User Manual

5. Firewall, Failover and OOB Access

To ensure high availability, the console server has a number of out-of-band access capabilities and transparent failover

features. If there is difﬁculty in accessing the console server through the main network path, all console server models provide

out-of-band (OOB) access and the Administrator can still access it (and its Managed Devices) from a remote location.

• All console server models support serially attaching an external dial-up modem and conﬁguring dial-in OOB access. Some

models with USB ports support attaching an external USB modem. Some models also come standard with an internal

modem. These modems can also be conﬁgured for dial-in OOB access.

• All console server models with an internal or external attached modem (and ﬁrmware version 3.4 or later) can be conﬁgured

for out-dial to be permanently connected.

• The advanced console server models can also be conﬁgured for transparent out-dial failover. In the event of a disruption in

the principal management network, an external dial-up ppp connection is automatically established.

• These advanced console server models can also be accessed out-of-band using an alternate broadband link and offer

transparent broadband failover.

• Models with an internal cellular modem can be conﬁgured for OOB cellular access, cellular transparent failover, or as a

cellular router.

5.1 Dialup Modem Connection

To enable dial-in or dial-out, ﬁrst ensure there is a modem attached to the console server.

• All models support external USB modems. The USB modem will be auto-detected and an External USB Modem Port tab

will appear under System -> Dial (in addition to the Serial DB9 Port tab). All console server models supports an external

modem (any brand) attached via a serial cable to the console/modem port for OOB dial-in access.

• The serial ports on the B093 are by default conﬁgured as RJ serial console server ports. However, Port 1 can be conﬁgured

to be the local console/modem port.

5.2 OOB Dial-In Access

Once a modem has been attached to the console server, you can conﬁgure the console server for dial-in PPP access. The

console server will then await an incoming connection from a dial-in at remote site. Next, the remote client dial-in software

needs to be conﬁgured to establish the connection between the Administrator’s client modem to the dial-in modem on the

console server.