A Complete Console Management Solution

The AlterPath™ ACS family of advanced console servers (sometimes referred to as terminal servers) gives IT professionals and network operations center (NOC) personnel the ability to perform secure remote data center management and out-of-band management of IT assets from anywhere in the world.

The AlterPath ACS console server provides enterprise and telecom networks with a complete, secure console management solution. When combined with integrated power management and centralized administration, the AlterPath ACS console server offers a secure and consolidated out-of-band infrastructure (OOBI) management solution. Using a hardened Linux operating system, the AlterPath ACS provides optimal performance, security and reliability.

The AlterPath ACS offers advanced hardware features to meet the requirements of even the most demanding data center management applications. PCMCIA slots allow for enhanced functionality with support for many interface cards, such as modem (V.92 and ISDN), Ethernet, fast Ethernet (fiber optic) and wireless LAN (GSM, CDMA and GPRS). The AlterPath ACS also allows for automatic Ethernet failover by using a PCMCIA slot as a second Ethernet port, hence providing Ethernet redundancy. The AlterPath ACS's optional dual-entry redundant power supply (AC/DC) provides extra reliability, ensuring availability during critical times. (Click here for a list of supported PCMCIA cards.)

Available in 1-, 4-, 8-, 16-, 32- and 48-port models that fit in 1U of rack space, the AlterPath ACS helps maximize IT asset productivity while providing scalability and reducing operational costs. Using the AlterPath ACS for secure IT asset management decreases network maintenance costs while increasing efficiency and productivity.

Enhanced Security Framework

The AlterPath ACS product family offers industry's first Enhanced Security Framework that provides pre-set security profiles and the flexibility for IT managers to customize security profiles to comply with existing network security policies. The ability to select pre-set security profiles (secure, moderate and open) and/or to define customized security profiles provides the means for seamless adherence to existing enterprise and telecommunications networks security policies. Each AlterPath ACS is shipped with secured factory default settings and a security notice to remind customers to review their existing security policies before deploying the AlterPath ACS.

In addition to providing secure connectivity and remote access to cluster environments, the AlterPath ACS offers a wealth of security features such as secure clustering for console management of up to 1,024 devices, X.509 SSH certificate support, Secure Shell (SSHv1 and SSHv2) connections, TACACS/RADIUS/LDAP authentication and authorization, SecurID, PPP PAP/CHAP, PPP dial back, IPSec with NAT traversal support, IP filtering, user access lists per port and separate authentication to access ports and console server. These features allow data center managers and system administrators to remotely manage networks and servers with greater control and peace of mind.

Console management features include native support for the Windows® Emergency Management Services (EMS) protocols included with the Windows Server 2003, data buffering, direct access methods to the serial ports (such as the Transmission Control Protocol [TCP] port and server name) and event notification.