Does anyone have a recommendation for a console connection server? We have 14 filers and growing and I'm looking for some centralized, easy serial connection box.
My favorite to date has been the Cisco 2511 (used Annex, Lucington PortMaster, and PowerSentry).. They're tiny (1RU), with 17 ports, completely manageable/upgradable/fixable via console, and of course run IOS, which hopefully any operations admin atleast knows their way around. Retails for around $2100, which at $123/port makes it more expensive than a PM2E ($98/port w/ 30 ports), but cheaper than a Annex 4000 ($128/port w/ 36 ports).
Both the Annex (if you add patch panels to fan out the octopus's) and PM2E are rather bulky units, and the added advantage is the 2511-RJ's use of RJ45's for serial (compact, add whatever hood you need for gender/size/DTE-DCE).
I don't recall seeing many (any?) in your cage, butanother nice side is Sun used the same pinout for the Netra t1's serial ports (read: no hoods). We've got over a dozen of the 2511's now with netapps, raid boxes, suns, pc's, switches, and routers hanging off of them.
I have used Annex in the past for UNIX, but thought maybe some folks out there in toasterland might have some ideas to share.
I've used an Annex in the past and was revolted by its interface. Config commands spread all over the thing in counter-intuitive places, and in no single place for a simple backup. bletch. Not to mention an overall nasty mechanical design, with the goofy rackmount kit and unwieldy RJ21 octopus cables).
..kg..