help w/ remote access to Lab

shmish

Hi,
I have a home router (trendnet TEW-633GR) for my home network. My PC and laptop connect to the trendnet, as does my cisco 2610. I can telnet into the 2610 from either the pc or laptop. However, I cannot telnet into the 2610 when I'm away from home. I've forward port 23 to the router's IP address but that doesn't seem to work. I'm maybe 1/2 through the icnd1 content so perhaps there are crucial concepts that I haven't covered yet that can solve this issue for me.

Secondly, one thing that I haven't got my head around yet is how I will eventually set up my home lab (2610, 2610xm, 2x2950). I guess the idea is that a person configures the equipment in a couple of different ways to try different things out. But on a more basic level, I haven't yet come across the main concept on how I would access various lab equipment by using 1 PC. For example, right now I have this: trendnet -> 2610 -> 2950. The only way I know how to access the 2950 is by unplugging my console cable from the 2610 and plugging it into the 2950. I wouldn't mind a brief explanation on how else this is done (just something to point me in the right direction).

Expanding on the above, is this what an access server does? Does an AS connect to each piece of equip, and a PC connects to the AS?

thanks!

phantasm

Can you configure a VPN on your router? If so, do that and then you should be able to telnet after you've authenticated on your router.

The access-server allows you to connect to multiple cisco devices from one central device. There are a few ways to go about. You can either buy a 2509 (8 async lines) or a 2511 (16 async lines). Or you could buy a 2600 series router and an NM-16AS or NM-32AS network module that would provide you with the async lines.

In the diagram below, I chose to purchase a 2610 and an NM-16AS for my access server. It suites my needs quite well.

kalebksp

shmish wrote: »

Hi,
I can telnet into the 2610 from either the pc or laptop. However, I cannot telnet into the 2610 when I'm away from home. I've forward port 23 to the router's IP address but that doesn't seem to work.

Couple things to check. First, your routers need a default route (basically a default gateway), use the command "ip route 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 [trendnet router ip address]" on each one. Second, make sure that your trendnet router's firewall is not blocking port 23. Some SOHO routers configure port forwarding and the firewall separately, some don't.

kevin31

phantasm wrote: »

Can you configure a VPN on your router? If so, do that and then you should be able to telnet after you've authenticated on your router.

The access-server allows you to connect to multiple cisco devices from one central device. There are a few ways to go about. You can either buy a 2509 (8 async lines) or a 2511 (16 async lines). Or you could buy a 2600 series router and an NM-16AS or NM-32AS network module that would provide you with the async lines.

In the diagram below, I chose to purchase a 2610 and an NM-16AS for my access server. It suites my needs quite well.

"2509 or 2511 are defo the easy option setup takes about 5 minutes and you can pickone up for about £80. I use a 2509 on my 3 routers and 2 switches works well and for remote access setup a pc runnnig SSH server on to conect to your 2509

shmish

Thanks for the replies. Yes, I've thought about picking up a PIX for vpn at some point if I have the money (my router doesn't do vpn). As well, the 2509 looks good but again it will depend upon $$.

kalebksp, you're right about the default route. I'll learn about that in the next day or so. For now, I'm not sure why a default route is needed remotely but not when I'm on the local LAN (both situations have me using telnet via the trendnet router), but hopefully it'll all come clear to me soon.

cheers
s

rwwest7

shmish wrote: »

Thanks for the replies. Yes, I've thought about picking up a PIX for vpn at some point if I have the money (my router doesn't do vpn). As well, the 2509 looks good but again it will depend upon $$.

kalebksp, you're right about the default route. I'll learn about that in the next day or so. For now, I'm not sure why a default route is needed remotely but not when I'm on the local LAN (both situations have me using telnet via the trendnet router), but hopefully it'll all come clear to me soon.

cheers
s

It's needed so your router knows how to send data back your direction. Otherwise your 2610 is getting a telnet session, saying OK, but then not knowing how to get the response to the network you're telneting from.