console (CON)

A console is the workstation from which control and monitoring tasks for electrical and electronic equipment, computer data input and output, and network control are performed.

A console can be a terminal with a keyboard, but also a personal computer with peripheral devices. In LANs, the console serves as the central network management facility for configuring, controlling and monitoring the entire Local Area Network. The person in charge, who has special access rights, is the system operator.

In the case of switching and private branch exchanges, this is the operator's place from which telephone calls are managed and switched. The console is addressed in the DOS operating system under the device unit CON.