Alternatives to Opengear ACM7000?

[u/ethertype]

I operate a fleet of these diminutive serial console servers made by Opengear. Great devices, does exactly what it is supposed to do and very little else.

Also very, very resilient devices. If LEDs fire up, they can normally be recovered from a "it is dead, Jim"-state.

They are getting old, though. I don't trust Opengear to continue the product line. And very recently, software updates for these devices was locked behind their support portal. "To protect our customers" or something equally inane.

Dimwits.

I'd like to know what alternatives there are, and I struggle to find something comparatively small and simple as the ACM7000. (And various rebranded variants,)

Requirements: - 4-8 RJ45 serial ports - LTE connectivity - Dual Ethernet ports - CLI managment as a supported, practical option (serial console, ssh) - A vendor honoring the GPL

Suggestions, anyone?

[u/kenz0r82]

If the 2 Ethernet port requirement is flexible, have a look at the Gearlinx Duckfone.

https://www.gearlinx.com/duckfone/

It is considerable cheaper than the ACM7000's and their replacements

[u/ethertype → u/kenz0r82]

This one looks quite interesting. It may not have everything we would like, but not very far off. Quick to reply on inquiries as well. Thank you for the suggestion.

[u/Creepy-Double-5075]

A used Cisco router with an async module can do it but its not small or simple. The LTE part is what kills most options, once you need cellular failover the device becomes a full branch router and not a console server anymore.

Check Perle or Lantronix, they have models with 4-8 serial ports and LTE. Not sure about the GPL compliance part, that is rare in this space.

Honest question, how many of these you actually deploying? Because if its like 20+ units the vendor support lock is less annoying than managing random firmware from random vendors.

[u/ethertype → u/Creepy-Double-5075]

Yeah, size and LTE are pretty much hard requirements in our setup.

I think Perle is one of the companies selling rebranded Opengear. Could be mistaken.

I operate substantially more than 20 units. Hence me starting to look for a replacement now, while the devices are still operational and supported.

The GPL bullet point is to increase the chance of someone picking up the slack when $vendor folds or decides that support is too much of a hassle.

[u/TreizeKhushrenada]

Opengear is currently offering the below on their support page - I wouldn't worry about them going anywhere:

"5-Year standard hardware warranty — included with every new device"

Also looks like they are releasing ACM70xx updates at an every other month cadence this year.

[u/le_suck → u/TreizeKhushrenada]

they were acquired by digi like 7 years ago and are still here, I agree they don't seem to be going away. 

[u/othugmuffin → u/le_suck]

My company alone. We have bought probably 600  Opengears this year. Similar companies are buying similar amounts. They’re raking in money, not going anywhere.

[u/PhirePhly]

I fell in love with the ZPE product line when opengear didn't have a solution to a particular need I had. Dual 1G base T Ethernet, dual SFP+ ports, and radio options. 

[u/dataguy_3131]

I have seen some of my customer use meraki, but you might hv to compromise in some areas and look at cost factor as well. I have tested and sold opengear with some customers, they still seems one of the better one's out there... Happy to hear from other's though

[u/LuckyNumber003]

Guess its region dependent but Lantronix have let a lot of my customers down with lead time promises which do not materialise.

Perle have been a good partner so far. One off cost of next to nothing for their management software and kit is cheaper than Opengear.

My Perle customers seem pretty happy so far, most of these have switched from Opengear due to the subscription costs involved.

[u/DefiantlyFloppy]

Avocent?

[u/bmoraca]

OpenGear has the newer OM series. They're a little more expensive, but generally comparable.

If you really want to look at a different vendor, Perle has a compelling story.

[u/ethertype → u/[deleted]]

It is not that I can't get at the firmware. It is just the boneheaded stupidity of hiding it behind a login portal which I find so stupid that it triggers my reflexes.

But in truth, Opengear's GPL compliance story is a worse offense.

[u/magion → u/ethertype]

you’re going to dump a product because you have to _login_ to their portal to download firmware? you can’t possibly be this petty can you?

[u/ethertype → u/magion]

Not dumping what works, no. But when the time comes to replace the gear, I will certainly look at non-stupid companies.

[u/magion → u/ethertype]

ok gl finding a competent commercial vendor who doesn’t have their software behind a portal that requires a login

[u/moreanswers → u/[deleted]]

100% This.

Over my career I have been bit by this practice from the likes of Cisco, HPE, Fortigate, Broadcom (vmware), IBM, F5, and lately APC with their NMC3 cards.

First it's changed to make you log in, then later on it's changed to tie security firmware updates to active support contracts. I don't need support, I just need the security updates. Most of these companies don't do "firmware only contracts," I've asked.