NFD26: ZPE Systems: Combined OOB Functionality in One Box

ZPE Systems was new to Tech Field Day events, and a nice change of pace. ZPE gets innovation points for a fresh look at their market niche and leveraging the power and potentially small size of network devices to do something different!?

Now that I’ve whetted your appetite, I’d best try describing what ZPE does. ZPE took all the stuff you might use to remotely manage a site network, modularized it, and made it available in a single set of box platforms. And layered clever automation on top of it. They also provide centralized secure scale cloud-based control for your fleet of remote site management boxes. And they provide the ability to securely tunnel automation (e.g. ssh from your laptop to a tunnel that sends your typing or script output down a far end serial link to configure a remote device).?

Whew!?

Coming at this a different way, I’ve noticed sites making the hard choice of either having an ethernet switch connected to device management ports, or a serial port box connected to console ports. Rarely both, apparently for cost reasons. But if you went the Ethernet route, occasionally you’ll need travel or leverage smart hands to power cycle something.??

ZPE can provide both in one box plus a cellular or VDSL router plus a containerized firewall, plus sensors, etc. With automation tools available on a Linux platform in the box, including python, ansible, and other tools.

And if you wish, ZPE can also add compute and storage to their device, for a modicum of edge computing or storage.

Caveats:

(1)???I haven’t been closely tracking what OpenGear and Raritan have. I just use them, rarely assist in specifying what a customer should buy for remote management. I have helped customers with small router and small firewall selection to provide remote access to such devices. I don’t track the out of band management space closely. I did skim the OpenGear and Raritan web pages and it does appear that ZPE does a good bit more.

(2)???I have no hands-on experience with ZPE, so the usual slideware caution applies: things can look great in slides, but until you get hands-on you won’t know the good points and the pain points.?

The following slide suggests the combination of functions into one box:?

The switched ports are independent of each other. And did I mention WiFi??

ZPE claims 6 of the largest 10 tech companies as customers. And from the presentation, apparently ZPE has been providing highly automated deployment of remote sites.?

That is, remote hands plug in the WAN connection or power up the box with cellular, the on-prem box is automatically configured when the cloud controller detects it is up, and then scripts can also be run to provision connected on-prem devices, if desired. The discussion suggested oil platforms and globally distributed POP’s – where high travel costs might call for a highly available management solution and strong remote control (console for reboot or re-imaging, power cycling for locked up devices, etc.). Note they don’t do power control per se, that’d apparently be a separate box their device might control.?

Ok, so ZPE provides a remote / Out Of Band (OOB) / site and edge management solution.?

Here is a ZPE slide schematically listing capabilities:

And for balance, here is their corporate self-description:

The following slide shows how a ZPE NodeGrid device might be deployed to manage with onsite gear in a short rack, e.g. in a closet in a store or warehouse or POP. Another use case might be to tie one or two ZPE nodes into one or two SD-WAN routers for remote remediation of problems.?

ZPE apparently supports a number of sensors and is adding more, e.g. room / cabinet door open detection.?

I’m not going to try to show all the ZPE slides nor product line here, just samples. You can view the presentation if interested.?

The following slide seems useful to get a feel for some of the ZPE platforms, including the larger modular platform.?

And here’s an all-in-one slide suggesting a multi-function use case. The blue boxes on top of the NodeGrids in the middle suggest services they might provide to the site.?

Conclusions

I was impressed. This seems like what I’d sure want to manage remote sites, with multiple support functions that should not require a lot of complexity to deploy. The last time I looked hard at a competitor, it looked like they had sensor support but that it might require some work to get the sensor working. I was looking for a solution, not another project. From the presentation it appears that ZPE is a toolkit but also modular solution. Yes, still some learning curve, but probably less on the “some assembly required” side.?

Most networking staffs put the remote management gear in place and it stays there for years. And sometimes frugality is a driving consideration. I find myself wondering if all the ZPE capabilities might provide a case for selectively refreshing your remote management solution(s) to gain functionality. Or when you build out new sites.

Part of their use case seems to be automation for rapid deployment of remote sites. So that is another indicator their products might be useful to you.?

And I’ll admit, if I were you the reader, I’d also be wondering “sounds neat, but how does the cost compare”. You’ll have to have that conversation with ZPE, not me!

Key Links

• ZPE Systems
• Tech Field Day vendor page for ZPE Systems
• NFD26 playlist?on YouTube!

Comments

Comments are welcome, both in agreement or constructive disagreement about the above. I enjoy hearing from readers and carrying on deeper discussion via comments. Thanks in advance!?

Hashtags:?#NetCraftsmen #CiscoChampion #CCIE25years #NFD26

Disclosure statement

Twitter:?@pjwelcher

LinkedIn:?Peter Welcher