The oob-interface command executed in the context of a FastEthernet or VLAN interface defines the interface as an Out-of-Band Management interface. The Out-of-Band Management interface can be used to access the gateway using CLI, SNMP, and perform downloads or uploads. It is a dedicate management channel for device maintenance and provides separation between device management and user data. Having distinct channels isolates user and management/admin functions from data and allows more targeted auditing practices to be implemented to detect insider threats.
Note:
The Out-of-Band Management interface must be different from the PMI or PMI6 interface.
An IP address must be defined on the interface before you can configure it as Out-of-Band Management. You must also perform a reboot after configuring Out-of-Band Management.