Vertiv ACS8048DAC-400 48-Port Dual-AC Advanced Console Server
Overview
The Vertiv ACS8048DAC-400 is a 48-port out-of-band management console server built for data center and enterprise network infrastructure where reliable serial access to remote devices is non-negotiable. This is Vertiv's high-density Avocent ACS 8000 series unit with dual AC power supplies and 400-series firmware, targeting environments that cannot tolerate a single point of failure on the management plane. If you're managing large switch stacks, router banks, or server IPMI/BMC consoles and need centralized, always-available serial access — the ACS8048DAC-400 (often searched as ACS8048DAC 400) is sized for that task.
The Avocent ACS 8000 line is Vertiv's current-generation console server platform, built around a Linux-based OS with a browser-accessible management interface and SSH/Telnet serial tunneling. It integrates with enterprise authentication frameworks and supports cellular fallback access via an external router — a meaningful capability when primary network paths go dark during a network-layer incident, which is exactly when out-of-band access matters most.
Key Features
- 48 Serial Console Ports: Forty-eight independent serial ports give you single-appliance coverage for densely populated racks or entire small data center floors — no need to chain multiple 8- or 16-port units and manage separate IP addresses for each. One management IP, one interface, 48 attached devices.
- Dual AC Power Supplies: Two redundant AC inputs mean a PSU failure or a PDU circuit trip doesn't take your management plane offline. In environments where the console server is your recovery tool of last resort, losing it to a power event is the worst possible outcome. Dual-AC eliminates that scenario.
- Dual Gigabit Fiber SFP + Dual Copper GbE: Four network interfaces — 2x GB Fiber SFP and 2x 10/100/1000Base-T RJ-45 Ethernet — let you place the unit on an isolated out-of-band management VLAN via fiber uplink while keeping a copper fallback, or bond interfaces for link redundancy. Most competing console servers at this port count ship with copper-only uplinks; the SFP options here matter in environments where the management network rides fiber infrastructure.
- 8x USB 2.0 Ports: Eight USB 2.0 ports support external cellular modems, USB serial adapters, or storage devices. This is the attachment point for cellular router connectivity — enabling out-of-band access across a 4G/LTE path when both primary and secondary Ethernet management paths are unreachable.
- Cellular Support via External Router: Native cellular fallback via an external USB-connected router means the ACS8048DAC-400 can maintain a tertiary management path for true lights-out remote sites. No proprietary modem card required — use a standard USB cellular router that the platform recognizes.
- Full-Size SD Card Slot: The onboard SD card slot supports local storage for logging, configuration backup, or firmware staging. Useful for air-gapped deployments where pulling logs to a central syslog server isn't an option, or for keeping a local config snapshot before a firmware upgrade.
- Low 35W Maximum Power Draw: At maximum 35W input power, the ACS8048DAC-400 has a minimal footprint on your PDU capacity. Running dual PSUs for redundancy doesn't mean doubling your power budget — the unit draws under 35W total, which matters when you're accounting for every watt on a high-density rack.
- 1U Form Factor (44.5mm Height): A 44.5mm profile confirms standard 1U rack height. Drops cleanly into any 19-inch rack without reconfiguring adjacent equipment, and at 48 ports in 1U the port density is among the highest in the console server segment.
Integration & Compatibility
The ACS8048DAC-400 integrates with LDAP, RADIUS, TACACS+, and Active Directory for centralized authentication — standard in enterprise environments where individual device credentials are a security liability. SSH and Telnet tunneling to serial targets are supported natively, and the web-based management interface allows multi-user concurrent sessions with role-based access control.
The dual-network-interface design supports deployment across segmented management networks: place one interface on an out-of-band VLAN and a second on a monitoring VLAN without additional switching hardware. The fiber SFP ports accommodate direct fiber plant connections in data centers where copper runs would exceed distance limits or where electromagnetic isolation is required. For cellular fallback, attach any compatible USB LTE router to one of the 8 USB 2.0 ports and configure the ACS platform to use it as a tertiary dial-out path.
This unit pairs naturally with Vertiv's ACS console server management software for centralized fleet management when deploying multiple ACS units across distributed sites. For broader network management deployments or alongside Vertiv infrastructure products, the ACS8048DAC-400 slots into an existing Vertiv ecosystem without integration friction. Buyers evaluating console servers for high-density serial access should also review the out-of-band management category for complementary appliances, and consult the PoE switch and network infrastructure pages for ancillary connectivity hardware.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How many serial ports does the ACS8048DAC-400 support?
A: The ACS8048DAC-400 provides 48 serial console ports in a 1U chassis, making it one of the highest-density console servers in the Vertiv Avocent ACS 8000 family.
Q: Does the ACS8048DAC-400 support cellular out-of-band access?
A: Yes. Cellular access is supported via an external USB cellular router connected to one of the unit's 8 USB 2.0 ports. No proprietary cellular module is required.
Q: What network interfaces does the ACS8048DAC-400 provide?
A: Four network interfaces total: 2x Gigabit Fiber SFP and 2x 10/100/1000Base-T copper Ethernet (RJ-45). This allows fiber-primary with copper fallback, or dual-network-segment deployment on separate management VLANs.
Q: Is the ACS8048DAC-400 rack-mountable?
A: Yes. The unit measures 44.5mm in height, confirming a standard 1U rack profile compatible with 19-inch equipment racks.
Q: What is the power draw of the ACS8048DAC-400?
A: Maximum input power is 35W. The unit ships with two AC power supplies for redundancy, but total draw stays under 35W — a modest PDU load for a 48-port management appliance.
Q: Does the ACS8048DAC-400 have local storage capability?
A: Yes. The unit includes one full-size SD card slot for local log storage, configuration backup, or firmware staging without dependence on a network-attached storage target.
The ACS8048DAC-400 is the unit I recommend when a customer needs maximum serial port density without stacking multiple smaller console servers across a rack. Forty-eight ports, 1U height, dual AC — that combination is hard to beat for a large IDF closet or a mid-size colocation cage where you want one management appliance covering an entire row of network gear. The 35W max draw is also worth noting: at that power ceiling, the dual-PSU redundancy comes essentially for free from a PDU capacity standpoint.
Technical Highlights:
- 4 Network Interfaces (2x SFP + 2x RJ-45): Having both fiber and copper uplinks on the same unit means you can run the management plane over fiber to a dedicated OOB switch while keeping a copper backup — no need to choose one or the other at purchase time.
- 8x USB 2.0 + Cellular via External Router: The USB ports are the key to cellular fallback. Pair the unit with a USB LTE router and you have a third management path that survives both primary and secondary Ethernet failures — exactly the scenario where out-of-band access proves its value.
- Dual Redundant AC Supplies at 35W Total: Two PSUs drawing under 35W combined means you can connect each supply to a separate PDU circuit without reserving significant power budget on either leg — practical for high-density environments where PDU headroom is always contested.
Deployment Considerations:
- Plan your cable management before installation: 48 serial connections plus 4 network cables plus up to 8 USB devices in 1U demands a structured approach — a rear cable management arm is strongly advisable.
- Cellular fallback requires a compatible external USB LTE router; the ACS8048DAC-400 does not include a built-in cellular modem, so budget for and pre-validate that hardware as part of your OOB design.
This unit is the right fit for enterprise data center rows, colocation cages, or distributed branch aggregation sites where a single 1U appliance needs to cover 48 serial devices with no single point of failure on power or network — and where cellular survivability is a hard design requirement, not a nice-to-have.
