Re: Devices with only USB console port - Need a Console Server Solution

[Christopher Morrow <morrowc.lists () gmail com>]

On Wed, Feb 3, 2016 at 2:18 AM, Erik Sundberg <ESundberg () nitelusa com> wrote:
> 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 interest:
"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, Console 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 about 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 Laptop*, then you have to walk the tech through downloading the drivers and installing 
> them on there laptop. Hoping they have permissions to install software 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 going 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 work
  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 Solution
>
> Why not use udev rules so the ports are persistent? I did that on a pi that 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, Bjørn 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 server.
>
> 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.
>
> > Bjørn
>
> Robert
>
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