I am responsible for several Cisco routers that I have inherited from a predecessor. I understand about telnetting into the router and putting a cable into the console port to make changes. Is there another way to get remote access to the router or to make the connection to the router secure as to not expose any passwords in the open? — via the Internet
I am responsible for several Cisco routers that I have inherited from a predecessor. I understand about telnetting into the router and putting a cable into the console port to make changes. Is there another way to get remote access to the router or to make the connection to the router secure as to not expose any passwords in the open?
— via the Internet
You have a couple of options.
One way to remotely access the router would be to connect a dial-up modem to the router by way of a cable and the router’s AUX port. You’ll then have to input a couple of router commands to get the router to answer the phone when called (check the router documentation).
This method requires that you have a phone line nearby to connect to the modem so you can reach it when it can’t be reached over the network.
Another way would be to use telnet over Secure Shell (SSH). SSH uses an RSA-genarated key to encrypt the connections between you and the router to keep prying outs from seeing what you are doing.
Cisco has good documentation on their site to walk you through this process. SSH clients are available from several sources. SSH Communications Security offers a client. Network World Fusion’s SSH Downloads page offers some others.
