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17. Appendixes: Command definitions, specifications, certifications, terminology definitions, licenses, service and warranty details.
The most recent version of this manual is always at www.blackbox.com.
TYPES OF USERS
The console server supports two classes of users:
1. First, there are administrative users, who have unlimited configuration and management privileges over the console server and
all the connected devices.
Administrative users are set up as members of the admin user group. Users in this class are referred to in this manual as
Administrators. An Administrator can access and control the console server using the config utility, the Linux command line or the
browser-based Management Console. By default, the Administrator has access to all services and ports to control all the serial
connected devices and network connected devices (hosts).
2. The second class of users embraces those who have been set up by an Administrator with specific limits of their access and
control authority. These users are set up as members of one of the pre-configured user groups (pptpd, dialin, ftp, pmshell or users)
or another user group an Administrator has added.
They are only authorized to perform specified controls on specific connected devices and are referred to as Users. These Users
(when authorized) can access serial or network connected devices and control these devices using the specified services (eg
Telnet, HHTPS, RDP, IPMI, Serial-over-LAN, Power Control).
An authorized User also has a limited view the Management Console and can only access authorized configured devices and
review port logs.
In this manual, when the term user (lower case) is used, it is referring to both classes of users above. This document also uses the
term remote users to describe users who are not on the same LAN segment as the console server.
These remote users may be users who are on the road connecting to managed devices over the public Internet. They may be an
Administrator in another office connecting to the console server itself over the enterprise VPN. Or the remote user may be in the
same room or the same office but connected on a separate VLAN to the console server.
MANAGEMENT CONSOLE
The features of your console server are configured and monitored using the Black Box Management Console. When you first
browse to the Management Console, you can use the menu displayed on the left side to configure the console server. Once you
have completed the initial configuration, you can continue to use the Management Console. It runs in a browser and provides a view
of the console server and all the connected devices.
Administrators can use the Management Console, either locally or from a remote location, to configure and manage the console
server, users, ports, hosts, power devices and associated logs and alerts.
Users can also use the Management Console, but have limited menu access to control select devices, review their logs, access
them using the Web terminal, or control power to them.
The console server runs an embedded Linux operating system, and experienced Linux and UNIX users may prefer to undertake
configuration at the command line.
You can gain command line access by cellular, dial-in, or by directly connecting to the console server’s serial console port (aka the
console server’s modem port). The shell can also be accessed via ssh or Telnet over a LAN or by connecting with PPTP, IPsec or
OpenVPN.
