NS3503-16P-4C User Manual
30
Table 3-1 Comparison of Management Methods
Method
Advantages
Disadvantages
Console
•
No IP address or subnet needed
•
Text-based
•
Telnet functionality and HyperTerminal
built into Windows
95/98/NT/2000/ME/XP operating
systems
•
Secure
•
Must be near the switch or use dial-up
connection
•
Not convenient for remote users
•
Modem connection may prove to be unreliable
or slow
Web Browser
•
Ideal for configuring the switch remotely
•
Compatible with all popular browsers
•
Can be accessed from any location
•
Most visually appealing
•
Security can be compromised (hackers need
to only know the IP address and subnet mask)
•
May encounter lag times on poor connections
SNMP Agent
•
Communicates with switch functions at
the MIB level
•
Based on open standards
•
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)
3.3 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 Managed Switch's console port.
Figure 3-1-1: 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 RS-232 to RJ45 cable
is required to
