{"id":226464,"date":"2024-09-25T12:43:07","date_gmt":"2024-09-25T19:43:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zpesystems.com\/?p=226464"},"modified":"2024-10-01T15:42:11","modified_gmt":"2024-10-01T22:42:11","slug":"serial-console-linux-zs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zpesystems.com\/serial-console-linux-zs\/","title":{"rendered":"The Best Serial Consoles for Linux"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_margin=”0px||||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||||false|false” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.17.5″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” width=”100%” custom_padding=”0px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/zpesystems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Photos-of-the-best-serial-consoles-for-Linux.jpg” alt=”Photos of the best serial consoles for Linux” title_text=”Photos of the best serial consoles for Linux” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” header_3_text_color=”#214C64″ header_4_text_color=”#358AAF” custom_css_free_form=”table {|| width: 100%;||}” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

The serial console port on a Linux device allows administrators to manage the machine via the command line interface (CLI), without a keyboard, mouse, or monitor attached. Serial console management is useful for performing administrative tasks on headless Linux servers (meaning, those without ports for a keyboard or monitor) and embedded Linux systems like routers and storage devices.<\/p>\n

While it\u2019s possible to directly connect a laptop or Intel NUC jump box<\/a> to the serial console port on a Linux device with a serial cable, this only allows you to manage one machine at a time, so it\u2019s inefficient at scale. A serial console server (also known as a serial console or console server) provides multiple managed serial ports that administrators can connect to Linux machines, as well as many other devices. It unifies the management of all connected machines so administrators can control them all from one place, significantly streamlining infrastructure workflows.<\/p>\n

Enterprise serial consoles for Linux provide additional capabilities like out-of-band (OOB) management<\/a>, infrastructure automation, and embedded security. This guide compares the best solutions to help you choose the right console server for your enterprise.<\/p>\n

Quick Links<\/h3>\n
    \n
  1. Nodegrid Serial Console<\/a><\/li>\n
  2. Opengear CM8100<\/a><\/li>\n
  3. Perle IOLAN SCG<\/a><\/li>\n
  4. Lantronix LM83X<\/a><\/li>\n
  5. Vertiv Avocent ACS8000<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    How to use the serial console port on a Linux device<\/h2>\n

    The Linux kernel does not support serial console capabilities by default, so it must be configured to output console messages to the serial port first. This involves modifying the bootloader to specify new kernel options, formatted like so:<\/p>\n

    \n
    console=device,options\n\ndevice:         tty0 for the foreground virtual console\n                ttyX for any other virtual console\n                ttySx for a serial port\n                lp0 for the first parallel port\n                ttyUSB0 for the first USB serial device\n\noptions:        depend on the driver. For the serial port this\n                defines the baudrate\/parity\/bits\/flow control of\n                the port, in the format BBBBPNF, where BBBB is the\n                speed, P is parity (n\/o\/e), N is number of bits,\n                and F is flow control ('r' for RTS). Default is\n                9600n8. The maximum baudrate is 115200.<\/pre>\n<\/div>\n
    Source<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n
    For more information on configuring the Linux serial console, read guides from docs.kernel.org<\/a>, RedHat<\/a>, or Ubuntu<\/a>.<\/p>\n
    Comparing the best serial consoles for Linux<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
    \u00a0<\/th>\nZPE Nodegrid<\/strong><\/th>\nOpengear CM8100<\/strong><\/th>\nPerle IOLAN SCG LWM<\/strong><\/th>\nLantronix LM83X<\/strong><\/th>\nVertiv Avocent ACS8000<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
    Cellular OOB<\/strong><\/td>\n\u2714<\/span><\/td>\n\u2716<\/span><\/td>\n\u2714<\/span><\/td>\n\u2714<\/span><\/td>\n\u2714<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    ZTP for End Devices<\/strong><\/td>\n\u2714<\/span><\/td>\n\u2714<\/span><\/td>\n\u2714<\/span><\/td>\n\u2714<\/span><\/td>\n\u2714<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Guest OS<\/strong><\/td>\n\u2714<\/span><\/td>\n\u2714<\/span><\/td>\n\u2716<\/span><\/td>\n\u2716<\/span><\/td>\n\u2716<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    3rd Party Automation<\/strong><\/td>\n\u2714<\/span><\/td>\n\u2714<\/span><\/td>\n\u2716<\/span><\/td>\n\u2716<\/span><\/td>\n\u2716<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Embedded Firewall<\/strong><\/td>\n\u2714<\/span><\/td>\n\u2714<\/span><\/td>\n\u2714<\/span><\/td>\n\u2716<\/span><\/td>\n\u2714<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    3rd Party Security<\/strong><\/td>\n\u2714<\/span><\/td>\n\u2716<\/span><\/td>\n\u2714<\/span><\/td>\n\u2716<\/span><\/td>\n\u2716<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
     <\/p>\n
    All of these solutions provide remote out-of-band management and consolidated control for Linux infrastructure. They also offer automation capabilities via zero-touch provisioning (ZTP), automatically deploying configurations over the network as soon as new devices come online. Some important differentiating features include cellular capabilities for OOB and failover, advanced security features like an embedded firewall and VPN support, and the ability to host and integrate third-party automation tools.<\/p>\n
    1. Nodegrid Serial Console<\/h3>\n
    Nodegrid is a family of serial console server solutions<\/a> from ZPE Systems<\/a>. Nodegrid provides up to 96 managed serial ports while only taking up a single unit of rack space (Patent No. 9,905,980<\/a>), significantly reducing the number of management devices needed to control large data center deployments. The Nodegrid Serial Console Plus (NSCP)<\/a> comes with built-in 4G\/5G LTE and Wi-Fi for failover and OOB management, while the S Series<\/a> has auto-sensing serial ports for mixed legacy\/modern environments. The NSCP-Core Edition<\/a> is a low-cost alternative for break-fix deployments that provides Gen 3 security and OOB serial console management.<\/p>\n
    \"Front<\/p>\n
    The Nodegrid platform runs on the open, Linux-based Nodegrid OS and uses Intel x86 processors, allowing it to natively run VM and Docker applications for other vendors\u2019 software. That means you can host third-party NetOps automation solutions like Ansible and Chef, and even extend that automation to legacy equipment. Nodegrid also provides device auto-discovery and ZTP.<\/p>\n
    Nodegrid serial consoles include an embedded firewall with a multi-site IPsec VPN and advanced authentication support to protect the OOB network. It also comes with unique hardware security features like geofencing, BIOS protection, and UEFI Secure Boot to prevent malicious actors from hijacking the management network with a stolen device.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    Pros:<\/h4>\n
      \n
    • Up to 96 managed serial ports in a 1U appliance<\/li>\n
    • Fast OOB with 4G\/5G LTE and Wi-Fi options<\/li>\n
    • 2 Ethernet and 2 10GB SFP+ ports (NSCP) or 2 Ethernet and 1 1GB SFP+ (NSCP-Core)<\/li>\n
    • Intel x86 CPU and lots of RAM for 3rd-party Docker and VM apps<\/li>\n
    • Comprehensive security including SAML 2.0<\/li>\n
    • Supports ZTP and NetOps orchestration tools<\/li>\n
    • Vendor-neutral infrastructure orchestration platform<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
    		\n
    Cons:<\/h4>\n