Using the Lighthouse virtual modem dialpool to dial remote sites from your browser

Lighthouse 4 has reached End of Life. This information is for archival purposes only.

Lighthouse enables you to build a simple virtual modem pool that can be browser accessed by field engineers for out of band connection to remote sites.

The dialpool facility is accessed centrally from Lighthouse CMS using a browser.

The modems in the dialpool are either serially connected to downstream console servers, or internally integrated within the downstream console servers (e.g. ACM5004-M).

These downstream console servers are network connected to CMS, and can be located adjacent to the Lighthouse appliance or distributed regionally - or internationally.

The modems in the downstream console servers then, on command, dial-out to modems that are serially attached to (or internal to) remote Managed Console Servers.

So dialpool provides a centralized dial-out capability. Admins can from anywhere use their browser to trigger a dial-out session and connect to the Managed Console Servers at remote sites out-of-band via analog modem connection – without the need to carry their own modem. Also by distributing the downstream console servers (that host the dialpool modems) within the remote countries and regions, the dial pool can overcome international line quality issues from trying to use compressed PSTN lines and dialing globally.

Establishing the dialpool and initiating a dial-out connection is a simple process off:

- Establishing RFC2217 connections to the modem port(s) on downstream console servers that are IP connected to the Lighthouse CMS

- Adding each modem to the dialpool and adding the connection details for the Managed Console Servers that are to be dialed (e.g. phone #)

- Configuring the Managed Console Server for in-dial access

- Initiating a Dial connection

- The health of the modem pool can also be monitored