Vertiv ACS8016MDAC-400 16-Port Serial Console Server with Dual AC Power and Analog Modem
Overview
The Vertiv ACS8016MDAC-400 is a 16-port out-of-band serial console server built for data center and network operations teams that need reliable, always-available access to serial-connected infrastructure — routers, switches, servers, PDUs, and other headless devices — even when the primary network is down. The ACS8016MDAC-400 (often searched as ACS8016MDAC 400) ships with a built-in analog modem and dual AC power supplies, which means two of the most common out-of-band access failure points — network outage and power supply loss — are covered by hardware redundancy before you configure a single port.
This unit sits in the Vertiv console server line and is designed for environments where out-of-band management is a hard operational requirement, not an afterthought. If you manage a co-location cage, a remote branch data closet, or a multi-rack enterprise deployment, the ACS8016MDAC-400 gives you a direct fallback path to every connected device when your in-band management plane goes dark.
Key Features
- 16 Serial Ports with USB Expansion: The unit provides 16 serial console targets. Eight onboard USB 2.0 ports allow you to connect USB-to-serial hubs, which means you can reach all 16 targets via the USB bus — useful when you need to consolidate physical serial connections from a dense device stack without running individual RS-232 cables to a patch panel.
- Built-In Analog Modem: The integrated analog modem gives you a direct-dial fallback path that survives complete LAN and WAN outages. For sites where cellular coverage is unreliable or a hard SLA requires a non-internet out-of-band path, POTS access remains viable and this modem is already installed — no external modem or adapter required.
- Cellular Out-of-Band via External Router: If you prefer cellular as a secondary path, the ACS8016MDAC-400 supports cellular connectivity through an external cellular router. This gives you flexibility to choose the out-of-band medium that matches your site's connectivity options — analog POTS for legacy infrastructure sites, LTE/5G cellular for modern deployments — without being locked into a single approach.
- Dual Gigabit Network Interfaces — Copper and Fiber: Two 10/100/1000BASE-T Ethernet ports handle standard copper LAN connections, while two 1G SFP fiber ports let you connect directly into a fiber backbone or extend the management network across longer distances without a media converter. For data centers with fiber-only top-of-rack switches, the SFP ports mean this console server connects natively without additional hardware.
- Dual AC Power Supplies at 35W Maximum Draw: Both AC power supplies operate simultaneously in a redundant configuration. At a maximum draw of 35W, the unit stays well within the power budget of a standard branch circuit, and the dual-feed design means a single PSU failure or a PDU feed interruption doesn't take out your out-of-band access path — which is exactly when you most need it.
- SD Card Slot for Local Storage: One full-size SD card slot provides local storage for configuration backups, log archives, or firmware staging. In environments where centralized storage isn't always reachable — again, the out-of-band failure scenario — having local config backup on removable media is a practical recovery option.
- 1U Form Factor at 44.5mm Height: The 44.5mm chassis height fits a standard 1U rack slot. Console servers often get relegated to whatever shelf space is left; a true 1U device with a defined height makes rack planning straightforward.
Integration and Compatibility
The ACS8016MDAC-400 integrates into console server and out-of-band management architectures as a standalone unit or as part of a larger Vertiv management stack. The dual Ethernet interfaces support network segmentation — you can place the in-band management port on your primary network and the out-of-band port on a dedicated management VLAN or OOB network segment, which is standard practice in hardened NOC environments.
For teams evaluating network infrastructure management tools alongside console server hardware, the ACS8016MDAC-400 pairs with centralized management software that aggregates access across multiple console servers — relevant when you're deploying more than one unit across a multi-site environment. The cellular support via external router also makes this unit compatible with LTE-capable edge routers for branch or remote site deployments where wired OOB paths aren't feasible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Does the ACS8016MDAC-400 support cellular out-of-band connectivity?
A: Yes, but not natively via a built-in cellular modem. Cellular access is supported through an external cellular router connected to one of the unit's Ethernet or SFP ports. For integrated cellular, you would need to pair this unit with a compatible LTE router at the site.
Q: What is the maximum power draw for the ACS8016MDAC-400?
A: Maximum input power is 35W. Both AC power supplies are included, and the dual-feed design provides hardware redundancy at that draw level — well within the headroom of a standard 20A branch circuit even when combined with other 1U devices on the same feed.
Q: Can the ACS8016MDAC-400 reach more than 16 serial targets?
A: The unit supports 16 serial targets using the 8 onboard USB 2.0 ports in combination with USB-to-serial hubs. The 16-target count is achieved through USB hub expansion, not 16 dedicated RS-232 ports — plan your cabling and hub selection accordingly.
Q: What is the rack footprint of the ACS8016MDAC-400?
A: The chassis height is 44.5mm, which corresponds to a standard 1U rack unit. It mounts in any standard 19-inch equipment rack.
Q: Does the analog modem in the ACS8016MDAC-400 require a separate license or external hardware?
A: No. The analog modem is built into the unit and requires only a standard POTS phone line connection. No additional modem hardware or licensing is needed to enable dial-in out-of-band access.
Q: What network speeds do the SFP ports on the ACS8016MDAC-400 support?
A: The two SFP ports support 1 Gigabit fiber connections. They complement the two copper 10/100/1000BASE-T Ethernet ports, giving you four total network interfaces for flexible management network design including dedicated OOB network segmentation.
The thing I keep coming back to on the ACS8016MDAC-400 is the combination of dual AC power supplies and a built-in analog modem in a single 1U chassis. Most console servers ship with one or the other — not both. In a co-location environment or a remote branch where you have to assume that any single failure path will eventually fail, having hardware-redundant power and a POTS fallback on the same device is a meaningful difference from units that require you to add an external modem or a second power shelf to match that coverage.
Technical Highlights:
- Dual AC Power Supplies: Both supplies run simultaneously in a redundant configuration, drawing a combined maximum of 35W. A PSU failure or a single PDU feed loss doesn't interrupt console access — which is exactly the scenario where you need that access most.
- Four Network Interfaces (2× SFP + 2× RJ-45): The combination of two 1G SFP fiber ports and two copper Gigabit Ethernet ports lets you place management traffic on a dedicated fiber OOB segment while keeping a copper fallback — or connect directly into a fiber-only top-of-rack switch without a media converter in the path.
- 8 USB 2.0 Ports Supporting 16 Serial Targets: Serial target count is achieved via USB hub expansion, not discrete RS-232 ports. That's worth understanding at design time — your serial hub selection and USB cable management plan matters for reaching all 16 targets reliably.
Deployment Considerations:
- The cellular path requires an external router — budget for and stage that hardware separately if cellular OOB is part of your recovery design. The analog modem is the only built-in secondary path.
- The SD card slot is full-size, not microSD — confirm your configuration backup tooling writes to full-size SD if you plan to use local media for config archival or disaster recovery staging.
The ACS8016MDAC-400 is the right unit for co-location deployments and enterprise remote sites where the operational requirement is dual-power redundancy plus a dial-in fallback under the same 1U footprint — specifically where a POTS line is available and the engineering team won't accept a single point of failure on the out-of-band management path.
