Re: Cellular enabled console server

[David Bass <davidbass570 () gmail com>]

I tried to build one in the past, but didn't have much success.  Anyone successfully built some and willing to give 
details?

> On Feb 26, 2017, at 9:07 AM, nanog_maillinglist <nanog () lodpp net> wrote:
>
> Hi.
>
> I use lots of opengears boxes - mainly the Console Manager range 41xx then 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 when a intervention is risky - so no fancy 
> feature is needed here ( hense the CM71xx range.. )
>
> I tried from them a cellular one ( 5504 I guess back in the days ) but the 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.
>
> short feedback:
> + It just works - no hardware issues so far ( in years ) - software stable.
> + ZTP also works okay for provisionning with XML config ( I do it with Ansible/Jinja2 )
> + Support ready to help - even though we are not a huge buyer, they provide us the feature we needed right quick ( 
> beeing able to touch the serial config as a "user" instead of admin
> + cisco pinout by default - no overcharge if you want the classic serial rs232 pinout
>
> - From my test, provisionning is limited to a basic config - I couln't make 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 ansible in RAW SSH for post-deploy.
> - No python on the box so for every-day update/config I need to use ansible in raw SSH mode - which is a bit dumb in 
> 2016/17 :)
> - Still no that cheap for a rasp like base box
>
> Cheers,
> Nico
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NANOG [mailto:nanog-bounces+nanog=lodpp.net () nanog org] On Behalf Of Ben Bartsch
> Sent: Friday, February 24, 2017 5:09 PM
> To: NANOG <nanog () nanog org>
> Subject: Cellular enabled console server
>
> NANOG - Are any of you running a console server to access your network equipment 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 over 100 
> remote sites and would like a backdoor to the console just to be able to 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 ethernet 
> jack.  My quick Google search landed me at BlackBox LES1204A-3G-R2, but I've never actually used such a device.  This 
> would be for use in the USA.
>
> Thank you in advance.
>
> -ben