console server using a modern 1U box

[Philip Brown]

have a look at xyplex 1600 console server, which is a standalone comm server accesed via a network.
you can the also run comserv on your bsd box which will the connect the 16 ports of the console server as directly connected serial ports giving you the use of ports as device files & tip etc. 

if i remember correctly I also used comserv with lantronix/perl console server as well.

comserv is in /usr/ports/comms/comserv