The Necessity Of Console Management
Console management has come a long way over the past few years. This particular aspect of network management began by using telnet services as kinds of reverse terminal servers. These servers used the remote system to access several ports located on target servers and devices such as firewalls, routers and switches. Over time, these devices incorporated several other features such as data logging, event monitoring and security features that left them nearly indistinguishable from their early predecessors. These servers have come a long way in helping system administrators manage their serial console connections both locally and remotely.
This type of management is essential for power cycling and troubleshooting with an out of band remote connection to a failed device even in the case of a power outage or the failure of a network router or server. This out of band remote access is capable of providing wired and wireless data recovery as well as access and control of remote power switches and PDUs. The ability to provide network monitoring and alerting is also very invaluable for those systems that rely heavily on network connections to keep business moving along.
Console management may vary depending upon the system the network uses, but they all contain a few of the same elements. For instance, some serial ports will automatically configure as a management port if a device powers up with a keyboard or monitor connection. They allow administrators to find and fix problems locally and remotely in ways that are simple. These devices also help administrators to create and distribute policies quickly to multiple groups simultaneously as well as manage many tasks such as application control, anti-virus functions, client firewall, data control, device control, network access control and updating from a single location.
There are also many other benefits such as increasing the administrations amount of control over allotting everyday tasks with efficiency. Most systems will also alert the user to threats to the security threshold as well as instantly send threat reports to the user once these threats are detected and/or fixed. Some can even help create better synergy between departments by integrating and scheduling reports to send them automatically to everyone who needs them.
Any system that relies on networking should have a good console management system in place. A good form of centralized management can be run right from an administrators desktop, allowing the administering and monitoring of enormous tasks that involve the use of many resources without affecting the other users on the system. Troubleshooting and repairs can be done on single devices. It is important that each network have a management system and style in place that works with that particular work environment and the administrator overseeing the system.
This type of management is essential for power cycling and troubleshooting with an out of band remote connection to a failed device even in the case of a power outage or the failure of a network router or server. This out of band remote access is capable of providing wired and wireless data recovery as well as access and control of remote power switches and PDUs. The ability to provide network monitoring and alerting is also very invaluable for those systems that rely heavily on network connections to keep business moving along.
Console management may vary depending upon the system the network uses, but they all contain a few of the same elements. For instance, some serial ports will automatically configure as a management port if a device powers up with a keyboard or monitor connection. They allow administrators to find and fix problems locally and remotely in ways that are simple. These devices also help administrators to create and distribute policies quickly to multiple groups simultaneously as well as manage many tasks such as application control, anti-virus functions, client firewall, data control, device control, network access control and updating from a single location.
There are also many other benefits such as increasing the administrations amount of control over allotting everyday tasks with efficiency. Most systems will also alert the user to threats to the security threshold as well as instantly send threat reports to the user once these threats are detected and/or fixed. Some can even help create better synergy between departments by integrating and scheduling reports to send them automatically to everyone who needs them.
Any system that relies on networking should have a good console management system in place. A good form of centralized management can be run right from an administrators desktop, allowing the administering and monitoring of enormous tasks that involve the use of many resources without affecting the other users on the system. Troubleshooting and repairs can be done on single devices. It is important that each network have a management system and style in place that works with that particular work environment and the administrator overseeing the system.
