Cyclades ACS: EMS, Serial Port Connection for Windows Server 2003

The Microsoft® Windows® Server 2003 operating system provides native support for "headless server" operation on server platforms. It has support for operating servers without a local display or input devices. Windows® Server 2003 also provides Emergency Management Services (EMS) over a serial port on the server, which allows the administrator to interact with a system that might not be available through the usual network mechanisms.

The Cyclades Advanced Console Servers (ACS) has native support for the EMS protocols included with the Windows® Server 2003 operating system, helping to further automate data center management.

Cyclades ACS security features, such as SSH v2 (Secure Shell), RADIUS and LDAP authentication and user access lists per port allow data center managers and system administrators to remotely manage Windows® 2003 servers with greater control and peace of mind.

Management capabilities include data logging, automatic scripting of corrective actions and proactive monitoring. These are not available when using Keyboard-Video-Mouse (KVM) switches and remote control software, the management tools commonly used with previous versions of Windows® servers. The Cyclades ACS native support for event notification along with the EMS logging of blue screen occurrences allows for the system administrator to receive an e-mail notification of a Windows® server crash as it happens, which improves failure response time and decreases server downtime.

By providing easy, secure and efficient remote access to the console ports of systems running Windows® Server 2003, Cyclades ACS products support EMS and simplify Windows server failure detection.

Features

• Native support on the ACS for EMS features
• SSH v2 support with network authentication
• Off-line data buffering with time stamps
• Event notification

Benefits

• Easier management for EMS-enabled
• Windows® servers
• Secure In-band and Out-of-band
• Windows® Server Management
• Improved server monitoring
• Early detection of system failures