ConX-SFP — Serial Console Server in SFP Form Factor

Q: "Does ConX-SFP require a VPN?"

"No. ConX-SFP uses DHCP on-site and connects outbound to the ConX Portal via TLS. No VPN, no inbound firewall rules."

Q: "What devices does it work with?"

"Anything with a spare 1G SFP slot and a serial console port — routers, switches, firewalls, PDUs, servers with RS-232, broadband gateways, and industrial equipment."

Q: "How many serial ports per unit?"

"One RS-232 port with a standard ethernet cable, or two RS-232 ports using the breakout cable."

Q: "Can it work in air-gapped or classified environments?"

"Yes. Deploy the ConX Portal on-premises for a fully self-contained, internet-independent setup."

Q: "How does it compare to traditional console servers?"

"ConX-SFP eliminates rack space, power feeds, and long cable runs by fitting directly into existing SFP slots."

Q: "Is ConX-SFP a serial over IP device?"

"Yes. ConX-SFP converts RS-232 serial to Ethernet inside a standard 1G SFP module. It functions as an RS-232 to Ethernet converter with cloud or on-premises management."

ConX-SFP serial console server in SFP form factor

ConX-SFP Console Server

Two RS-232 serial console ports from any 1G SFP slot. Drop into your existing switches, routers, and firewalls — no rack space, no power feeds, no VPN.

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Form Factor: Standard 1G SFP
Serial Ports: One RS-232 port with standard ethernet cable, or two RS-232 ports using breakout cable
Network: 1G Ethernet, DHCP auto-config
Management: Local SSH or ConX Portal (cloud / on-prem)
Security: Outbound-only TLS, works through NAT/CGNAT
Compatibility: Cisco, Juniper, Arista, MikroTik, and more

How It Works

Insert

Slide ConX-SFP into any spare 1G SFP slot — it presents as a standard optic

Cable

Connect the RS-232 serial lead to your device's console port

Auto-Config

DHCP assigns an IP. ConX-SFP connects outbound to the ConX Portal via TLS

Connect

Launch a browser-based console session from anywhere via the portal

Day-2 Operations

Device dashboard See all deployed ConX-SFPs. Filter by site, group, or customer. One-click console access.

Vendor-agnostic workflow Same browser-based console for Cisco, Juniper, Arista, MikroTik, and more.

AI-powered analysis Console output captured, parsed by LLMs, with automated severity and recommendations.

Central visibility Searchable console logs across all your devices with event alerting.

Site Requirements

SFP slot Any spare 1G SFP cage on a gateway, router, switch, or firewall.

DHCP Standard IPv4 DHCP for address assignment. Static IP also supported.

Outbound connectivity Allow outbound from ConX-SFP to the portal. No inbound rules needed.

Console cabling RS-232 console port on target device. Breakout cable included.

Security & Control

Outbound-only access No inbound firewall rules. Works through NAT and CGNAT.

Tenant isolation Devices visible only within your ConX Portal tenant with role-based access.

Audit trail Every session logged — who accessed what, when, from where.

Air-gapped option On-premises portal for classified and sovereign environments.

Deployment Options

ConX Portal — Cloud

Hosted SaaS with browser-based remote console, serial log search, AI-powered analysis, alerting with webhooks, and device management. No infrastructure to manage.

Learn more →

ConX Portal — On-Premises

Same portal deployed on your infrastructure. For air-gapped, classified, or sovereign environments where data cannot leave your network.

Use Cases

Data Center OOB

Scale out-of-band console access across spine-leaf fabrics without consuming rack space or power. …

Central Visibility

Collect every console message at the edge, search and analyze centrally. AI-powered triage, …

Service Provider & Lab

Standardize serial console access for carriers, labs, and integration teams. Per-session audit logs, …

Industrial & OT

Secure serial console access for CNC machines, SCADA systems, power infrastructure, and industrial …

MSP & Remote Sites

Instant remote serial console access for MSP and enterprise networks. No VPNs, no truck rolls — …

Field & Military

Secure outbound-only serial console access for tactical networks, pop-up sites, and mobile …

Frequently Asked Questions

Does ConX-SFP require a VPN?

No. ConX-SFP uses DHCP on-site and connects outbound to the ConX Portal via TLS. No VPN, no inbound firewall rules. For environments that prohibit internet access, deploy the on-premises portal.

What devices does it work with?

Anything with a spare 1G SFP slot and a serial console port — routers, switches, firewalls, PDUs, servers with RS-232, broadband gateways, and industrial equipment. Works with Cisco, Juniper, Arista, MikroTik, Palo Alto, and more.

How many serial ports per unit?

One RS-232 port with a standard ethernet cable, or two RS-232 ports using the breakout cable. Each ConX-SFP unit is independent.

Can it work in air-gapped or classified environments?

Yes. Deploy the ConX Portal on-premises for a fully self-contained, internet-independent setup. Same features, fully local. ConX-SFP supports FIPS-ready cipher suites.

How does it compare to traditional console servers?

ConX-SFP eliminates rack space, power feeds, and long cable runs. See the detailed comparison.

Is ConX-SFP a serial over IP device?

Yes. ConX-SFP converts RS-232 serial to Ethernet (serial over IP) inside a standard 1G SFP module. It functions as an RS-232 to Ethernet converter with cloud or on-premises management — no external serial device server required.

Ready to get started?

ConX-SFP ships ready to go — DHCP auto-config, insert, cable, connect.

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