The advantages of implementing out-of-band management (OOBM) solutions for your remote data centers are substantial. OOBM makes controlling these distant data centers easier by ensuring that data center infrastructure monitoring is possible regardless of the state of the data center itself.
But beyond the monitoring capabilities, more and more OOBM solutions are providing cellular access to remote sites so that OOBM is possible when primary networks are faulty or down, a hopefully rare, but usually inevitable occurrence. These secure means of access ensure that on-site infrastructure is accessible in spite of any system or network outages. Even more, remote cellular access makes troubleshooting these system and network outages more efficient, making it possible to differentiate -- right from the beginning of the issue -- what the specifics of any outage entails. The end result is a much quicker mean time to repair, oftentimes without anyone stepping foot inside the data center.
What’s more, with new developments in cellular technology, cellular data speeds are getting faster and more reliable, and the infrastructure for 4G LTE (News - Alert) technology is getting increasingly ubiquitous. Implementing OOBM solutions that take advantage of 4G LTE optimizes the monitoring capabilities for data centers. But what are the options currently on the market, and what features are important to keep in mind when choosing an OOBM solution? Here's our take of what's on the market:
Sierra Wireless (News - Alert) AirLink ES440:
The Sierra Wireless AirLink ES440 might not be a powerful, all-in-one OOBM solution – but it doesn’t claim to be, and the ES440 is capable of adding business value. Instead of a full-service solution, it aims to be a complement to all the heavy-hitter routers already on the market. Add-on capabilities like the cellular connectivity and reverse telnet to support OOBM are the primary focus of this particular box, as opposed to being incidental attributes. The ES440 is what to go to if you want to install hardware that allows for the possibility of cellular-ready remote OOBM. Because the ES440 is a gateway, not a router, it is a good choice for those only looking to supplement their existing routers without paying for redundant hardware capabilities. It turns routers into OOBM-capable machines without any extra fuss. However, that also means that they are simple machines out of the box and are not as feature-rich as other options on the market.
CradlePoint (News - Alert) Serial Consoles:
The CradlePoint routers, on the other hand, have a much more complete set of capabilities. They are constructed as routers with built-in remote OOBM capabilities. These machines are functioning routers that also have the ability to connect to other devices with an RS-232 interface. Additionally, CradlePoint consoles can communicate with any device that utilizes an RS-232 interface using telnet sessions through USB-to-serial connections (the CradlePoint routers themselves do not come with the separate USB-to-serial adaptors needed to hook up these different machines). Because of that, these CradlePoint products have a wider range of capabilities and features. CradlePoint can be used to engage in maintenance through OOBM features and can act as a back-up router if the primary router fails. CradlePoint routers are also 3G and 4G enabled, so remote OOBM is possible in spite of any primary network issues.
Moreover, CradlePoint routers aren't just for monitoring and troubleshooting -- they can be used to configure attached routers and devices. CradlePoint creates routers that are OOBM capable, providing redundancy and simplifying troubleshooting for remote monitoring. The limitation of CradlePoint devices is that they are largely routers first or routers that happen to be OOBM-capable, and, therefore, they are not fully featured with OOBM in mind. They are a solid router-cum-OOBM solution, but they are, still, a hybrid solution.
Opengear ACM5500 Management Gateway (News - Alert):
For an OOBM solution built with OOBM as its primary focus, Opengear's ACM5500 Gateway is a 4G LTE-enabled solution to remote management. These cellular capabilities are enhanced with optimized support for Verizon and AT&T (News - Alert) networks. The gateway is built, first and foremost, to be a remote monitor. In addition to cellular connectivity, it has environmental and physical sensors and it can automatically detect – as well as recover from – network outages and repair equipment faults.
The ACM5500 comes with built-in support for Cisco devices, but also supports a wide array of network, IT, and power infrastructure and vendors. With an integrated 4-port serial console server, managed router, secure switch, and firewall, it makes multi-vendor, multi-device management possible with its 4 serial, 4 Ethernet, 2 USB, and digital I/O ports. It is designed for wiring closets, branch office servers, communications cabinets, and harsh remote sites, so being able to connect to a variety of machines is part of the core purpose of this Opengear device. As such, the ACM5500 stands as the most complete OOBM solution out of the three options, though each option has a particular niche that best suits its purposes.
Which Ghost for the Machine?
OOBM doesn't just promote efficiency. It's often a lifesaver. While out-of-band remote site monitoring and troubleshooting is easier and reduces the amount of onsite maintenance, OOBM can also prevent complete network blackouts and promotes business continuity. Choosing to implement OOBM capabilities is the simple part. Even when the field is narrowed by one desired feature (4G LTE enabled), deciding how is more complicated. One area all vendors don't capitalize on is PoE installations or small devices for medium sized closets with more than 4 devices needing serial console access. Ultimately, the right OOBM device largely depends on what other hardware infrastructure is already in place and what capabilities are desired.
Edited by Rory J. Thompson