Re: out-of-band network experiences

[Dave Siegel <dave () siegelie com>]

On Mon, Nov 05, 2001 at 04:47:31PM -0500, Sean Donelan reportedly typed:
> A few (very few) providers have a dedicated out-of-band management
> network.  Generally a frame-relay circuit to a management hub/router
> connected to the async terminal server and low-speed (10 meg) ethernet
> port on some routers.  One problem with high-end routers, it is either
> expensive (lost opportunity cost) or impossible to connect low-speed
> circuits to high-end routers.

The Cisco 3640 makes for a nice console server to hook up to your
out of band network.  It supports a 32port Async module as well as 
10/100 ethernet and T1 WIC (supports Frame Relay, of course).  It also
supports E1 for your non-domestic sites.

> Carrier/facility based providers tend to use their own facilities.  Yep,
> facility based providers have cut their own facilities in the past,
> including one provider which took their own NOC off-line for most of
> a day.

It's always good to have a backup, even for your management netowrk.  When 
the Frame Relay network fails, there's always the OOB modem/POTS.

Dave



-- 
Dave Siegel
HOME   520-877-2593   dave at siegelie dot com
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                      Director, IP Engineering, Global Crossing