DFAT Deploys Opengear for Global Secure Remote Management

Tuesday, 12 February 2008 02:10

Opengear, a leading provider of next generation out-of-band management solutions,  today announced that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has chosen the Opengear CM4116 console servers for use at all Australian posts overseas.

The deployment, over the next three years, is the first central management of distributed IT infrastructure over IP used by the department.  It will allow DFAT’s system administrators and network managers to affordably and securely monitor and control the department’s computers and networks round the clock anywhere in the world.
 
DFAT hase rolled out 16 Opengear Console Managers to eight international sites with over 200 to be installed over the next three years.
 
The new system provided by Opengear will be more cost-effective for the Department allowing it to remotely maintain servers, networks and telecommunications as well as deal with IT incidents, rather than send individual technicians to each location where a problem is experienced.
 
Opengear CEO, Bob Waldie, said Opengear was very pleased to be working with DFAT to provide the new network of console servers.
 
“By providing a system where server, network and telecommunications issues can be dealt with remotely from one location’s systems, administrators can now avoid much of the cost associated with sending technicians to individual sites.
 
“This can be of particular importance when you are dealing with a worldwide network like DFAT’s,” said Waldie.
 
Opengear’s CM4116 has taken serial console management a step forward by adding secure network console management to ensure the one device also provides secure out of band management access to LAN managed devices and service processors.  However, at its core, the CM4116 is still a robust, quality serial console server.
 
The CM4116 has 16serial ports that provide secure access to the serial console ports on Windows, Sun and Linux servers and serially controlled network devices.
 
“For DFAT, the CM4116 console managers will mainly be providing secure access and management of network infrastructure such as routers, switches, PBXs and communications connections,” said Waldie.
 
“The CM4116 is vendor agnostic so it can connect to any equipment with a serial console.”
 
 The CM4116's Secure Tunneling (SDT) enables control of remote computers using network consoles like RDP and VNC. The CM4116 can also monitor and control networking appliances (routers, firewalls) and power switches over the management network using network protocols like IPMI, SoL and HTTPS.
 
Waldie said the use of Linux and other open source technology also made Opengear console servers a more cost-effective solution.
 
“Our company’s adoption of and contribution to open source technologies enables us to pass on cost savings to customers.”
 
 
About DFAT
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s role is to advance Australia's national interest. This involves working to strengthen Australia's security and enhance Australia's prosperity. The Department provides foreign and trade policy advice to the government and works with other government agencies to ensure that Australia's pursuit of its global, regional and bilateral interests is coordinated effectively.  It is also the lead agency managing Australia's international presence with a network of 89 overseas <http://www.dfat.gov.au/missions/>  posts in five continents and over 3400 staff world-wide.
 
ABOUT OPENGEAR
Opengear delivers the next generation of out-of-band management solutions. Their management gateways provide secure remote access and control of all the computers and devices in the distributed network. Opengear has its engineering headquarters at the i.Lab in Brisbane. For more information, please call (07) 332798282 or visit www.opengear.com.au.