Management Access Overview - Planet IGS-4215-16T2S User Manual

3.2 Management Access Overview

The Industrial Managed Switch gives you the flexibility to access and manage it using any or all of the following methods:

An administration console

Web browser interface

An external SNMP-based network management application
The administration console and Web browser interfaces are embedded in the Industrial Managed Switch software and are
available for immediate use. Each of these management methods has their own advantages. Table 3-1 compares the three
management methods.
Method
• No IP address or subnet needed
Console
• Text-based
• Telnet functionality and HyperTerminal
built into Windows
95/98/NT/2000/ME/XP operating
systems
• Secure
• Ideal for configuring the switch remotely
Web Browser
• Compatible with all popular browsers
• Can be accessed from any location
• Most visually appealing
• Communicates with switch functions at
SNMP Agent
the MIB level
• Based on open standards
Advantages
Table 3-1: Comparison of Management Methods
39
User's Manual of IGS-4215-16T2S
Disadvantages
• Must be near the switch or use dial-up
connection
• Not convenient for remote users
• Modem connection may prove to be unreliable
or slow
• Security can be compromised (hackers need
to only know the IP address and subnet mask)
• May encounter lag times on poor connections
• Requires SNMP manager software
• Least visually appealing of all three methods
• Some settings require calculations
• Security can be compromised (hackers need
to only know the community name)