Out-of-Band Management Solutions for Efficient Network Operations

Out-of-band management solutions are essential for efficient network operations. They allow IT teams to access and manage network devices even when the network is down.

With out-of-band management, IT teams can remotely access devices through a separate network connection, reducing downtime and improving overall network reliability. This is particularly important for critical infrastructure, such as data centers and hospitals, where network availability is paramount.

In fact, 80% of out-of-band management solutions use a dedicated console server to provide remote access to network devices.

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Out-of-band management (OOBM) is a solution that provides a secure dedicated alternate access method into an IT network infrastructure to administer connected devices and IT assets without using the corporate LAN.

An OOBM serial console is a hardware device that connects to infrastructure devices via their management port, providing a dedicated network interface for remote management access. This dedicated link allows teams to continuously monitor and administer critical remote infrastructure even during an ISP or WAN outage.

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An out-of-band network is an entirely separate network that runs parallel with your production network but doesn’t rely on any of the same infrastructure or services. This separate network provides a lifeline for teams to access critical remote infrastructure when the production network is offline.

OOBM allows teams to administer network infrastructure remotely on a dedicated connection, such as secondary Fiber or cellular LTE, that will remain available even if the in-band network goes down from an equipment failure, ISP outage, or ransomware attack.

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An OOBM serial console is a hardware device that connects to infrastructure devices via their management port, providing a dedicated network for remote management access.

It's essentially a single point of access for administrators to view and manage all connected infrastructure from a single platform.

Serial consoles often have dedicated network interfaces, such as fiber or 4G/5G cellular LTE, to provide an Internet connection for remote management access.

This means they don't connect to or rely on the primary production network at all, giving teams the ability to continuously monitor and administer critical remote infrastructure even during an outage.

Examples of low-cost jump boxes, like the Intel NUC and the Raspberry Pi, are security risks because they don't effectively isolate the management infrastructure, but serial consoles are a more secure and efficient solution.

Serial consoles use hardware devices known as serial consoles, terminal servers, console servers, console server switches, serial routers, and serial switches to provide an out-of-band management solution.

This dedicated link allows administrators to remotely access the OOBM serial console and view and manage all connected infrastructure from a single software platform.

The software is typically deployed on-premises and runs as a VM on the serial console itself or on a separate machine, but there are also cloud-based OOBM network management software tools available.

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Out-of-Band Management (OOBM) provides a secure dedicated alternate access method into an IT network infrastructure to administer connected devices and IT assets without using the corporate LAN.

An out-of-band network is an entirely separate network that runs parallel with your production network but doesn’t rely on any of the same infrastructure or services.

OOBM allows teams to administer network infrastructure remotely on a dedicated connection, such as secondary Fiber or cellular LTE, that will remain available even if the in-band network goes down from an equipment failure, ISP outage, or ransomware attack.

This dedicated connection gives teams continuous, uninterrupted access to critical remote infrastructure even when the primary network is down.

An OOB network may have its own LAN architecture, with a jump box providing management access.

The jump box connects to both the In-band and OOB network, so administrators can remotely connect to the jump server from the primary LAN and use it to access OOB management.

Serial consoles are another approach to OOB management, connecting to the networking infrastructures via managed serial ports.

Serial consoles give administrators management access to many different devices from one centralized system.

They have a direct serial connection to the devices they manage, which means administrators can still view and troubleshoot this infrastructure even if critical network services are down.

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The first Gen 3 OOBM solution is Nodegrid, which uses the x86 Linux-based NodegridOS to allow easy integrations with other vendors' software for automation, orchestration, security, and more.

Nodegrid OOBM devices provide a robust hardware security, including BIOS protection, UEFI Secure Boot, and an encrypted solid-state disk.

Nodegrid's software is available as an on-premises solution or a highly scalable cloud-based app, and both support easy integrations with tools for monitoring, automated configuration management, and more.

This enables teams to consolidate and streamline their workflows, maximizing efficiency while reducing the risk of human error.

Nodegrid's key features include built-in 5G/4G LTE and Wi-Fi options for OOB and network failover, OOB support over IPMI, ILO, DRAC, CIMC, vSerial, and KVM.

Here are some of the benefits of using Nodegrid:

Out-of-band management is a powerful solution for secure remote data center management and out-of-band management of IT assets. It provides dependable connectivity with multiple Ethernet connections for always-on redundant copper and SFP fiber network access as well as optionally integrated Cellular connectivity.

Out-of-band management can improve network performance by performing resource-intensive management, automation, and orchestration workflows on the out-of-band network, reducing the strain on the production network for better speed and reliability.

With out-of-band management, you can reduce your attack surface by taking management interfaces off the production network to prevent cybercriminals from accessing them during a breach. This is recommended by CISA’s binding directive 23-02.

Out-of-band management accelerates ransomware recovery by creating an isolated recovery environment (IRE) where teams can safely rebuild and recover from ransomware attacks without the risk of reinfection. This reduces the duration and expense of ransomware-related outages.

Here are some key benefits of out-of-band management:

Out-of-band management provides a secure and reliable way to access critical IT assets, even when the network is down or a device is turned off. This ensures 24/7 uptime of your network and preserves access to critical IT assets like routers, switches, firewalls, servers, power, storage, and telecom appliances.

Out-of-band management can be enabled on many computers by adding a remote management card, which supports a limited list of motherboards.

Newer server motherboards often have built-in remote management and don't require a separate management card.

A dedicated separate Ethernet connection can be used for out-of-band management, but some systems perform traffic multiplexing on the regular Ethernet connection.

In a shared-connection scenario, the system configures the NIC to extract the management traffic from the incoming traffic flow and route it to the BMC before reaching the host and its operating system.

A remote management card usually has at least a partially independent power supply and can switch the main machine on and off through the network.

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Remote management can be enabled on many computers by adding a remote management card, which supports a limited list of motherboards. Newer server motherboards often have built-in remote management and need no separate management card.

Out-of-band management can use a dedicated separate Ethernet connection or traffic multiplexing on the system's regular Ethernet connection. This allows a common Ethernet connection to become shared between the computer's operating system and the integrated baseboard management controller (BMC).

A remote management card usually has at least a partially independent power supply and can switch the main machine on and off through the network. Because a special device is required for each machine, out-of-band management can be much more expensive.

Serial consoles are an in-between case, not requiring the primary network to be functioning for remote administration, but they can't configure UEFI settings or reinstall the operating system remotely without special hardware.

Best Centralized Platforms Enable NOC Personnel to automate regularly scheduled maintenance tasks, including diagnostics and routine checks for remote troubleshooting. This helps minimize downtime and ensures smooth operations across the network.

With the right centralized management platform, NOC personnel can track equipment inventory and see how devices are performing. This is especially useful for large, distributed enterprises with multiple branches.

Gathering statistics and running reports from network data stored in an SQL database is a key feature of top-notch centralized management platforms. This helps NOC personnel make informed decisions and optimize network performance.

Scripts can be used to automate tasks such as device deployment, check and update firmware levels, and configuration file distribution. This reduces the need for manual intervention and ensures that tasks are completed efficiently.

Here are some examples of tasks that can be automated with a centralized management platform:

By automating these tasks, NOC personnel can reduce the need for manual intervention and ensure smooth operations across the network. This is especially important for large, distributed enterprises that rely on their network infrastructure to operate.

Out-of-band management provides a secure and isolated network channel that's physically separate from the production network, making it difficult for unauthorized users to access.

This isolation is a key cybersecurity best practice, known as isolated management infrastructure (IMI), which further segments the management network and routes management ports to terminate on top-of-rack, OOBM serial switches.

The management plane is always remotely accessible to engineers via the OOBM connection, but it remains hidden from cybercriminals who may breach the production network.

A strong authentication scheme, such as RADIUS with RADSec, TACACS+, LDAP, Kerberos, NIS, and RSA, is essential for secure access to critical network devices.

Secure Remote Access through an OpenVPN or IPSec tunnel ensures that confidential data is protected and secure.

Console Servers with Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0 have hardware-based encryption, secure key storage, platform integrity, and compliance with security regulations.

Here are some key security features to consider when choosing an out-of-band management solution:

With these security features in place, out-of-band management can help prevent network breaches and ransomware attacks, which are becoming increasingly common.

By isolating the management plane and providing a secure, remote connection to IT network environments, out-of-band management can help ensure business continuity and network resilience.

Failover to multiple networks and Zero Touch Provisioning (ZTP) capabilities make it easier to manage network devices remotely and reduce the need for on-site visits.

This can save organizations money and time, as well as reduce the risk of data breaches and other security threats.

A Console Server can provide multiple access methods, including redundant copper and fiber Ethernet uplink WAN ports, integrated high-speed cellular access, built-in WiFi network access, and integrated V.92 modem connection.

Having multiple access methods is ideal, as it allows for fail-over to OOBM and fail-back to the primary network, ensuring optimal uptime.

In-band management is often used because it's easier and doesn't require extra hardware, but it negatively impacts production network performance and doesn't provide remote access if the primary LAN or WAN goes down.

In-band management creates latency on the production network, can't remotely troubleshoot if the WAN or LAN is down, and requires no additional hardware, but it's easy to set up.

OOB management, on the other hand, allows for complex management and orchestration workflows without impacting performance on the production network, provides an alternative path to critical remote infrastructure, and requires additional hardware, but may involve more complicated network configurations.

Here's a comparison of In-band and OOB management:

Nodegrid and Edge Router are key components in an out-of-band management setup. They provide a secure and reliable way to access and manage network devices remotely.

Nodegrid is a centralized management platform that allows administrators to monitor and control network devices from a single location. This includes routers, switches, and other network equipment.

Edge Router is a type of network device that connects to the internet and provides a secure entry point for remote management. It's often used in conjunction with Nodegrid to provide a secure and reliable connection to the network.

Nodegrid offers a cost-effective solution for out-of-band management by combining multiple functions into a single box, reducing the need for multiple devices at each site.

Setting up traditional out-of-band management infrastructure requires 6 or more boxes at each business site.

The Nodegrid platform simplifies out-of-band management by consolidating various functions into a single device, making it easier to deploy and manage.

This approach saves teams a significant amount of money and time, as they can deploy a Nodegrid box in each site at a fraction of the cost of a traditional OOBM network.

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When choosing a Nodegrid edge router, it's essential to consider the number of guest operating systems (OS) it can support. The Nodegrid Link SR can handle only 1 guest OS, while the Nodegrid Net SR can support up to 6.

The Nodegrid Net SR also stands out for its impressive range of Docker Apps, with 1-4 supported, making it a great choice for developers and businesses that rely on containerization.

Wi-Fi is a must-have for many users, and fortunately, all Nodegrid edge routers come equipped with Wi-Fi capabilities, ensuring a seamless connectivity experience.

If cellular connectivity is a priority, the Nodegrid Net SR is a top contender, offering up to 4 cellular connections via dual-SIM technology.

In terms of serial ports, the Nodegrid Net SR takes the lead, offering a whopping 16-80 serial ports, making it ideal for applications that require a high number of serial connections.

Here's a quick rundown of the Nodegrid edge routers' serial port capabilities:

By considering these factors, you can choose the perfect Nodegrid edge router for your specific needs and ensure a seamless and efficient network experience.

Having an Out-of-Band network is crucial for enterprise security.

Security breaches are increasing, and organizations in every industry are at risk. If all administration or management ports are connected to the production network, a breach can be catastrophic.

Business continuity is also a major concern, as network disruptions can be costly and time-consuming to resolve. A compromised incoming network feed can be caused by something as simple as a backhoe cutting a cable.

With Out-of-Band management, businesses can ensure that operations continue without interruption, even in the event of a network failure. This is achieved through a secure, alternate access path and Failover to Cellular, which provides the necessary bandwidth to keep processes running.

Out-of-Band management can also help reduce costs associated with network downtime. According to Aberdeen, the cost of downtime can be as high as $1,000 or more per event, especially with current travel restrictions in place.

With Out-of-Band management, IT teams can identify and remediate issues remotely, reducing the need for expensive truck rolls. This can be a huge time-saver, especially in the middle of the night when issues often arise.

A Console Server provides multiple access methods for secure and reliable out-of-band management. These methods include redundant copper and fiber Ethernet uplink WAN ports, integrated high-speed cellular access, built-in WiFi network access, and integrated V.92 modem connection.

For optimal uptime, it's best to choose a Console Server with multiple access methods, fail-over to OOBM, and fail-back to the primary network.

A Console Server with multiple access methods can provide users with a flexible and cost-effective solution to transmit data from mission-critical equipment. This includes transmitting data over copper or fiber-based Ethernet networks.

Here are some common access methods provided by Console Servers:

Unauthorized users do not have access to the out-of-band network channel because there is no connection to it from the regular network channel, making it very secure.

In-Band Management is a method used to manage devices remotely, but it's not as straightforward as Out-of-Band Management. It relies on the device being connected to the network and the network being operational.

One of the main challenges with In-Band Management is that it can be affected by network congestion and outages. This is because it requires a working network connection to function.

To mitigate this, some devices can be configured to use multiple network connections, such as Ethernet and Wi-Fi, to ensure that management traffic can still be sent even if one connection is lost. This is often referred to as Redundant Network Connections.

In-Band management is a network management approach that involves using protocols like https, web browser, telnet, or SSH to manage devices through the same network route as data.

This method has the same security vulnerabilities as the data plane, which means engineers could be locked out of the management plane if a disruption occurs.

If a disruption happens, critical devices can't be accessed, putting business at a standstill.

Many organizations are looking for alternative solutions to provide network resilience due to the limitations of In-Band management.

The cost of maintaining Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) lines is expensive, with services and maintenance prices already costly and expected to increase.

On average, it can cost between $50 and $100 a month for one POTS line, and you'll need two, making it a pricey solution.

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In-Band Management is a type of network management that occurs on the same channel as data communications. This means that network administrators connect to the device they want to manage using protocols like Telnet/SSH or SNMP, competing with production traffic for bandwidth.

In-Band management requires the administrator to connect over the primary LAN interface or the WAN for remote network management. This can be a problem if the primary LAN, WAN, or ISP experiences issues or goes offline, leaving administrators unable to connect to network devices for troubleshooting remotely.

In-Band management can be accessed through various methods, including SSH command-line interface, specialized client software, or web-browser-based solutions. Client software is often optimized to manage multiple systems easily.

Some organizations still use In-Band management because it's easier and doesn't require any extra hardware. However, this simplicity comes at a cost, as In-Band management negatively impacts the performance of the production network and doesn't provide access to remote equipment if the primary LAN or WAN goes down.

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Here are some key differences between In-Band and Out-of-Band management: