Physical Differences
OutPost has console devices that support 32,16, 8 and 4 ports
individually and can manage thousands of devices using OPS Command
Center. The OutPost ENS-16 and 32 port console devices have many
more system resources and much more memory and computing power
than other products. The individual ports are eight times faster
- 115 Kbps vs. 921 Kbps bi-directional speeds for the ENS-16 and
32. The ENS cevices also have FIFO registers that are twenty (20)
times larger. This results in better data integrity with fewer
errors or over-runs. Many do not offer a DC power option whereas
the ENS devices do provide this option.
Ethernet Support
Competative products have only one 10/100 Ethernet port. The ENS-16
and 32 port devices have two 10/100/1000 Ethernet ports for
high speed and dual networks. The ENS units can monitor and report
to a redundant network or to two separate networks such as a public
and private network at a remote location. Also, if one of the
ports were disabled (ESD or unplugged) it would continue to operate.
It also has the ability automatically establish an out of band
communication via modem or frame should the network method fail.
Additional Port Support
The competitors do not provide USB or wireless connectivity and
it does not provide in rack console ports or a dedicated OBM (Out
of Band Management) port. The ENS-16 and 32 port units allow in
rack KVM and Console access and if plugged into a KVM port allows
the display of 32 consoles over a single KVM port. The dedicated
OBM and USB ports allow enable mission critical access and even
wireless communication and automated fail over communications.
In addition, the USB support allows the OutPost devices to support
memory sticks for saving configuration information and loading
files into the device such as new versions of the software or
configuration information.
Console Management Software
The software differences are too numerous to illustrate fully
in this short summary. They include things like competitors limiting
total licensed users to 64 with each user requiring a license.
OutPost does not limit the number of users that can access the
system. Avocent does not allow simultaneous access to the console
ports for troubleshooting. OutPost provides for an unlimited number
of users to simultaneously access the same ports enabling users
to effectively collaborate.
The competitors have smaller or no non-connect port buffers.
They do not have audit trails and do not enable automatic streaming
of the buffer contents to a database. If they lose power the buffer
contents are lost resulting in no audit trail. A disgruntled or
incompetent employee could easily cover their tracks by rebooting
the system.
For many there is no DHCP client. This means that you must manually
enter IP addresses and that it will not work on a network where
IP addresses are dynamically allocated. The ENS operates in either
environment utilizing either static IP addresses or DHCP server
assigned IP addresses. Just plug it in and go! The ENS accommodates
many more users and better defines the rights and privileges of
each user or group. It automatically streams the buffer contents
to a database for storage and provides a real time audit trail
for all device activity. The ENS does more than collect the console
messages in a buffer. It can scan all the console messages in
the buffer and is capable of reacting (automated response) to
every message. This means the ENS can operate in a true lights
out facility utilizing less power.
Notification
Many provide no SNMP reporting or only in network SNMP reporting.
This defeats the entire purpose of OBM (Out of Band Management).
The OutPost products delivers monitoring and reporting in both
in and out of band so the devices are always monitored and available
for access. The ENS provides optional SNMP reporting and in addition
provides heart beat monitoring. The ENS monitors carrier to tell
you if the box is connected and if the power is present or has
been interrupted. If someone accidentally bumps or pulls the plug
on a device you know instantly with an ENS. If a console cable
on a device is pulled when connected and monitored by a competitors
box you never know it.
Most do not even mention emailing or paging. The ENS
allows email notification with “Hot Links,” paging
and even SNPP paging. The ENS also has customizable event triggers
not found in other product. This allows customized actions to
specific devices and error messages. The ENS can see an Error
such as “Link Down” and reboot that router automatically
without human intervention and start additional processes including
paging and emailing someone or cold starting another device. They
assumes the network is always operational and must wait for someone
in the NOC (only) to try and manually respond to an SNMP trap.
You cannot exclusively rely upon the network and SNMP for notification
as they do. If the network fails how will you be notified? How
will you know what happened? How will you keep the other processes
running? Single point of failure seems to be a reoccurring theme
for the them. If you can find one that integrates the management
(KVM, console access and power strips) they rely on a single box
or point of failure. If that one NT box goes down and you lose
access and visibility to that one off site box, then you lose
access and visibility to all your networks and all your devices.
The ENS and the OPS Command Center are completely distributed.
This means that you may have almost an unlimited number of computers
functioning as your NOC, complete with access and display. In
addition, The ENS units are self-aware and you will see if there
is a problem with one of the ENS units
on the OPS Command Center display.
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