When you consider the powerful network management capabilities provided by a console manager, it quickly becomes clear that security and authentication are both vital elements for any truly effective console manager application. In order to protect remote access to console port command functions, an effective console manager must provide adequate security and authentication measures to ensure that only valid users are able to access the console manager, and also support a variety of different remote authentication protocols in order to ensure compatibility with the needs of different types of authorized users.
Posts Tagged ‘authentication’
Why Should a Console Manager Support More than One Authentication Protocol?
Wednesday, January 4th, 2012Security and Authentication for Remote Power Switch Applications
Monday, January 2nd, 2012A remote power switch can provide a network administrators with a valuable tool for switching, metering and rebooting power to remote network equipment; often allowing administrators to deal with problems at remote equipment sites without the need to travel to the site in person. But in order for a remote power switch to be truly useful, it must also support adequate security and authentication measures in order to protect power control and reboot functions from unauthorized use.
Effective Security for Dial-Up Out of Band Management Applications
Wednesday, December 21st, 2011Security and authentication are two vital elements for any out of band management strategy. The reason for this is simple: given the powerful remote access capabilities provided by an out of band management solution, it’s extremely important that access to console port command functions on remote network elements is adequately protected from unauthorized users. While it’s relatively easy to implement effective security and authentication measures when out of band management is accessed via a secondary maintenance network connection, the task of authenticating each user can prove to be much more of a challenge when the out of band management solution is accessed via dial-up connection.
Secure Communication with a Console Server that Supports SSHv2 Encryption
Friday, December 16th, 2011A console server can provide network administrators with many convenient tools that simplify the task of managing network elements located at off-site data centers and remote equipment racks. When a device at a distant network equipment site suddenly crashes and takes your network down with it, a console server allows out of band access to console port command functions on the malfunctioning device, and often eliminates the need for an expensive service call to the remote network site that would otherwise be required in order to address the problem in person.
Console Management Provides Secure, Out of Band Communication with Remote Network Devices
Wednesday, December 7th, 2011Network applications that include off-site data centers and remote equipment racks often present a unique challenge for network administrators; when vital network elements at a remote location malfunction or crash, the task of accessing command functions on a remote network device is much more complicated than it would be if the network device was located at the central office. In cases like this, console management provides a secure, reliable means to communicate with remote devices without actually traveling to the remote equipment site in person.
Secure Communication with a Console Server that Supports SSHv2 Encryption
Monday, November 7th, 2011A console server can provide network administrators with many convenient tools that simplify the task of managing network elements located at off-site data centers and remote equipment racks. When a device at a distant network equipment site suddenly crashes and takes your network down with it, a console server allows out of band access to console port command functions on the malfunctioning device, and often eliminates the need for an expensive service call to the remote network site that would otherwise be required in order to address the problem in person.
Security and Authentication Considerations for Network Power Switch Products
Friday, November 4th, 2011A network power switch can provide network administrators and tech support personnel with an incredibly convenient tool for controlling power and reboot functions at off-site data centers and remote network equipment cabinets. In many cases, the remote reboot and power control functions provided by a network power switch can allow you to deal with power related problems with remote network elements without the expense and lost time of traveling to the network equipment site in person.
Ensuring Adequate Security for Console Terminal Server Applications
Wednesday, November 2nd, 2011A console terminal server can provide network administrators with a convenient tool for out-of-band access to console port command functions on vital network elements located at remote network equipment sites. Although this capability can prove to be extremely helpful when dealing with network outages caused by malfunctioning network devices at remote sites, it can also sometimes create a bit of a worry, security-wise, due to the very nature of out-of-band management capabilities.
IP Address Filtering – A Versatile Security Feature for Console Servers
Thursday, September 1st, 2011When used properly, a console server can provide network administrators with a broad array of powerful tools that can be used to manage remote network elements, monitor conditions and events at remote network equipment sites and access console port command functions on remote network equipment. As is often the case though, these powerful tools also have a harmful potential if they are available for access by the wrong people. With this in mind, it’s easy to see how important security and authentication measures are to any console server product, and that in many cases, the more layers of security that are available to protect the console server, the better.
Callback Security – Effective Authentication for Dial-up Out of Band Communication
Thursday, July 21st, 2011An out of band management (http://www.wti.com/c-45-out-of-band-management.aspx) solution can provide network administrators with a convenient, reliable means to communicate with remote network devices when communication via network is not available. Although out of band communication is a vital element in many remote network equipment management applications, in most cases, out of band management solutions rely on a dial-up modem connection between the administrator and the out of band management unit.
