Black Box LES1108A User manual

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Value Line Console Servers
Secure, remote console access
that‘s very affordable.

FEATURES
»Enable you to use a single user interface to
manage multiple serial console ports and devices.
»Accessible in band (Ethernet or secure Web
tunnel) or out of band via a dialup modem link.
»For high availability, support 10-/100-Mbps auto
failover setup through an alternate dial-in or out-
of-band broadband path.
»Protect data over a public network with 256-bit
encryption, SSH tunneled serial bridging, SSH
tunneling for TCP/UDP, and IP packet filtering.
»Offer off-line data logging, on-line data buffering
and logging, plus port sniffing for multiple users
per port.
»Easy to restore configurations. For easy rollback,
you can store multiple local boot images locally.
»
Support up to 50 concurrent sessions (SDT tunnels).
»No limit on the number of clients who can access
one gateway or the number of hosts accessed
concurrently through one tunnel.
»Robust LAN console port management with
secure Serial over LAN (SoL) access and Secure
Remote Desktop access to Windows®XP/2003.
»On the LAN port, each gateway can port forward
to an unlimited number of locally networked hosts
(computers or routers).
»Authentication protection. Also enable you to
restrict access by IP address, password, or account.
»Cascadable ports. Cluster multiple units so up to
1000 serial ports can be accessed via one IP
address and be managed at one location.
»Embedded with open-source Linux®based OS.
PC compatible.
»Flexible system management options (including
SNMP, HTTPS, HTTP, CLI in Linux Shell, Nagios®
distributed monitoring, and ARP-PING).
»
Embedded DHCP server for managing LAN devices.
»NTP, TCP/IP, and UDP/IP network compatible.
»
Firmware upgradable.
» RoHS compliant.
OVERVIEW
With Black Box®Value Line Console Servers, there’s no need to
spend a lot for efficient, remote console server management.
Available in 8-, 16-, and 48-port versions, these versatile devices
give you out-of-band serial console port control in a secure platform
that fits the budget of small to medium-size businesses as well as
cash-strapped educational, healthcare, and government institutions.
With Value Line Console Servers, you can get access to data center
systems for reliable 24/7 uptime without sacrificing security, flexibility,
and interoperability with your current server environment.
Use a Value Line Console Server as a gateway to remotely access
servers, virtual servers, and similar network IT equipment. You can also
reach routers, switches, firewalls, PBX systems, and many other network
infrastructure devices—as well as UPS and RPS power systems!
Another benefit: The Value Line Console Servers provide easy access
to service processors. Many pricier console servers don’t, which can be
a real shortcoming if you want to connect to today’s newer servers that
include service processor cards or sideband interfaces by default.
Even better, the Value Line Console Servers use the Linux®OS
platform, so there’s no dealing with proprietary protocol issues when
you want to customize it to your specific requirements (a developer
kit is included to help you get started). Use this open-source platform
to reach ports on Linux, Windows, Sun®, HP®, and IBM®servers. In
addition, the console servers come with Nagios network monitoring
plug-ins to centrally manage servers and other resources distributed
across an application.
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BL A C K B O X®
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Value Line Console
Servers come with a
GUI and embedded
tools for remotely
managing power
devices for UPS/RPC
monitoring,
graphing, and
alarms.
Reach multiple server console ports and a LAN remotely with the affordable Value Line Console Server
A simple browser-
based interface
gives you an easy,
intuitive way to
consolidate the
management of
hundreds of ports
and UPS systems
over a single IP
connection.
Diagram Format
Rule Size: 0.013
Internet
PSTN
Modem
Remote Dial-In with
Modem Attached
to Serial Port
Modem
VoIP PBX Power Strip or UPS Linux®, Solaris®,
Windows®, UNIX®
Servers
Switch, Router,
or Firewall
RS-232 Cables
Ethernet Switch
Remote Management
Station
Local Management
Value Line
Console Server
(LES1108A)

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APPLICATIONS
In the data center, use Value Line Console Servers to:
»Simplify the management of computer,
telecommunications, and power equipment,
especially in large centers (those occupying
an entire floor or multiple floors in a building) .
»Establish in-band and out-of-band management
that meets the entire data center's local and
remote management needs.
»Better control power dissipation and make better
use of equipment space, especially in processing-
centric centers with row after row of racked
server clusters.
»Rigorously control access privileges, while
monitoring and logging all access events
to better enforce enterprise security policies.
In the SMB server room, use them to:
»Simplify the control of servers and gear racked
in a single room, especially in limited-staff offices
dealing with an expanding server count.
»Set up a single integrated gateway to locally
and remotely manage all serial- and network-
connected devices, particularly newer servers
with embedded service processors and baseboard
management controllers (BMCs).
»Set up encrypted authenticated access for local
and remote access.
»Enact better strategies for disaster avoidance.
IN DEPTH
Reach equipment out of band securely.
In addition to remote in-band access through its 10BASE-T/
100BASE-TX TCP/IP port, Value Line Console Servers support
out-of-band access to your critical equipment and vital assets.
Just attach an external dialup modem to control and manage your
distributed network of servers and other devices with the latest in
console access. Typically, you do this via Telnet software, using an SSH
tunnel through the console server to communicate securely with serial
port-connected devices over the Internet or any other public network.
But you can Telnet through the console server to the serial device several
other ways, too. (See “LAN Console Port Management” and “Serial
Console Port Management” in the Tech Specs on page 4.)
Value Line Console Servers come with an SDT Connector application.
Through this open-source SSH Java client, you auto-load your console
server’s configurations and, to ensure secure connectivity with attached
network and serial devices, set up SSH tunnels for port-forwarding
communications through the console server. The same SDT Connector
tool is also used for setting up a 10-/100-Mbps auto failover route to
a remote, out-of-band gateway. This can be through an alternate dial-in
path or out-of-band broadband path.
Robust advanced encryption keeps all connection communications
secure. In addition, the console servers give you a choice of filtering and
access logging facilities, which you can archive off-line. Store offline logs
for serial ports, available networks, and more. And to protect against
unauthorized access, the system enables you to restrict access by IP
address, password, or account.
Set up to scan the serial stream and send alerts.
To help ensure maximum uptime, Value Line Console Servers
proactively scan the serial stream on console ports, searching for specific
errors and phrases.
The console servers support SNMP and SMTP alerts/traps for serial
ports and hosts. Simply set the trigger condition for each port, and the
console server monitors port traffic for your defined character stream
pattern or phrases. If they’re detected, the console server sends SMS
text or an e-mail to you or an SNMP server (or to a central Nagios server,
if it’s used). This alerts feature can be enabled on any and all serial ports
or connected hosts.
Also, the console server informs you of its operating status. An
LED on the back of the unit flashes a “heartbeat” periodically, and its
“heartbeat monitor” agent can trigger dial-back or a redundant path
during network outages. The heartbeat monitor checks that the console
server is indeed on-line and operating as it should, that it’s clear to send
alerts and alarms, and is accessible by remote users. In addition, you can
set it up so if the heartbeat falters, it can automatically dial up a remote
site to raise an alarm, or switch to and activate a failover link.
Hotkey power on a PDU or an RPS.
A Value Line Console Server is also the ideal solution for situations
where you need out-of-band access to a “dead” communications
device—one that’s entirely locked up in a frozen condition.
Using a hotkey from the command line interface via SSH or Telnet,
you simply launch the console server’s remote power control (RPC)
menu, through which you can turn power on (or off), power cycle,
or just check the power status of a particular device. Or you activate
power status control and monitoring through SNMP. Value Line Console
Servers support thousands of PDU or RPS units, for both serial- and
SNMP-connected control.
Through a serial connection, you can access the Value Line Console
Server’s RPC menu to select your type of serial RPC device. The console
servers support most popular network and serial PDUs. And if your PDU
isn’t on the default list, then you can add support directly.
Both administrators and users can access and control serial- and network-
attached PDU power strips. You can initiate the action you want to take
by outlet, whether it’s turning it on or off, cycling, or checking its status.
LES1116A

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Item Code
Value Line Console Servers
8-Port LES1108A
16 -Port LES1116A
48-Port LES1148A
Tech SpecS
Compliance — FCC Part 15 A, UL®1950, TUV, C-Tick, RoHS
CPU Processor — 166 MHz ARM (Micrel KS8695P)
LAN Console Port Management — Secure SSH tunneling (TCP/UDP); Secure
Remote Desktop access to Windows®XP®/2003; Secure VNC access to Sun,
Windows, Linux computers; secure HTTP(S) access to browser-controlled
appliances; Native IPMI 1.5/2.0 (RMCP/RMCP+) support for BMC and service
processor access and control; Secure SOL to BIOS, EMS, ACS data; service
processor access (IPMI, ILO, LOM); access to KVM built in to service
processors (DRAC, RSA); secure Telnet access; limit user access by LAN
device and SDT service for device; embedded DHCP server
Memory — LES1108A: 16 MB SDRAM, 8 MB embedded flash;
LES1116A, LES1148A: 64 MB SDRAM, 16 MB embedded flash
Network Protocols —
NTP, TCP/IP, UDP/IP; Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, PPP, RS-232
Operating System — Linux with source code access (custom development kit
included); PC compatible
Security and Authentication — Secure Shell (SSH-2, SSH-3); TACACS+,
RADIUS, LDAP, PAP/CHAP (dialup); dial-back support; local authentication;
system event syslog; SSH port and IP forwarding support; IP packet filtering
Serial Console Port Management — SSH tunneled serial bridging; Windows
2003 Server ACS and EMS support; Sun/Solaris®ready (no inadvertent
breaks); Break over SSH support; port triggers with SMNP and e-mail alerts;
off-line data logging (Syslog, NFS, CIFS); on-line data buffering and logging;
access by TCP port; Telnet/unauthenticated Telnet SSH/Raw TCP connect;
RFC 2217 port redirection; Windows Remote Desktop or VNC over serial
support; per serial port user access lists
CE Approval — Yes
Connectors — Serial: LES1108A: (8) RJ-45 (RS-232);
LES1116A: (16) RJ-45 (RS-232);
LES1148A: (48) RJ-45 (RS-232);
Local console and modem serial port: (1) DB9 F (RS-232);
Network: (1) RJ-45 (10BASE-T/100BASE-TX)
Operating Environment — Temperature: 41 to 122º F (5 to 50º C);
Humidity: 5 to 90%, noncondensing
Power — LES1116A, LES1148A: 100–240 VAC, 50–60 Hz, internal AC;
LES1108A: 100–240 VAC, 50–60 Hz, external DC;
Consumption: All: Less than 20 W
Size — LES1108A: 1.2"H x 8.2"W x 4.9"D (3 x 20.8 x 12.4 cm);
LES1116A, LES1148A: 1.75"H (1U) x 17"W x 8.5"D (4.4 x 43.1 x 22 cm)
Weight — LES1108A: 3.7 lb. (1.7 kg);
LES1116A, LES1148A: 8.5 lb. (3.9 kg)
What’s included
LES1108A:
✦(2) CAT5 cables
✦(1) DB9 F–RJ-45S
straight connector
✦(1) DB9 F–RJ-45S
crossover connector
✦5-VDC, 2-A power supply
with IEC socket and
AC power cable
✦Rackmount kit
✦Quick Start Guide and
user manual on CD-ROM
LES1116A and LES1148A:
✦(2) CAT5 cables
✦(1) DB9 F–RJ-45S
straight connector
✦(1) DB9 F–RJ-45S
crossover connector
✦IEC AC power cord
✦Rackmount kit
✦Quick Start Guide and
user manual on CD-ROM
Types of users supported
Value Line Console Servers support two classes of users:
 • Administrative users, who are authorized to configure and
control the console server, and to access and control all the
connected devices. An administrator can access and control the
console server using the config utility, the Linux command line,
or the browser-based management console. By default, the
administrator has access to all services and ports to control all
serial connected devices and network-connected devices (hosts).
 •Membersoftheusers group, who are only authorized to
perform specified controls on specific connected devices. When
authorized, they can access serial or network devices and control
these devices using the specified services, for example, Telnet,
HTTPS, RDP, IPMI, Serial over LAN (SoL), power control. An
authorized user also has a limited view of the management
console and can only access authorized configured devices
and review port logs.
Supports GNU bash shell script.
Some products in today’s market use proprietary protocols for
communications. In contrast, Value Line Console Servers give you access
to the Linux core, including bash. This makes them ideal for industrial
control applications where you need to remotely manage proprietary
equipment with custom protocols.
Through the Linux kernel, you can write custom scripts that can run
manually or automatically. This way, you proactively create self-healing
solutions for cycling power on a router or switch on PING failure.
You can write custom scripts so they run each time a particular alert
triggers. For example, you can set it up to power cycle on a managed
device when a specific alert event occurs or to send multiple notification
e-mails when an alert triggers.
MORE APPLICATIONS
In branch offices, use Value Line Console Servers to:
»Simplify the control of distributed office server
rooms or wiring closets containing servers, UPSs,
PDUs, and network devices.
»Set up a centralized in-band and out-of-band
management gateway for local and remote serial
port management—especially for satellite offices
with little or no IT staff on-site.
»Ensure maximum system uptime for sales offices,
the customer-facing points crucial to the bottom
line of many business enterprises.
»Give off-site techs 24/7 access to integrated small
business server applications, those that branch
offices often depend on for e-mail, printing, file
storage, Web access, and more.
In smaller service provider applications, use them to:
»Better serve the IT needs of clients in different
offices by keeping servers and equipment up and
running on a continuous basis.
»Support new services while at the same time
reducing the need for on-site service calls and
increasing profitability.
»Avoid the need for numerous high-priced
management devices (dedicated power switch
controllers, service processor management units,
KVMoIP switches, etc.) at the client site.
»Proactively diagnose client-side equipment
problems, setting up notification alarms and alerts
to notify you of pending IT disasters.
LES1108A
Need more redundancy, accessibility, and storage?
See our Advanced Console Servers (LES1208A/1216A/1248A), offering:
• Dual10/100Ethernetports
• DualACpowersupplies
• Abuilt-InV.92modem
• 2GBofUSBflashmemory
• ”Rolled”styleportsforeasy
connections to Cisco®devices