{"id":28064,"date":"2024-01-26T07:00:50","date_gmt":"2024-01-26T07:00:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zpesystems.com\/?p=28064"},"modified":"2025-09-04T12:10:16","modified_gmt":"2025-09-04T19:10:16","slug":"defining-oob-network-and-oob-management","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zpesystems.com\/defining-oob-network-and-oob-management\/","title":{"rendered":"Out-of-Band Management: What It Is and Why You Need It"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”0px||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 _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” custom_margin=”0px||||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/zpesystems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Rows-of-data-center-racks-in-a-typical-out-of-band-management-deployment.jpg” alt=”Rows of data center racks in a typical out-of-band management deployment” title_text=”Rows of data center racks in a typical out-of-band management deployment” _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n

This scenario is every IT professional\u2019s worst nightmare: it\u2019s the middle of the night, a remote site on the other side of the country has gone offline, and nobody knows why. A single minute of downtime can cost anywhere from several hundred dollars to tens of thousands<\/a> of dollars, and the nearest tech is a six-hour plane ride away. Consider 2024’s CrowdStrike outage<\/a> and the devastation caused for banks, airports, and many other organizations.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/div>\n
Data Source: <\/span>SolarWinds<\/span><\/a><\/h6>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”1rem||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Out-of-band management offers the solution: a way for teams to access critical remote infrastructure during outages and breaches without \u201cout-of-chair\u201d expenses. Out-of-band management allows organizations to recover remote infrastructure faster, reducing the duration and expense of downtime.<\/p>\n

This guide to out-of-band management answers critical questions about what this technology is, why you need it, and how to choose the right solution.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_code _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”1rem||1rem||false|false” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n

Table of contents<\/h4>\n

<\/td>\n

<\/tr>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n
    <\/p>\n
  1. \n
      <\/p>\n
    1. What is out-of-band management?<\/a><\/li>\n

      <\/p>\n

    2. Why do you need out-of-band management?<\/a><\/li>\n

      <\/p>\n

    3. What is an out-of-band management solution?<\/a><\/li>\n

      <\/p>\n

    4. How does out-of-band management improve security and resilience?<\/a><\/li>\n

      <\/p>\n

    5. Why choose Nodegrid for out-of-band management?<\/a><\/li>\n

      <\/ol>\n

      <\/li>\n

      <\/ol>\n

      <\/td>\n

      <\/tr>\n

      <\/tbody>\n

      <\/table>\n

      [\/et_pb_code][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

      What is out-of-band management?<\/h2>\n

      Out-of-band management (OOBM) involves controlling network infrastructure and workflows on an out-of-band network. An out-of-band network is an entirely separate network that runs parallel with your production (or in-band) network but doesn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n

      \"A<\/p>\n

      The biggest reason to use out-of-band management is to ensure continuous, uninterrupted access to critical remote infrastructure even when the primary network is down. OOBM allows teams to recover from outages and cyberattacks faster and more cost-efficiently because they can access, troubleshoot, and restore systems without rolling trucks or hiring on-site services.<\/p>\n

      Out-of-band management provides a lifeline for teams to access critical remote infrastructure when the production network is offline. It allows them to immediately begin troubleshooting and repairing the issue to restore services ASAP. With OOBM, companies save money on recovery expenses, and minimize the duration and business impact of downtime.<\/p>\n

      What is an OOBM serial console?<\/h3>\n

      \"Front<\/p>\n

      Some organizations use OOBM jump boxes (or jump servers) that are connected to both the in-band and out-of-band networks, allowing administrators to \u201cjump\u201d from one network to the other for management. Examples of low-cost jump boxes include the Intel NUC<\/a> and the Raspberry Pi<\/a>. However, OOBM jump boxes are security risks because they do not effectively isolate the management infrastructure, plus they require an entire duplicate infrastructure of devices and services to create the out-of-band network. The best practice for security, resilience, and efficiency is to deploy an all-in-one, out-of-band management solution.<\/p>\n

      An out-of-band management solution uses hardware devices known as serial consoles, which connect to infrastructure devices via their management port (usually RS232 Serial, Ethernet, or USB). Serial consoles are known by lots of other names, including terminal servers<\/a>, console servers, console server switches<\/a>, serial routers, and serial switches.<\/p>\n

      The serial console has dedicated network interfaces to provide an Internet connection for remote management access, often fiber or 4G\/5G cellular LTE, so they don\u2019t connect to or rely upon the primary production network at all. This gives teams the ability to continuously monitor and administer critical remote infrastructure even during an ISP or WAN outage that would make a jump box inaccessible.<\/p>\n

       <\/p>\n

      \n\n\n<\/colgroup>\n\n\n\n
      \n

      Learn more about OOBM serial consoles with our guides<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

      \n