Support FAQ

FAQ

Secure SSH connection

It is recommended that Users and Administrators use SSH as the security protocol when connecting to the Opengear console server, particularly when connecting over the Internet or other public network. SSH is an industry standard for establishing highly secure remote console and file transfer sessions between virtually all types of operating systems. More info on SSH

SSH will provide authenticated encrypted communications between the client program on the remote user and the console server - ensuring secure connectivity with the console server and with attached network and serial devices. The following SSH client programs are supported:

SDTConnector is a free SSH Java client that ships with each SD/CM4000
PuTTY is a complete (though not user friendly) freeware implementation of SSH for Win32 and UNIX platforms.
SSHTerm is a useful open source SSH communications package
SSH Tectia is leading end-to-end commercial communications security solution for the enterprise
Reflection for Secure IT (formerly F-Secure SSH) is another good commercial SSH-based security solution

Using PuTTY

PuTTY runs as an executable application without needing to be installed onto your system. To use PuTTY for an SSH terminal session from a Windows Client, you type a ‘Host Name (or IP address)’ and ‘TCP port’ number. In the case of the console server, the TCP port will be 3000 plus the physical serial port number (i.e. 3001 to 3048). Then select ‘SSH’ as the protocol. Click the ‘Open’ button. You may then receive a ‘Security Alert’ that the host’s key is not cached, you will need to choose ‘yes’ to continue. You will then be presented with the login prompt of the remote system connected to the serial port chosen on the console server. You can login as normal and use the host serial console screen. (The procedure to set up a Telnet session is similarly simple and the PuTTY Configuration screen (above) shows the connection set up to Telnet to Port 1 (2001) on a console server with an IP address of 192.168.0.1 )

Using SSHTerm

To use SSHTerm for an SSH terminal session from a Windows Client you simply Select the ‘File’ option and click on ‘New Connection’. A new dialog box will appear for your ‘Connection Profile’ where you can type in the host name or IP address (for the Opengear unit) and the TCP port that the SSH session will use. The TCP port will be 3000 plus the physical serial port number (i.e. 3001 to 3048). Then type in your user name and choose password authentication and click connect.

SSHterm