've never actually used such a device. This
would be for use in the USA.
I don't have experience with those devices, but I did just have a conversation about this with people from Opengear and they told me they have experience with it and you can even set up a OpenVPN over cellular and bridge to the ethernet port to access the management LAN. I haven't tested it yet, but at least their sales people say it works 
Cheers,
Sander
In a message written on Fri, Feb 24, 2017 at 10:08:52AM -0600, Ben Bartsch wrote:
NANOG - Are any of you running a console server to access your network
equipment via a serial connection at a remote site? If so, what are you
using and how much do you like it? I have a project where I need to stand
up over 100 remote sites and would like a backdoor to the console just to
be able to see what's going on with the equipment to hopefully avoid a
truck roll for something simple like a hung device. I need 4 console ports
and 1 RJ45 ethernet jack. My quick Google search landed me at
BlackBox LES1204A-3G-R2, but I've never actually used such a device. This
would be for use in the USA.
OpenGear all the way. Models for every need.
Hi Ben
We run OpenGears at Simwood. They do various flavours some with 3G; we’ve used both the 3G and the ethernet variety and all worked well. Serial access is essentially ssh to the console server specifying a custom port that relates to the serial port. They also support the addition of other sensors, e.g. temperature. The smallest one is 4 ports but I can’t presently see it on their website.
cheers
Simon
+1 for opengear as well. We have over 100 deployed and have been a solid product as well as a good company to work with.
We also setup a private network with Verizon so that our console servers would not be on the Internet.
Jensen Tyler
Sr Engineering Manager
Fiberutilities Group, LLC
Netcomm NWL‑25‑02 Verizon LTE Router paired with a DLI SS20 gives you
access to 20 serial ports natively from the NWL, without the use of USB or
an intermediate technology between the router, end device and LTE interface
thus signifinactly reducing the potential for an LTE communications
failure, typical of external USB devices/routers.
We have been deploying these on our Verizon Wireless private network for
about six months now, and have been extremely impressed thus far. In
addition, the NWL also has multiple GPIO's native to the platform, a
WWAN-LTE (routable DMNR) ethernet port, usb port, etc.
On our VZW MPN contract, each site is down to $5.00/MRC. Just have to have
a minimum of 25 device on the contract to reach that pricing level.
The NWL retails for $199.00
The SS20 retails for $149.00
Hi,
OpenGear all the way. Models for every need.
+1 OpenGear all the time - just ensure you are patching/manageing them(!)
alan
+1 OpenGear all the time - just ensure you are patching/manageing them(!)
Why do you say that? I'd love some details before buying opengear.
opengear is just atom based linux，at least the one i used.
Hi.
I use lots of opengears boxes - mainly the Console Manager range 41xx then 71xx for "big location" with more than 8 consoles needed
550x when it's less than 8.
We use them only as out-of-band access when either we have inband pbm or when a intervention is risky - so no fancy feature is needed here ( hense the CM71xx range.. )
I tried from them a cellular one ( 5504 I guess back in the days ) but the cellular cover wasn't great in the particular DC i've tested it.
+ it was hard to get a cellular with static IP ....
So I stayed with small/cheap 10mb access for that box.
short feedback:
+ It just works - no hardware issues so far ( in years ) - software stable.
+ ZTP also works okay for provisionning with XML config ( I do it with Ansible/Jinja2 )
+ Support ready to help - even though we are not a huge buyer, they provide us the feature we needed right quick ( beeing able to touch the serial config as a "user" instead of admin
+ cisco pinout by default - no overcharge if you want the classic serial rs232 pinout
- From my test, provisionning is limited to a basic config - I couln't make it work buy generating the whole setup in the .opg images.
So I generated basic XML config file to make the box pings then i use ansible in RAW SSH for post-deploy.
- No python on the box so for every-day update/config I need to use ansible in raw SSH mode - which is a bit dumb in 2016/17
- Still no that cheap for a rasp like base box
Cheers,
Nico
I tried to build one in the past, but didn't have much success. Anyone successfully built some and willing to give details?
I've been toying with the FreeTSERV stuff. Ping me if you are interested in some boards
Jared Mauch
http://opengear.com/solutions/smart-out-band-management
Out-of-Band Management - Opengear<http://opengear.com/solutions/smart-out-band-management>
opengear.com
Smart OOB™ is out-of-band access, management, auto-response and remediation for network resilience raised to a new level. The continued exponential growth and ...
we are in the processes of procurement and deployment of some of the product type in link above.
--pete