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Using Outbound IP Connections for Remote Access

Using Outbound IP Connections for Remote Access. EXPO 2005 Chicago, IL. Presenter.

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Using Outbound IP Connections for Remote Access

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  1. Using Outbound IP Connections for Remote Access EXPO 2005 Chicago, IL

  2. Presenter • Jim Kokal is President/CEO and Co-Founder of Wavetrix, a leading product development company. He has over 18 years experience in developing, marketing, and selling communication and networking systems At Wavetrix, he has led the creation of Traversix Virtual Connectivity Network product to address the needs of customers in remote access market.. Prior to Wavetrix, he was the Director of Marketing at Broadband Gateways and at Blue Wave Systems (now Motorola) he successfully created and launched the Softband™ software radio product line. He holds an MBA from the University of California at Los Angeles, and a MSEE/BSEE from the University of Illinois. Virtual Connectivity Network

  3. Agenda • Objective • Remote Access Applications • Inbound Connection Oriented Architecture • Outbound Connection Oriented Architecture • Outbound Connection Systems • Summary/Questions

  4. Goals • Objective: • Enable remote access regardless of location • Motivation • Remote access offers enormous economic and service delivery benefits – better, faster, cheaper • Issues • Firewall(s)/Router(s) reconfiguration is very challenging when remote access is needed via the Internet • Especially true for third party deployments • Centralized administration of user access and privileges • Security is of paramount importance

  5. Networking Trends • Network complexity is growing • Security requirements are increasing • System integration is increasing within an organization, to customers, and to suppliers • Regulatory Issues • HIPAA, Sarbanes-Oxley, etc., add additional requirements • LAN • Old Paradigm: Inherently trusted user • New Paradigm: Inherently untrusted user • Treat an internal and external user identically

  6. Remote Access Applications • Status and Maintenance Checks • Diagnostics • Configuration and Administration • Software Upgrade • Log File Retrieval

  7. Remote Access Methodologies • LAN Based • Usually constrained to one physical site, no outside access • Inbound Connection via the Internet • Definition: Client originates a connection to the serial server • Requires Firewall(s)/Router(s) reconfiguration • Port Forwarding is the most common implementation • Outbound Connection via the Internet • Definition: Serial server originates connection to a known point • Gateway provides connection point

  8. Inbound Connection Systems • Client (i.e. PC) originates connection to the serial server • Telnet or Virtual Serial Port • Serial Server • Static IP address • Authenticates user (username/password) • Two Configurations • LAN vs. Internet • Internet connection requires advance provisioning

  9. LAN Based Access • Client (i.e. PC) originates connection to the serial server • Telnet or Virtual Serial Port • Serial Server • Static IP address − Authenticates user (username/password)

  10. LAN Based Issues • Security • Usually not encrypted • Encryption often based on pre-shared key • Username/Password • Located in the serial server • IP administration • Static IP address for the serial server • Within the same subnet, no additional configuration required • Outside the subnet requires routers/firewalls be reconfigured to establish a connection between the PC and the serial server

  11. Inbound Connection Architecture • User connects remotely using the Internet to serial server inside the firewall of an organization • Requires advance provisioning • Port Forwarding is the most common technology

  12. Port Forwarding Illustration • Web servers are the most common example

  13. Installation Issues • Provisioning IP address routing is resource intensive • They must be setup and tested • Maintained through upgrades/replacements • At a third party, time and politics drive the process • Username/password is in serial server • Must know IP address (and port number) of serial server • Multiple serial servers within a single facility require each to have their own port number

  14. Administrative Issues • Serial servers are individually managed • To reduce complexity, a single username/password is often used for all users • Serial server configuration information (IP address, port number) must be disseminated • Users must keep track of this information • Updates must sent whenever the information changes • Complexity grows dramatically as the size of deployment grows

  15. Outbound Connection Motivation • Outbound connections are generally permitted • Examples: Requesting a web page, retrieving e-mail • Requires no changes to the firewall or router • Mimics existing network processes • Traverses the firewall like other processes • Faster, simpler deployment • Reduces technician skill level requirements • Requires minimal “Networking” training

  16. Architectural Changes • Serial server needs a connection point • Client isn’t always there and is usually not visible from the Internet • Solution: Add a connectivity gateway • Moves the client connection from locally at the serial server, to the gateway on the Internet • Provides a central point for access control and privilege administration

  17. Outbound Connection Architecture • The gateway provides a central point for all connections • Serial server connects to the Gateway • Client Software connects to the Gateway • Gateway establishes a connection between them when instructed

  18. Outbound Connection Elements • Serial Server • Originates and maintains a constant connection to the connectivity gateway • Serial server can have a DHCP or Static IP address • Connectivity Gateway • Specific purpose appliance that resides on the Internet • Client • Creates a connection with connectivity gateway • Connectivity gateway authenticates and then connects the client to the requested serial server

  19. Enhanced Security • Bi-lateral Authentication • User • Individual username/password • Device • Can use very strong machine-to-machine techniques • Data Transfer • Encryption • Pre-shared or dynamic key exchange • Administration • Privileges/Access controlled individually

  20. Centralized Administration • Single point to control access to all serial servers • User privileges are individually defined and controlled • Enables a serial server to be shared across organizational boundaries • Inherently disseminates any changes to a serial servers configuration information

  21. Gateway Considerations • High reliability/availability • Mission criticality • Subscription or Hosted • Deployment size • Internal Operated vs. Host Facility • Facility capability • Power, Internet feed redundancy • Human resource requirements

  22. Summary • Outbound connections simplify remote access especially at third party facilities • Firewall traversal eliminates the need for reconfiguration • Central administration improves security and control

  23. Thank YouQuestions? Virtual Connectivity Network www,traversix.com

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