Connecting Remotely to my CCNA Lab

Hello,

I have a basic Cisco lab setup for my CCNA Studies (3x 2600xm routers and 2x 3550 switches) .

Next month I will be traveling quite a bit and I'm looking for a way to connect to my lab remotely using my laptop. I really don't have a solid idea where to start: VPN, SSH, a 2511 Access Router, or maybe something else all together?

I'm hoping you guys can lend some ideas on how I can set this up.

Thanks in advance

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Comments

mgeorge

If I recall, 2500 and 1700's do not support SSH, such including your 2511 access server.

So if you with to secure your communications to your lab remotely then you'd have to setup a vpn then connect to the lab via telnet while vpn'd into a network.

Or you can buy a NM-16A and use a 2600 router with a security feature set to use ssh
(but this is VERY costly)

hope this helps

mikej412

mgeorge27 wrote:

setup a vpn then connect to the lab

This is what I'd suggest too.

Check out a 2509 as a less expensive option to the 2511. And also consider a remote power controller to remotely power up and/or reboot the hardware.

mobri09

Any awesome open source VPN software available?

dtlokee

Depending on how you're going to be connected, you may need to consider a solution that can traverse PAT, if there's going to be a NAT device in the path. IPSec and PAT don't typically work well together.

mwgood

You could also just plug your console cable into a PC and Access Server.

Remote into the PC, then pull up your terminal session.

Darthn3ss

ssh to a machine on your home network, and then from then telnet into the routers and switches.

Eco

mgeorge27 wrote:

vpn then connect to the lab via telnet

This was the direction I was looking at and one that seems the most practical. Thanks George

mikej412 wrote:

And also consider a remote power controller to remotely power up and/or reboot the hardware.

Wow, that's a really good idea. I'll have to look into getting one of these too. If I remember APC can do this with their rackmount UPS and a management card?

You guys are the best, thanks!

reeves122

I have been pondering the same scenario for a while now as well.
The VPN thing is a good idea actually. It would give me an excuse to set one up as I could use it for other purposes in the future...

What I was just going to do was use port bridging on my router that connects to the cable modem and then just connect via telnet.

I have four 2500 series routers so I'd implement it something like this:

Public port 30010 -> Internal IP 192.168.1.10:23
Public port 30011 -> Internal IP 192.168.1.11:23
Public port 30012 -> Internal IP 192.168.1.12:23
Public port 30013 -> Internal IP 192.168.1.13:23

Then again, you could do as already suggested and just open one telnet port and use that router to telnet to the other three. Bah, the VPN idea is ideal though.