Short and complete guide to configure SSH on Cisco router and switch for secure remote connection. The Secure Shell (SSH) is a cryptographic network protocol for operating network services securely over an unsecured network. The best-known example application is for remote login to computer systems by users.
SSH provides a secure channel over an unsecured network in a client-server architecture, connecting an SSH client application with an SSH server. Common applications include remote command-line login and remote command execution, but any network service can be secured with SSH. The protocol specification distinguishes between two major versions, referred to as SSH-1 and SSH-2.
The typical use of SSH Protocol
If you want to change the key used by your ssh-agent, you must first start the service. The service will be disabled on Windows 10 by default. Search for Services and open the Services settings and look for the 'OpenSSH Authentication Agent' and Activate it: Now you will be able to access the ssh-agent from your console via ssh-agent. My Setup Environment SSH Client: 192.168.0.12 ( Fedora 21 ) SSH Remote Host: 192.168.0.11 ( CentOS 7 ) If you are dealing with a number of Linux remote servers, then SSH Password-less login is one of the best ways to automate tasks such as automatic backups with scripts, synchronization files using SCP, and remote command execution.
The protocol is used in corporate networks for:
- providing secure access for users and automated processes
- interactive and automated file transfers
- issuing remote commands
- managing network infrastructure and other mission-critical system components.
Although NAT solves the device-limit problem, it adds a layer of complexity to setting up a home computer to accept SSH connections. When a client machine sends a request to connect to the public IP address, your router does not know which of the devices on your private network the request is meant for. If you setup your ssh key with a password, you'll be prompted for it. Type the ssh key password and you'll be logged in. Disabling password authentication. What is OpenSSH? OpenSSH is an open-source utility developed by The OpenBSD Project. SSH stands for 'Secure SHell.' This service encrypts traffic on both ends, eliminating security risks from hackers or eavesdroppers. It can be used for remote operations like file transfers and offers key-based passwordless authentication. In this tutorial, we will demonstrate how to.
Configure SSH on Cisco Router or Switch
To configure SSH on Cisco router, you need to do:
- Enable SSH on Cisco router.
- Set Password for SSH.
- Force remote access to use SSH.
- Enable Password Encryption.
- Add domain name Server (DNS).
- Add Username and Password.
Let's enable and configure SSH on Cisco router or switch using the below packet tracer lab. The configure on a packet tracer lab and real Cisco devices are the same. Just try to learn and do it what the SSH remote authentication needs.
Download the packet tracer lab or create your own lab. SSH Configuration Packet Tracer Lab.
In this example, I just enable and configure SSH on SW1 and trying to access it from PC1. It's enough to learn how to configure SSH on Cisco router.
SSH provides a secure channel over an unsecured network in a client-server architecture, connecting an SSH client application with an SSH server. Common applications include remote command-line login and remote command execution, but any network service can be secured with SSH. The protocol specification distinguishes between two major versions, referred to as SSH-1 and SSH-2.
The typical use of SSH Protocol
If you want to change the key used by your ssh-agent, you must first start the service. The service will be disabled on Windows 10 by default. Search for Services and open the Services settings and look for the 'OpenSSH Authentication Agent' and Activate it: Now you will be able to access the ssh-agent from your console via ssh-agent. My Setup Environment SSH Client: 192.168.0.12 ( Fedora 21 ) SSH Remote Host: 192.168.0.11 ( CentOS 7 ) If you are dealing with a number of Linux remote servers, then SSH Password-less login is one of the best ways to automate tasks such as automatic backups with scripts, synchronization files using SCP, and remote command execution.
The protocol is used in corporate networks for:
- providing secure access for users and automated processes
- interactive and automated file transfers
- issuing remote commands
- managing network infrastructure and other mission-critical system components.
Although NAT solves the device-limit problem, it adds a layer of complexity to setting up a home computer to accept SSH connections. When a client machine sends a request to connect to the public IP address, your router does not know which of the devices on your private network the request is meant for. If you setup your ssh key with a password, you'll be prompted for it. Type the ssh key password and you'll be logged in. Disabling password authentication. What is OpenSSH? OpenSSH is an open-source utility developed by The OpenBSD Project. SSH stands for 'Secure SHell.' This service encrypts traffic on both ends, eliminating security risks from hackers or eavesdroppers. It can be used for remote operations like file transfers and offers key-based passwordless authentication. In this tutorial, we will demonstrate how to.
Configure SSH on Cisco Router or Switch
To configure SSH on Cisco router, you need to do:
- Enable SSH on Cisco router.
- Set Password for SSH.
- Force remote access to use SSH.
- Enable Password Encryption.
- Add domain name Server (DNS).
- Add Username and Password.
Let's enable and configure SSH on Cisco router or switch using the below packet tracer lab. The configure on a packet tracer lab and real Cisco devices are the same. Just try to learn and do it what the SSH remote authentication needs.
Download the packet tracer lab or create your own lab. SSH Configuration Packet Tracer Lab.
In this example, I just enable and configure SSH on SW1 and trying to access it from PC1. It's enough to learn how to configure SSH on Cisco router.
Setup Ssh Linux
That's all. Let's check the process one by one.
- I have set DNS domain name with 'IP domain-name' command.
- Then configure the router to use RSA key pair with modulus size of 1024 bites for remote service authentication with 'crypto key generate rsa' command.
- Add username 'Admin' with Password of 'Technig' for ssh authentication.
- Enabled ssh with 'line vty 0 4' command.
- Configure ssh to use local username and password with 'login local' command. Remember that you can set a username and password for ssh with 'username Admin password Technig' command as well. But here we configure ssh to use local username and password.
- Configure the router to accept only ssh connection with 'transport input ssh' command.
- Configure ssh to version 2 using 'IP ssh version 2' and set the authentication times to 3 with 'IP ssh authentication-retries 3' command.
- Finally set the ssh timeout to 120 seconds with 'IP ssh time-out 120' command.
Related Article:Install SSH on CentOS 8.x and Red Hat Linux
The final step is to test the connectivity of ssh from PC1 with 'ssh -l Admin 192.168.1.1' command for command prompt.
Ssh Setup
OK, the ssh works perfectly.
