Description:
This document describes the two ways in which access to the configuration via the serial interface may be blocked.

An active CLI session via the serial interface won't be interupted by implementing the settings mentioned in this article. Instead it remains active until it is stopped.   


1) Enabling the COM-port server
Configuration → COM ports → Devices → Device mode
In the IT field, COM-port servers (also known as serial-port servers) are devices that transport data between TCP and serial connections. There are many applications.
    • Networking of devices with a serial interface but without a network interface.
    • Remote maintenance of devices that can only be configured via a serial interface.
    • Virtual extension of a connection between two devices with serial interfaces over a network.
Most LANCOM devices feature a serial interface that can be used to carry out configurations or to connect to a modem. In some cases the interface is used for neither of these scenarios, and yet a COM port server is required somewhere in the vicinity of the device.
In such cases the LANCOM can use its serial interface as a COM-port server, thus saving the investment in an external COM-port server. Where an application is to support the configuration of these devices via their serial interfaces, then some models are able to provide additional serial interfaces with the use of CardBus or USB adapters. This enables multiple instances of the COM-port server to be operated in one device.

2) Setting the interface mode for V24/serial from off (outband only) to modem (WAN interface).
Configuration → Interfaces → WAN → Interface settings
Operating mode [default: Outband]:
  • Outband: In this mode, the serial interface is only used for configuration with a terminal program.
  • Modem: In the Modem setting, the device attempts to find a modem connected to the serial interface. If this is successful then the modem can be used as an additional WAN interface.
  • Mobile: This setting must be used if you wish to run an external cellular modem.