Which technology allows an administrator to remotely manage a fleet of servers?

The management plane is a crucial component of network and system administration, enabling an administrator to oversee, control, and configure network devices or servers remotely. Unlike general data traffic or user-access interfaces, the management plane specifically deals with tasks such as monitoring system performance, applying configuration changes, and executing management commands without the need for physical access to the devices.

Utilizing the management plane provides several advantages, including efficiency in handling numerous servers and reducing the need for on-site intervention. It also allows for a centralized approach to managing infrastructure, which is particularly beneficial in environments with a large scale of operations, such as cloud computing setups.

In contrast to the management plane, other technologies serve different functions. A KVM switch allows for direct keyboard, video, and mouse control of multiple servers, typically requiring physical proximity. A VPN concentrator primarily focuses on establishing secure virtual private network connections but does not inherently facilitate server management tasks. A bastion host serves as a secure gateway to access internal systems from an external network but does not encompass the broader scope of managing multiple servers directly from a management perspective.