[193833] in North American Network Operators' Group
Re: Cellular enabled console server
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Jared Mauch)
Sun Feb 26 11:41:18 2017
X-Original-To: nanog@nanog.org
From: Jared Mauch <jared@puck.nether.net>
In-Reply-To: <1179321F-5D79-4ADB-9DDE-CC2D13508F37@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 26 Feb 2017 11:40:51 -0500
To: David Bass <davidbass570@gmail.com>
Cc: NANOG <nanog@nanog.org>
Errors-To: nanog-bounces@nanog.org
I've been toying with the FreeTSERV stuff. Ping me if you are interested in s=
ome boards
Jared Mauch
> On Feb 26, 2017, at 10:48 AM, David Bass <davidbass570@gmail.com> wrote:
>=20
> I tried to build one in the past, but didn't have much success. Anyone su=
ccessfully built some and willing to give details?
>=20
>> On Feb 26, 2017, at 9:07 AM, nanog_maillinglist <nanog@lodpp.net> wrote:
>>=20
>> Hi.
>>=20
>> I use lots of opengears boxes - mainly the Console Manager range 41xx the=
n 71xx for "big location" with more than 8 consoles needed
>> 550x when it's less than 8.
>> We use them only as out-of-band access when either we have inband pbm or w=
hen a intervention is risky - so no fancy feature is needed here ( hense the=
CM71xx range.. )
>>=20
>> I tried from them a cellular one ( 5504 I guess back in the days ) but th=
e cellular cover wasn't great in the particular DC i've tested it.
>> + it was hard to get a cellular with static IP ....
>> So I stayed with small/cheap 10mb access for that box.
>>=20
>> short feedback:
>> + It just works - no hardware issues so far ( in years ) - software stabl=
e.
>> + ZTP also works okay for provisionning with XML config ( I do it with An=
sible/Jinja2 )
>> + Support ready to help - even though we are not a huge buyer, they provi=
de us the feature we needed right quick ( beeing able to touch the serial co=
nfig as a "user" instead of admin
>> + cisco pinout by default - no overcharge if you want the classic serial r=
s232 pinout
>>=20
>> - =46rom my test, provisionning is limited to a basic config - I couln't m=
ake it work buy generating the whole setup in the .opg images.
>> So I generated basic XML config file to make the box pings then i use ans=
ible in RAW SSH for post-deploy.
>> - No python on the box so for every-day update/config I need to use ansib=
le in raw SSH mode - which is a bit dumb in 2016/17 :)
>> - Still no that cheap for a rasp like base box
>>=20
>> Cheers,
>> Nico
>>=20
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: NANOG [mailto:nanog-bounces+nanog=3Dlodpp.net@nanog.org] On Behalf O=
f Ben Bartsch
>> Sent: Friday, February 24, 2017 5:09 PM
>> To: NANOG <nanog@nanog.org>
>> Subject: Cellular enabled console server
>>=20
>> NANOG - Are any of you running a console server to access your network eq=
uipment via a serial connection at a remote site? If so, what are you using=
and how much do you like it? I have a project where I need to stand up ove=
r 100 remote sites and would like a backdoor to the console just to be able t=
o see what's going on with the equipment to hopefully avoid a truck roll for=
something simple like a hung device. I need 4 console ports and 1 RJ45 eth=
ernet jack. My quick Google search landed me at BlackBox LES1204A-3G-R2, bu=
t I've never actually used such a device. This would be for use in the USA.=
>>=20
>> Thank you in advance.
>>=20
>> -ben
