Management Access Overview; Administration Console - Interlogix IFS NS3601-24P User Manual

Management Access Overview

The 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 interface support are embedded in the 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
• User friendly GUI
• Communicates with switch functions at
SNMP Agent
the MIB level
• Based on open standards

Administration Console

The administration console is an internal, character-oriented, and command line user interface for performing system administration
such as displaying statistics or changing option settings. Using this method, you can view the administration console from a terminal,
personal computer, Apple Macintosh, or workstation connected to the switch's console (serial) port.
There are two ways to use this management method: via direct access or modem port access. The following sections describe
these methods. For more information about using the console, refer to Chapter 5 Command Line Interface Console
Management.
Direct Access
Direct access to the administration console is achieved by directly connecting a terminal or a PC equipped with a
terminal-emulation program (such as HyperTerminal) to the Managed Switch console (serial) port.
When using this management method, a straight DB9 RS-232 cable is required to connect the switch to the PC. After making
this connection, configure the terminal-emulation program to use the following parameters:
The default parameters are:
115200 bps
8 data bits
No parity
1 stop bit
IFS NS3601-24P/4S GE-DSSG-244 and 244-POE User Manual
Advantages
Table 3-1 Management Methods Comparison
Figure 3-1 Console management
Disadvantages
• Must be near 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
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
only know the community name)
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