Opengear CM8100 Console Server

The CM8100 Console Manager is Opengear’s latest advancement for data centers and enterprise networks, engineered to simplify, secure, and scale remote console access. Building on 18 years of Opengear product innovation and leadership, the CM8100 delivers a dense, reliable solution for managing at-scale serial devices from a single, centralized platform. With up to 48 serial ports, it consolidates console access across servers, network gear, and appliance devices, so IT teams can diagnose, modify, and recover gear without on-site visits. Its enterprise-grade security, powered by a TPM 2.0 module, provides hardware-backed trust and tamper-resistant protections for credentials, configurations, and access logs. Independent monitoring capabilities further enhance resilience by delivering continuous visibility and alerts even when other parts of the network are unavailable. The CM8100 is purpose-built for data centers and distributed enterprise networks that demand secure, scalable, and reliable out-of-band management and monitoring.

• Up to 48 serial ports to centralize console access across large deployments, reducing the need for multiple, disparate management tools.
• Enterprise-grade security with a TPM 2.0 module, delivering hardware-rooted trust and protection for credentials, keys, and configuration data.
• Independent monitoring to maintain situational awareness and alerting, helping teams detect and respond to issues faster, even during network outages.
• Designed for data centers and enterprise networks, enabling scalable, resilient out-of-band management for critical infrastructure components.
• Backed by Opengear’s 18 years of product innovation and leadership, ensuring ongoing software updates, improvements, and trusted support for complex environments.

Technical Details of Opengear CM8100 Console Server

• Ports: Up to 48 serial ports for scalable, centralized console access across multiple devices.
• Security: TPM 2.0 module provides enterprise-grade, hardware-rooted security for credentials and configurations.
• Monitoring: Independent monitoring capabilities to deliver continuous visibility and alerting for critical gear.
• Use case: Ideal for data centers and large enterprise networks requiring robust out-of-band management and rapid issue resolution.
• Heritage: Supported by Opengear’s longstanding leadership in console management solutions and ongoing innovation.

How to install Opengear CM8100 Console Server

Installing the CM8100 installs a foundation for reliable, secure, and scalable remote management. Begin by planning your deployment to ensure proper rack space, power, and network connectivity. Verify that you have the necessary serial devices and cables ready to connect to the 48 available ports, and confirm IP addressing for the management interface. Place the CM8100 in a secure, well-ventilated rack environment to maintain reliability and minimize heat buildup, which supports consistent performance during extended operations.

Step-by-step installation typically includes:

• Connect serial devices to the CM8100’s ports according to your asset inventory, labeling each port to ease future troubleshooting.
• Connect the management network interface to your management VLAN or dedicated out-of-band network to segregate console traffic from production data.
• Power up the unit and access the initial configuration interface, which may be presented via a web UI or console CLI, depending on your setup.
• Configure core settings: assign a management IP, set administrator credentials, and establish role-based access controls to enforce least-privilege access for operators, administrators, and auditors.
• Enable and tailor security policies, including credential storage, SSH enforcement, and audit logging, to align with organizational security requirements and compliance needs.
• Define port mapping and access policies to streamline routine maintenance tasks, automated recoveries, and escalation paths for common incidents.
• Integrate CM8100 with your existing Opengear management stack (or your preferred NMS) to centralize alerts, logging, and remote command execution, then validate connectivity to a subset of critical devices before full rollout.
• Test failover and remote access workflows to verify that operators can reach devices through the CM8100 even if primary paths are degraded or unavailable.
• Document the configuration and back up the initial setup to simplify future redeployments or audits.

Ongoing maintenance is straightforward: perform firmware updates as released by Opengear to benefit from security patches, feature enhancements, and improved compatibility with newer devices. Maintain clear records of access policies and regularly review audit logs to ensure compliance with organizational standards. By following these steps, you’ll maximize uptime, security, and operational efficiency across your remote infrastructure.

Frequently asked questions

• Q: What is the Opengear CM8100 Console Server?
  A: The CM8100 is a high-density console management appliance designed for data centers and enterprise networks. It centralizes access to serial devices, enhances security with a TPM 2.0 module, and provides independent monitoring to support reliable remote operations.
• Q: How many serial ports does the CM8100 support?
  A: It supports up to 48 serial ports, enabling scalable console access across a large array of devices from a single platform.
• Q: What security features does the CM8100 include?
  A: It includes an enterprise-grade TPM 2.0 security module for hardware-rooted trust, secure key storage, and protection of credentials and configurations.
• Q: What environments is the CM8100 best suited for?
  A: It is ideal for data centers and enterprise networks that require resilient, secure, and scalable out-of-band management and monitoring of critical devices.
• Q: How does installation and setup work?
  A: Installation involves planning, connecting serial devices, configuring management network access, setting administrator credentials, applying security policies, and validating remote access workflows. Ongoing maintenance includes firmware updates and regular audits of access logs and policies.