How do you access the web console without Adobe Flash?

[RNHurt]

I help with the networking tasks for a small private school.  We have several 450e series switches (running EXOS version 15.3..5.2-patch1-19) and we can no longer access the web console due to its reliance on Adobe Flash.  These switches are several years old and we used to manage them by logging into the web interface.  However, no modern browser ships with Adobe Flash and in fact you can't even install it as a plug in.  I've tried several systems (Mac, PC, Chromebook, etc.) but none of them have Adobe Flash available.

How do you manage these older switches from the web GUI?  Is there some hidden flag to turn off the Adobe Flash requirement?  We upgraded to the latest firmware hoping that would correct the problem, but it didn't.  We still can't manage our switches effectively.

Thanx!
Richard

[RNHurt]

Fair enough.  :grin:   I guess our upgrade plan is to replace any failing switches with newer models.  :shrug:

I also use the CLI but I'm trying to give some non-technical people a view into the switches so the web GUI really helps.

[James_A]

The switches went end of support in 2018, so a firmware update is out of the question. The general policy is 5 years support post end-of-sale, and only 2 years firmware support. That is a bit short IMHO but certainly 8 years post end-of-sale is fair enough. You do have the option of using the CLI to configure the switches. I will admit I'm running some B3 switches which went end of sale 10 years ago, but I've only ever used the CLI and they work fine.

https://cloud.kapostcontent.net/pub/5e9ce2eb-f295-461f-8d03-63fdc7b42721/end-of-sale-announcement-for-summit-x250e-and-x450e-series-switches?kui=Q6P-HDY1wiTzyftiDQtPWA
https://www.extremenetworks.com/support/end-of-sale-and-end-of-support-products/

[RNHurt]

James A - thank you for the information on Firefox ESR.  It looks like that might be the solution I was looking for.

As for replacing working switches, is this something that is normal and expected in the Extreme community?  I would expect the opposite response.  One of the reasons to purchase expensive "professional" gear is to get long life and great support.  If I expected to replace my networking backbone every 5 years I think it would have been better to purchase some consumer TPLink or Netgear switches for 1/10 the cost of our current gear. 

In all, I'm very happy for your help, however I expected better support from Extreme.  I don't expect new features but I do think a firmware update to remove the Adobe Flash requirement is to not much to ask.

[James_A · Accepted solution]

Firefox 78 ESR can run Flash, you'll need to get the installer though. VMware has instructions on how to use mms.cfg to let it run on particular sites - input the address of your switches. https://kb.vmware.com/s/article/78589

You should really look at replacing the switches, they must be at least 8 years old now.