integrated KVMoIP and serial console terminal server
Hi all, What is everybody's favourite combination rack-mount VGA/USB KVM-over- IP and serial console concentrator in 2009? I'm looking for something that will accommodate 8 or so 9600bps serial devices and about 12 VGA/USB devices, all reachable over IP via sane means (ssh, https, etc). Being able to trunk everything through cat5E/ RJ45 plant is not necessary; in this application everything is in the same cabinet. Avocent seem to make a likely-looking box, but (a) it's a bit insanely expensive, and (b) the adapters that you connect using RJ45 to the avocent and via RS232 to the serial devices *each seem to require a power supply* which frankly makes me recoil in horror. Perhaps I mis- read the glossy web page. Advice would be appreciated; direct mail is fine; I can summarise back to the list if there is interest in me doing so. Joe
I haven't really found a combo unit I like as yet. For KVM, I like the Raritan products. For Serial, I prefer the Avocent line. Owen On Apr 23, 2009, at 3:17 PM, Joe Abley wrote:
Hi all,
What is everybody's favourite combination rack-mount VGA/USB KVM- over-IP and serial console concentrator in 2009?
I'm looking for something that will accommodate 8 or so 9600bps serial devices and about 12 VGA/USB devices, all reachable over IP via sane means (ssh, https, etc). Being able to trunk everything through cat5E/RJ45 plant is not necessary; in this application everything is in the same cabinet.
Avocent seem to make a likely-looking box, but (a) it's a bit insanely expensive, and (b) the adapters that you connect using RJ45 to the avocent and via RS232 to the serial devices *each seem to require a power supply* which frankly makes me recoil in horror. Perhaps I mis-read the glossy web page.
Advice would be appreciated; direct mail is fine; I can summarise back to the list if there is interest in me doing so.
Joe
I have had good luck with Digi console managers for serial... I think they have some KVM functionality, but I don't know how well that works as I have only used the serial management. http://www.digi.com/products/consoleservers/ Regards, James Pleger e: jpleger@gmail.com g: http://pgp.mit.edu:11371/pks/lookup?op=get&search=0x9D7141C9 On Apr 24, 2009, at 9:52 AM, Owen DeLong wrote:
I haven't really found a combo unit I like as yet.
For KVM, I like the Raritan products. For Serial, I prefer the Avocent line.
Owen
On Apr 23, 2009, at 3:17 PM, Joe Abley wrote:
Hi all,
What is everybody's favourite combination rack-mount VGA/USB KVM- over-IP and serial console concentrator in 2009?
I'm looking for something that will accommodate 8 or so 9600bps serial devices and about 12 VGA/USB devices, all reachable over IP via sane means (ssh, https, etc). Being able to trunk everything through cat5E/RJ45 plant is not necessary; in this application everything is in the same cabinet.
Avocent seem to make a likely-looking box, but (a) it's a bit insanely expensive, and (b) the adapters that you connect using RJ45 to the avocent and via RS232 to the serial devices *each seem to require a power supply* which frankly makes me recoil in horror. Perhaps I mis-read the glossy web page.
Advice would be appreciated; direct mail is fine; I can summarise back to the list if there is interest in me doing so.
Joe
We have just implemented Avocent console and power concentrators. Console servers are reachable via a highly customizable web interface. The Avocent software can also be virtualized on VMWare. Console connectivity can be provisioned to first try SSH via the IP network, and automatically failover to a dial-up modem connection if the network is down. For power both AC and DC power supplies are supported. With DC the battery plant main fuse panel connects to the device that is used to power cycle the electronic equipment using low amperage "grasshopper" fuses for each device. I believe that Avocent is the only vendor with DC power-cycle support. The serial cables for the device consoles do not require power supplies as indicated below. -----Original Message----- From: Owen DeLong [mailto:owen@delong.com] Sent: Friday, April 24, 2009 9:52 AM To: Joe Abley Cc: NANOG list Subject: Re: integrated KVMoIP and serial console terminal server I haven't really found a combo unit I like as yet. For KVM, I like the Raritan products. For Serial, I prefer the Avocent line. Owen On Apr 23, 2009, at 3:17 PM, Joe Abley wrote:
Hi all,
What is everybody's favourite combination rack-mount VGA/USB KVM- over-IP and serial console concentrator in 2009?
I'm looking for something that will accommodate 8 or so 9600bps serial devices and about 12 VGA/USB devices, all reachable over IP via sane means (ssh, https, etc). Being able to trunk everything through cat5E/RJ45 plant is not necessary; in this application everything is in the same cabinet.
Avocent seem to make a likely-looking box, but (a) it's a bit insanely expensive, and (b) the adapters that you connect using RJ45 to the avocent and via RS232 to the serial devices *each seem to require a power supply* which frankly makes me recoil in horror. Perhaps I mis-read the glossy web page.
Advice would be appreciated; direct mail is fine; I can summarise back to the list if there is interest in me doing so.
Joe
My favorite front end for serial console management is conserver. It's really great software and the price is right. http://www.conserver.com Owen On Apr 24, 2009, at 10:40 AM, Holmes,David A wrote:
We have just implemented Avocent console and power concentrators. Console servers are reachable via a highly customizable web interface. The Avocent software can also be virtualized on VMWare. Console connectivity can be provisioned to first try SSH via the IP network, and automatically failover to a dial-up modem connection if the network is down. For power both AC and DC power supplies are supported. With DC the battery plant main fuse panel connects to the device that is used to power cycle the electronic equipment using low amperage "grasshopper" fuses for each device. I believe that Avocent is the only vendor with DC power-cycle support.
The serial cables for the device consoles do not require power supplies as indicated below.
-----Original Message----- From: Owen DeLong [mailto:owen@delong.com] Sent: Friday, April 24, 2009 9:52 AM To: Joe Abley Cc: NANOG list Subject: Re: integrated KVMoIP and serial console terminal server
I haven't really found a combo unit I like as yet.
For KVM, I like the Raritan products. For Serial, I prefer the Avocent line.
Owen
On Apr 23, 2009, at 3:17 PM, Joe Abley wrote:
Hi all,
What is everybody's favourite combination rack-mount VGA/USB KVM- over-IP and serial console concentrator in 2009?
I'm looking for something that will accommodate 8 or so 9600bps serial devices and about 12 VGA/USB devices, all reachable over IP via sane means (ssh, https, etc). Being able to trunk everything through cat5E/RJ45 plant is not necessary; in this application everything is in the same cabinet.
Avocent seem to make a likely-looking box, but (a) it's a bit insanely expensive, and (b) the adapters that you connect using RJ45 to the avocent and via RS232 to the serial devices *each seem to require a power supply* which frankly makes me recoil in horror. Perhaps I mis-read the glossy web page.
Advice would be appreciated; direct mail is fine; I can summarise back to the list if there is interest in me doing so.
Joe
Owen DeLong <owen@delong.com> writes:
My favorite front end for serial console management is conserver.
It's really great software and the price is right.
see also /usr/ports/sysutils/rtty on freebsd, which pulls from MASTER_SITES= ftp://ftp.isc.org/isc/rtty/ \ ftp://gatekeeper.research.compaq.com/pub/misc/vixie/ since the ftp server mentioned here in 1996 http://www.merit.edu/mail.archives/nanog/1996-08/msg00223.html is dead. -- Paul Vixie KI6YSY
Have you considered VM's for remote OS access to win devices and eliminating vga/kb requirements? If you are looking for console uptime and ease of use, avoid anything with moving parts (disk) and go with cisco. Consider the secondary market for the concentrator and cards to keep costs very low. Alternatively, I like MRV. Console will work fine over cat5, but if your cabinet is going to be 'busy' you should consider going shielded. Cisco asynch octo cables are shielded iirc, but I prefer in cabinet xcon for ease of use so if that's your technique too shield the xcon. You won't regret it. Best, Martin On 4/23/09, Joe Abley <jabley@hopcount.ca> wrote:
Hi all,
What is everybody's favourite combination rack-mount VGA/USB KVM-over- IP and serial console concentrator in 2009?
I'm looking for something that will accommodate 8 or so 9600bps serial devices and about 12 VGA/USB devices, all reachable over IP via sane means (ssh, https, etc). Being able to trunk everything through cat5E/ RJ45 plant is not necessary; in this application everything is in the same cabinet.
Avocent seem to make a likely-looking box, but (a) it's a bit insanely expensive, and (b) the adapters that you connect using RJ45 to the avocent and via RS232 to the serial devices *each seem to require a power supply* which frankly makes me recoil in horror. Perhaps I mis- read the glossy web page.
Advice would be appreciated; direct mail is fine; I can summarise back to the list if there is interest in me doing so.
Joe
-- Martin Hannigan martin@theicelandguy.com p: +16178216079 Power, Network, and Costs Consulting for Iceland Datacenters and Occupants
Joe Abley <jabley@hopcount.ca> writes:
What is everybody's favourite combination rack-mount VGA/USB KVM-over- IP and serial console concentrator in 2009?
I'm looking for something that will accommodate 8 or so 9600bps serial devices and about 12 VGA/USB devices, all reachable over IP via sane means (ssh, https, etc). Being able to trunk everything through cat5E/ RJ45 plant is not necessary; in this application everything is in the same cabinet.
I can't speak to the KVM over IP (for *NIX, they are obviously inferior to serial) but I do have some suggestions for the serial end. Personally, I use an opengear cm4148; it seems to work fairly well. If I only needed 8 ports, I'd still be using my solution from 2005, which was an 8 port rocketport serial card in a FreeBSD box. I only moved to the opengear because I need many more ports I like both the opengear and the freebsd box because I can use ssh auth, I can log, and I can lock down each user so that a given private key can only view a certain port.
The OpenGear (based on their online demo) has much better configuration GUI than the WTI, hands down. Every time I make a change on the WTI, it has to reboot itself. =( Frank -----Original Message----- From: Luke S Crawford [mailto:lsc@prgmr.com] Sent: Friday, April 24, 2009 1:33 PM To: Joe Abley Cc: NANOG list Subject: Re: integrated KVMoIP and serial console terminal server Joe Abley <jabley@hopcount.ca> writes:
What is everybody's favourite combination rack-mount VGA/USB KVM-over- IP and serial console concentrator in 2009?
I'm looking for something that will accommodate 8 or so 9600bps serial devices and about 12 VGA/USB devices, all reachable over IP via sane means (ssh, https, etc). Being able to trunk everything through cat5E/ RJ45 plant is not necessary; in this application everything is in the same cabinet.
I can't speak to the KVM over IP (for *NIX, they are obviously inferior to serial) but I do have some suggestions for the serial end. Personally, I use an opengear cm4148; it seems to work fairly well. If I only needed 8 ports, I'd still be using my solution from 2005, which was an 8 port rocketport serial card in a FreeBSD box. I only moved to the opengear because I need many more ports I like both the opengear and the freebsd box because I can use ssh auth, I can log, and I can lock down each user so that a given private key can only view a certain port.
We just switched from using Avocent/Cyclades to using Raritan for our terminal servers, and I am happier with the Raritan. I have used Raritan IP KVM's in the past and been happy, and the IT folks seem to like their new one. I found the Raritan terminal server docs much more complete, it's support for direct access to serial ports via ssh much more complete, its support for remote authentication (TACACS+) better, it's console sharing features better, etc. etc. I was surprised how much better we liked it than the other products we've used. --D On Fri, Apr 24, 2009 at 11:33 AM, Luke S Crawford <lsc@prgmr.com> wrote:
Joe Abley <jabley@hopcount.ca> writes:
What is everybody's favourite combination rack-mount VGA/USB KVM-over- IP and serial console concentrator in 2009?
I'm looking for something that will accommodate 8 or so 9600bps serial devices and about 12 VGA/USB devices, all reachable over IP via sane means (ssh, https, etc). Being able to trunk everything through cat5E/ RJ45 plant is not necessary; in this application everything is in the same cabinet.
I can't speak to the KVM over IP (for *NIX, they are obviously inferior to serial) but I do have some suggestions for the serial end.
Personally, I use an opengear cm4148; it seems to work fairly well.
If I only needed 8 ports, I'd still be using my solution from 2005, which was an 8 port rocketport serial card in a FreeBSD box. I only moved to the opengear because I need many more ports
I like both the opengear and the freebsd box because I can use ssh auth, I can log, and I can lock down each user so that a given private key can only view a certain port.
-- -- Darren Bolding -- -- darren@bolding.org --
participants (9)
-
Darren Bolding -
Frank Bulk -
Holmes,David A -
James Pleger -
Joe Abley -
Luke S Crawford -
Martin Hannigan -
Owen DeLong -
Paul Vixie