PLANET WGSW-5242 - Manual (Page 35)

User’s Manual of WGSW-5242
35
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 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
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
only know the community name)
Table 3-1
Management Methods Comparison
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 switch's console (serial) port.
There are two ways to use this management method: via direct access or modem port access. The following sections describe
these methods. For more information about using the console, refer to Chapter 5 Command Line Interface Console
Management
.
Figure 3-1
Console management
Direct Access
Direct access to the administration console is achieved by directly connecting a terminal or a PC equipped with a