[187511] in North American Network Operators' Group
Re: Devices with only USB console port - Need a Console Server
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Christopher Morrow)
Wed Feb 3 13:15:44 2016
X-Original-To: nanog@nanog.org
In-Reply-To: <495D0934DA46854A9CA758393724D5902D74A527@NI-MAIL02.nii.ads>
Date: Wed, 3 Feb 2016 10:48:56 -0500
From: Christopher Morrow <morrowc.lists@gmail.com>
To: Erik Sundberg <ESundberg@nitelusa.com>
Cc: NANOG <nanog-bounces@nanog.org>, "nanog@nanog.org" <nanog@nanog.org>
Errors-To: nanog-bounces@nanog.org
On Wed, Feb 3, 2016 at 2:18 AM, Erik Sundberg <ESundberg@nitelusa.com> wrot=
e:
> Digi has something called USB Anywhere. http://www.digi.com/products/usb=
-and-serial-connectivity/usb-over-ip-hubs/anywhereusb
>
#fail
"COMING SOON: Security features, such as SSL and SNMPv3"
:(
"Creates systems redundancy and increases security"
unless you consider ssl and snmpv3 security relevant I guess? Also of inter=
est:
"10/100 Mb switched Ethernet" I hope your local-in-pop switch gear
has 10/100/1000 and not just 1000 ports. This may be more problematic
as the future progresses... (you can't get 100mbps ports on a qfx if I
recall correctly, for example)
> However I would like to limit the amount of equipment we deploy at a pop,=
the majority of our pop's don't have servers... Just Routers, Switches, Co=
nsole Servers, and your other Network Hardware.
>
'console server' is, in one view of the world, now 'usb console server' ...
> The problem with USB is you can only wire a USB 2.0 Cable up to 15' (Per =
Google).... And you have to purchase a cable premade.
>
this is a fairly salient point :( If I don't have a console server in
each rack (or pair of racks) but as a row element, now I have
significantly shorter row length before I can't console anymore.
> Where as with a Serial Console you can go around 100', not to mention abo=
ut just about everyone has a crimper, rj45 ends, and cat5 cable, to run and=
make cables as needed.
>
maybe the ubiquity of usb consoles will drive this i the right
direction as well?
> Assuming something is broke...With USB let's say you rely on remote hands=
to do a lot of work in the colo's. First they need to find a *Working Lapt=
op*, then you have to walk the tech through downloading the drivers and ins=
talling them on there laptop. Hoping they have permissions to install softw=
are on there laptops. Plus if it's really broke and you get no output, you =
will never be sure if it's USB related or not. Where as serial it's just go=
ing to work, and it's easy to test to see if it's working on not by hooking=
up to another device.
>
my guess is that most / all tech's have a usb-serial dongle at this
point, because who's laptop has serial ports anymore natively onboard?
mostly you're outlining 'operational practices and norms are not
accounted for yet in the usb-console design' right? which either is:
1) get out and write procedures/documentation for how this all should wor=
k
2) call back to 2005 and demand no usb in consoles on network equipment
I don't think 2 is feasible :( but 1 sure is... Also, it's sort of
funny to me that servers don't seem to be going this route?
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NANOG [mailto:nanog-bounces@nanog.org] On Behalf Of Dovid Bender
> Sent: Tuesday, February 02, 2016 8:33 PM
> To: Robert Drake <rdrake@direcpath.com>; NANOG <nanog-bounces@nanog.org>;=
nanog@nanog.org
> Subject: Re: Devices with only USB console port - Need a Console Server S=
olution
>
> Why not use udev rules so the ports are persistent? I did that on a pi th=
at I was using as an ice cast box. Based on the usb audio port on reboots I=
know which device is which stream.
>
>
> Regards,
>
> Dovid
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Robert Drake <rdrake@direcpath.com>
> Sender: "NANOG" <nanog-bounces@nanog.org>Date: Tue, 2 Feb 2016 20:03:22
> To: <nanog@nanog.org>
> Subject: Re: Devices with only USB console port - Need a Console Server =
Solution
>
>
> On 2/2/2016 5:02 AM, Bj=C3=B8rn Mork wrote:
>>
>> No inside pictures :)
>>
>> Assuming that this is really an USB device, and that the console port is
>> really an USB host port, it would be useful to know the USB decriptors
>> of the device. You wouldn't be willing to connect it to a Linux PC and
>> run "lsusb -vd", would you?
> I'm inconveniently consoled into one via a combination of remote desktop
> into windows -- linux console on a virtual machine -- screen
> /dev/ttyACM0. Because of this posting lsusb -vd is taxing.
>
> Linux has full support for the device. It sees it as cdc_acm.
>
> The vendor id is 0x04e2 (Exar Corp). Product ID is 0x1410. I've got
> two connected right now. This is in our lab and the windows box is
> temporary. Our intention is to use a raspberry pi for the terminal serve=
r.
>
> I'm obviously not in front of it, but I'm wondering if they can be
> enumerated by something other than when they were plugged in. That's my
> biggest hurdle for making a console server for them.. how to figure out
> what router is connected to which USB port after a reboot, or someone
> getting unpluggy with cables.
>
>>
>> Bj=C3=B8rn
>>
>
> Robert
>
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