Most of these devices support two means of access: user access and maintenance access. Servers, for
example, when functioning normally are accessed by users via web clients, SQL clients, email clients,
and FTP clients, etc. User access relies upon the proper functioning of the server, the operating
system, the application, the protocol stacks, and indeed the network infrastructure between the client
and the server. When failures occur, user level interfaces are often non-responsive. For this
reason these interfaces cannot be relied upon to restore a failed device back to normal operation.
A backdoor interface is required for maintenance access to data center devices. This backdoor cannot
rely upon the proper functioning of the operating system, applications, protocol stacks, nor production
networks. The serial console port, which is fairly universal, provides this backdoor interface. The
serial console port requires only BIOS-level functionality from the device. Using a dumb terminal, it is
possible to run diagnostics, reconfigure corrupted settings, view status, and restore failed units to
normal operational status.
In Unix and Linux servers, the console port serves as a privileged interface even during normal
operation. Critical kernel and application messages are often directed to the console port as a form of
event log. Server management of non-VGA servers is often performed via the system console. With the
advent of Windows 2003, the serial console now provides direct access to the Windows Emergency
Management Services. These services operate at a non-kernel level and offer the ability to restore
normal functionality even in the event of blue-screen.
The Virtual Crash Cart: Console Port Management Solutions
Most data centers have a 'crash cart' that allows a dumb terminal to be wheeled about for emergency
management of failed systems. The dumb terminal is the most basic means of out-of-band access to
failed devices. Direct terminals bypass protocol stacks, operating systems, routers, and switches.
Unfortunately, administrators are not always in the data center when a failure occurs. Factors such as
downsizing, business travel, multi-site facilities, branch offices, lights-out policies, and 24x7
operations, increase the likelihood that failures will occur when administrators are not present.
Because admin staff is often absent when trouble strikes, organizations have turned to console
management solutions as a key building block in their strategy to minimize downtime. Whether local
or remote, console management solutions provide administrators with secure access to console ports
of data center devices.
These solutions provide virtual crash cart access to every device in the data center. These solutions
also provide administrators with a host of valuable tools to detect and diagnose failed units as well as
to quickly restore them to fully operational status.
WHITE PAPER
Copyright © 2004 Avocent. All rights reserved.
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