Specifications

©
2002, David K. Z. Harris
14
Pg. 14
© 2002
David K. Z. Harris
An Important Distinction
Ø Console Server Application
² A host running software for
controlling access to serial consoles
around your network, for logging and
administration tasks
Ø Console Server Hardware
² A device running software, which
allows connections from across a
network to reach serial ports
connected to the device.
With the advent of “Console Server” hardware, some distinctions needed to be
made. Without these distinctions, discussing Console Servers becomes a bit
vague, and can become confusing for the participants.
Consider a host, running a Console Server Application, but also having a multi-
port serial board, attached to some serial consoles on other hosts. It serves both
of the purposes defined above, controlling access, and logging data, while it
also moderates the connection from the Console Server Application to the
hardware serial ports. I consider this a Console Server Hybrid.