Management Access Overview - Planet IGS-4215-4P4Tv2 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
• Text-based
• Telnet functionality and HyperTerminal
Console
built into Windows
95/98/NT/2000/ME/XP operating
systems
• Secure
• Ideal for configuring the switch remotely
• Compatible with all popular browsers
Web Browser
• Can be accessed from any location
• Most visually appealing
• Communicates with switch functions at
the MIB level
SNMP Agent
• Based on open standards
Advantages
Table 3-1: Comparison of Management Methods
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User's Manual of IGS-4215 PoE Series
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)