As networks become more complex and sensitive to security concerns, the need to manage and securely access these networks is a top priority. With the CCM840 console managers, system administrators can securely access serial console ports of remote systems such as server clusters, UPSs, power management devices, switches, routers, firewalls and other serial accessible devices through local or remote IP connections. Console managers are Telnet/SSH appliances with a single Ethernet port providing network access and 8 serial ports for console port connectivity. The CCM greatly benefits remote management by eliminating the administrative overhead, stability and compatibility concerns imposed by the use of remote control software. The CCM840 console managers provide broad support for third-party solutions including Secure Shell (SSH) and RADIUS. In an SSH environment, TCP/IP applications including Telnet may be safely tunneled (a.k.a. port forwarding) using any of eight cryptographic modes to guarantee security. The CCM may be accessed in this manner using a variety of SSH clients including SecureCRT, PuTTY and other applications compatible with the openSSH protocol suite. Similar versatility extends to RADIUS support for solutions such as Steel-Belted Radius, VOP Radius Server and AAA Radius. Should any of these authentication server databases become inaccessible for any reason, the appliance will automatically authenticate through an on-board security database.