Network Computing Editorial Review of the IOLAN SCR256 Console Server

An independent product review testing the capabilities of the IOLAN SCR256 Console Server. Originally posted by NETWORKcomputing here.

As data centre demands grow, support staff rely heavily on secure remote access to critical infrastructure devices. Console servers are an essential requirement as they accelerate troubleshooting by negating the need for lengthy on-site visits, and out-of-band (OOB) management ensures core devices are accessible even during network outages.

Perle Systems specialises in secure connectivity solutions and its latest IOLAN SCR Console Servers deliver a wealth of high-level OOB management features. Targeting top-of-rack deployments, they focus on access security, data protection, and resiliency.

The IOLAN SCR256 appliance on review has a device management connection for every occasion as it presents 24 Gigabit Ethernet ports, 24 RJ45 RS232 ports, 8 USB ports, and two Gigabit SFP uplink ports. The IOLAN SCR family includes three other options with 48, 32, or 16 RS232 serial ports, all with USB ports, as well as 10G SFP uplink ports.

There’s plenty of power on tap as they team up an embedded 1.5GHz AMD Ryzen R1305G CPU with 8GB of DDR4 memory. Their fan-less design means there are no moving parts to fail. You get dual redundant PSUs, and a smart feature is their internal 256GB SSD, which allows you to simultaneously run multiple native Docker containers and custom applications in VMs that require real-time responses.

Access interruptions due to network failures are covered as Perle has models with optional cellular modules. These provide dual SIM slots for WAN failover and facilities for sending SMS messages to connect or disconnect cellular access, retrieve logs, and remotely reboot the appliance.

We found installation very simple. The console servers offer zero-touch provisioning by self-assigning an IP address if it cannot contact a DHCP server. The appliance can be accessed from its intuitive web console and via SSH or Telnet to its CLI. Perle designed this to be Cisco-like, so support staff don’t need extra training to use it.

The appliances provide full IPv4/IPv6 routing capabilities plus support for RIP, OSPF, and BGP protocols for easy integration into data centres including VRRPv3 for network redundancy support. Their Perle-ARMOR security shield delivers superb access security along with an integrated firewall and secure boot. You can enable 2FA on user accounts and apply AAA (authentication, authorization, accounting) services such as Radius with RADSec, TACACS+, and LDAP.

User accounts assigned the operator role are not permitted to manage the appliance, and you can decide which ports they are allowed to access. The web console shows all Ethernet and serial ports along with connected devices, and the EasyPort Web feature provides fast, secure management access to attached devices with one click.

The PerleVIEW Central Management Platform can be run on-site or via cloud providers, such as Amazon or Azure, and delivers an incredible range of remote management services. Appliances connect to PerleVIEW over secure VPNs, so only they can communicate with it. Thus, it presents a single pane of glass for managing your geographically distributed fleet of Perle console servers.

Devices can be grouped by type or location and receive scheduled firmware upgrades. Their GUIs and console ports can be securely accessed, and scripts deployed to remotely configure settings such as ports and routes. Perle’s Network Watchdog service ensures always-on connectivity by seamlessly switching to the cellular module when it detects a network outage. If the cellular connection drops, it automatically resets the connection.

Perle’s IOLAN SCR Console Servers are the perfect choice for support staff who demand secure OOB access to core network devices. The versatile IOLAN SCR256 on review presents an impressive array of management ports, delivers top-notch data security, and offers optional cellular access to ensure always-on connectivity.

Product Tester: Dave Mitchell, Director at Binary Testing

Independent network testing lab specializing in delivering sophisticated testing, evaluation, and reporting services to today’s global IT markets. With over 35 years' experience in key sectors of the IT networking industry, we bring an unrivalled depth of knowledge and expertise enabling us to provide state-of-the-art product evaluation and validation services.