[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ custom_margin=”0px||||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||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=”4.27.2″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” width=”100%” custom_margin=”||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||30px||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\/2025\/05\/Ahmed-Algam.jpg” alt=”Ahmed Algam” title_text=”Ahmed Algam” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” header_font=”|700|||||||” header_text_color=”#358AAF” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”||30px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
My name is Ahmed Algam.<\/strong><\/a> I am a Network & Systems Administrator for ZPE Systems \u2013 A Brand of Legrand, with over 20 years of experience in network administration, system infrastructure, Microsoft ERP solutions, and enterprise IT management. I have a B.S. in Computer Science and will soon complete my Master\u2019s of Information and Data Science.<\/p>\n In the early days of my IT career, I learned how to build systems from scratch, configure networks, and apply patches.<\/p>\n Like many, I was trained to focus on the obvious goals:<\/strong> keep things running, keep everything secure, and automate what I can.<\/p>\n But what no one taught me? <\/strong>What to do when everything goes dark \u2013 literally.<\/em><\/p>\n ZPE\u2019s Fremont branch lost power unexpectedly and without notice from our provider.<\/p>\n One by one, our services went down<\/strong><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” header_font=”|700|||||||” header_text_color=”#358AAF” custom_padding=”||30px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n You won\u2019t be rescued by dashboards, spreadsheets, or documentation when IT goes dark. What WILL save you is system design, specifically out-of-band management.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n And for which I am lucky that design did save us.<\/p>\n Without Out-of-band (OOB), I would have had to spend the whole night at the office manually rebooting, configuring, and troubleshooting everything. It’s a nightmare for IT admins because you might get the call while you’re attending your kids’ sporting events, attending college courses, or spending quality time with your family. IT emergencies can really intrude on your life outside of work. It’s just part of the job.<\/p>\n But I was so grateful to have OOB because it gave me a separate path dedicated to recovery, which was just what I needed. I was able to instantly remote-into my infrastructure without leaving home.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/zpesystems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/IMI-and-OOBM-are-a-dedicated-path-to-system-recovery.png” alt=”IMI and OOBM are a dedicated path to system recovery” title_text=”IMI and OOBM are a dedicated path to system recovery” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”65%” custom_margin=”||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”||||||||” text_font_size=”12px” header_font=”|700|||||||” header_text_color=”#358AAF” custom_margin=”0px||||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Image:<\/strong> Isolated Management Infrastructure uses out-of-band management (OOBM) serial consoles to access production devices when they are offline.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.27.2″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” width=”100%” custom_margin=”||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||30px||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_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” header_font=”|700|||||||” header_text_color=”#358AAF” custom_padding=”||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Within minutes, I was able to:<\/strong><\/p>\n I didn’t have to head for the office or change the plans I had with my family. With our OOB system in place, I knew that I could fix the problem, have services restored before sunrise, and still get a good night’s sleep.<\/p>\n It was the result of:<\/strong><\/p>\n It has nothing to do with a lack of talent or skill.<\/strong><\/em> The reason is their inability to access the malfunctioning systems.<\/p>\n So here\u2019s my advice to every IT professional:<\/strong><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” header_font=”|700|||||||” header_text_color=”#214C64″ custom_padding=”||30px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,2_3″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” width=”auto” custom_margin=”0px||||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px||true|false” border_color_top=”#78828A” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/zpesystems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Starlink-setup-guide.png” alt=”Starlink setup guide” title_text=”Starlink setup guide” url=”https:\/\/go.zpesystems.com\/rs\/004-BTR-463\/images\/Solution-Guide-How%20to%20Build%20a%20Resilient%20Out-of-Band%20Network%20with%20ZPE%20Systems%20Nodegrid%20and%20Starlink%20WAN%20Connection.pdf” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”1px|10px|1px|10px|true|true” border_width_all=”2px” border_color_all=”#358AAF” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”15px|15px|15px|15px|true|true” border_color_top=”#D6D6D6″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n My colleagues recently created this guide on how to set up an out-of-band network using Starlink. It includes technical wiring diagrams and a guided walkthrough.<\/p>\n You can download it here:<\/strong> How to Build Out-of-Band With Starlink<\/a><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”15px||15px||true|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px||true|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 _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” width=”auto” custom_margin=”0px||30px||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||||false|false” border_color_top=”#78828A” border_width_bottom=”1px” border_color_bottom=”#B5B5B5″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”30px||||false|false” border_color_top=”#D6D6D6″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” width=”auto” custom_margin=”0px||||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px||true|false” border_color_top=”#78828A” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/zpesystems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Ahmed-Algam-LinkedIn.png” alt=”Ahmed Algam LinkedIn” title_text=”Ahmed Algam LinkedIn” url=”https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/ahmedalgam-a9bb341a\/” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” header_font=”|700|||||||” header_2_font=”|700|||||||” header_2_text_color=”#214C64″ custom_padding=”30px|15px||15px|false|true” border_color_top=”#D6D6D6″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\nThat\u2019s exactly what happened recently.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Here is the part that I wish I knew 20 years ago\u2026<\/h1>\n
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This wasn’t luck<\/h1>\n
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\u00a0<\/h3>\n
Even highly-skilled IT teams come to a full standstill during disruptions<\/h3>\n
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<\/ul>\n
Because when the lights go out, that\u2019s when real IT begins.<\/h1>\n
Here’s How You Can Set Up Out-of-Band Management<\/h3>\n
Discover More OOB and IMI Resources<\/h3>\n
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Connect With Me!<\/h2>\n