Secure ASE Communication

Introduction

Using secure shell (SSH) between a configuration host and ASE and secure communication between TruView Central and ASE are intertwined.  This procedure shows how to setup secure communication.  Setting up SSH access is merely part of that process.  

 

Solution

Enabling secure communication between the ASE, PAC and TruView Central should be the same for all ASEs running firmware version 6.9 or higher. This procedure has been tested on ASE Series 1900 and Series 400.

• Connect to the ASE

Telnet (tcp/23) Serial port (8N1, 19200)

• Login to ASE 

Default credentials admin/visual

• Enter the security dialog and enter the settings as follows.

You can add Host Address Security at a later stage. Be prepared to set a <passcode>. For security reasons, this should be different from the login password.

CRT-DEV-ASE007> sec

Parameter	Value	Remarks
Security Level	Partial	-
SSL TCP Port	2359	This is the port for secure communication between ASE and TruView Central with the exception of Putty.  You may choose any port except tcp/22.
Change Management Passcode	Y	-
Enter Management Passcode	<passcode>	-
Change Host Address Security Table	None	Can be added later

Check the setttings and notice that the field Managent Passcode reads None. This is expected.

CRT-DEV-ASE007> sh sec

    Security Level:           Partial
    SSL TCP Port:             2359
    Management passcode:      None
    Pending passcode:         Ready
    Remote Console Protocol:  SSH
    Host Address Security:    Disabled

    Host Address Security Table: EMPTY

• Locate and run IPTool located on TruView Central.

IPTool is an unsupported utility for use by Fluke Networks technical support.

C:\Program Files (x86)\Fluke Networks\Visual Performance Manager Server\iptool.exe

• From IPTool fetch any command for appflows or voip data by entering the passcode you have chosen in the previous step.
• Click TFTP GET in the top left corner of the windows and enter the ASE's settings per this example.

• Click Go. The results you get are irellevant at this time. The procedure enables secure communication on the ASE.

• Run the security dialog again and notice the value of Management passcode has changed to Set. This confirms the TruView Central can communicate securely with the ASE and SSH access is granted.

CRT-DEV-ASE007> sh sec 
    Security Level:           Partial 
    SSL TCP Port:             2359 
    Management passcode:      Set  
    Pending passcode:         Ready
    Remote Console Protocol:  SSH 
    Host Address Security:    Disabled 

Host Address Security Table: EMPTY

At this stage, you may login to the ASE using SSH (tcp/22). Putty is located on TruView Central. Only Putty on TruView Central can be used to connect securely to the ASE.  In future releases this restriction will be lifted.

You can enhance security even further by enabling Host Address Security. Add a Host Address Security Table via the security dialog mentionned before.  Only hosts with an IP address that belongs to a network in the table will be able to access the ASE using SSH.  This has no effect on the ASE-to-TVC communication.