Serial Consoles—Universal Management
The serial console is the only universal out-of-band management (OBM) medium. It provides both in band and OBM management tools. It will manage any intelligent devices found on a network or in a data center and it can manage the devices locally or provide secure reliable remote network management.
A management solution may include many of the tools previously discussed, but it will not be complete unless it supports local and remote access to console ports. Look at the back panel of any desktop or laptop computer, server, modem, switch, power control, UPS, or PBX system and you will find a connector labeled “COM”, “AUX” or “Console”. This is what makes the serial console universal.