Servers running Linux, FreeBSD, Solaris, HP/UX, AIX, System V, or other UNIX operating systems, or Microsoft Windows 2003 with emergency management services (EMS) enabled can be managed over their console ports (or serial ports configured as console ports). Through their consoles, you can get low-level control over servers, with access to hardware self-test and BIOS information that is generated before the operating system is loaded and that is therefore not available over the network. Other types of equipment, such as routers, hubs, switches, modems, POS (point-of-sale) systems, PBXs, ATMs, process controllers, and environmental monitoring devices, also have console ports or auxiliary ports that you can connect to the OnSite serial ports for similar purposes.
When a device is connected to an OnSite serial port, you can access diagnostic information (boot messages, error logs, alarms, monitor mode), change low-level system configuration and perform and script other administrative tasks, such as resetting or rebooting the system. You can receive notifications via email, pager, or SNMP trap if a device crashes or other event of interest occurs. You can directly connect to the serial ports via
telnet,
ssh, or other connection protocols. You can also connect to the serial ports through the Web Manager.