Recently our OVF/OVA virtual appliance image generation build failed while connecting to a serial console server (or terminal server). A networking outsider like me had to browse and understand the functionality and usage of serial console server.
From Wikipedia & http://www.networktechinc.com/
A console server (or serial console server) is a device or service that provides access to the system console of a computing device via networking technologies. (From Wikipedia)
Most commonly, a console server provides a number of serial ports, which are then connected to the serial ports of other equipment, such as servers, routers or switches.
The consoles of the connected devices can then be accessed by connecting to the console server over a serial link such as a modem, or over a network with terminal emulator software such as telnet or ssh, maintaining survivable connectivity that allows remote users to log in the various consoles without being physically nearby.
From Wikipedia & http://www.networktechinc.com/
A console server (or serial console server) is a device or service that provides access to the system console of a computing device via networking technologies. (From Wikipedia)
Most commonly, a console server provides a number of serial ports, which are then connected to the serial ports of other equipment, such as servers, routers or switches.
The consoles of the connected devices can then be accessed by connecting to the console server over a serial link such as a modem, or over a network with terminal emulator software such as telnet or ssh, maintaining survivable connectivity that allows remote users to log in the various consoles without being physically nearby.