This post was originally published on ZPE Systems
A serial console (also known as a console server or terminal server) is a device that allows admins to manage critical network infrastructure like servers, routers, switches, and power distribution units (PDUs) without needing to log in to each piece of equipment individually. It also provides out-of-band (OOB) management, which creates an isolated network dedicated to infrastructure orchestration and troubleshooting. Serial console interfaces help improve management efficiency, accelerate recovery from outages and cyberattacks, and isolate the control plane from malicious actors.
This blog defines serial console interfaces and describes their technological evolution before discussing the benefits of using a modern serial console solution.
What is a serial console interface?
The term serial console interface could mean different things depending on the context and who’s saying it.
1. Some people use this term to refer to the serial console’s management GUI (graphical user interface), which administrators use to view and control data center devices.
2. Others use this term to refer to the individual connections between a serial console and each managed data center device. In addition to traditional RS-232 serial interfaces, a serial console may support RJ45, KVM (keyboard,
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