Wikipedia
In computer networks, out-of-band management involves the use of a dedicated channel for managing network devices. This allows the network operator to establish trust boundaries in accessing the management function to apply it to network resources. It also can be used to ensure management connectivity (including the ability to determine the status of any network component) independent of the status of other in-band network components.
In computing, one form of out-of-band management is sometimes called lights-out …
Out-of-band management - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia