Terminal Server and Switched PDU Complete

Today marks the completion of both my rack switched PDU project and Terminal Server project. I installed an APC switched pdu to be able to remotely power on and off my lab successfully and tested using PPTP VPN via my Vyatta Internet Router. 

I also bought (from ebay), configured, and installed my new terminal server to replace the Ubuntu laptop that I was using with ser2net. The device I installed is a Cyclades ACS32 which is much more optimized as a terminal server. I have 32 ports (plenty of room for lab growth) to control all of my devices out-of-band in case of an issue or just in  case i want to wipe the config and start over again without directly connecting to each with my laptop. Pictures soon (maybe tomorrow)!

BTW I also made my own RJ45 M/M Rollover cables for the first time!

Projects Update 4-22-13

Hello,

Long time no post. I thought I would update everyone on my latest projects. So far, for the most part, my lab remains pretty much the same. Budgeting has been different with my move to another apartment and buying a new car. Anyway...

Earlier this evening, I FINALLY ordered a Switched Rack PDU to remotely power on and off my rack!

 

On top of that, some of my latest projects have included:

 (1. I configured a working Linux (CentOS) DNS server within vSphere 5.1
 (2. I am (still) configuring a Linux DHCP (Ubuntu 12.10) server VM
 (3. I configured a hierarchical Vyatta based OSPF network within vsphere 5.1
 (4. I MAY (pending more Wireless-N and Vyatta success stories) add a wireless interface to my Vyatta internet router and completely remove my current wireless bridge (Linksys EA2700) from my home network altogether. 

I am also thinking of replacing my current Ubuntu 12.10/ser2net terminal access server with a more practical embedded Linux-based 48-port Cyclades terminal access server. I just need to do a little more research on it. Stay tuned!


 
   

Maps and pictures coming soon!

Frame Relay Topology

Above is a closer look at my Frame Relay topology. Mr. John Bartram requested a closer look at my frame relay setup so I designed this map in Visio.

As you can see, the Frame Relay switch (the DCE - usually provided by Service Providers) provides the PVCs (Permanent Virtual Circuits) between each site location. HQ(DTE) uses DLCI 16 to communicate  to send traffic to Branch Office 1(DTE). The Frame Relay switch then routes the traffic to DLCI 17 to complete the transmission to Branch Office 1 and vice-versa. The same also occurs between HQ and Branch Office 2(DTE) with DLCIs 18 and 19.

At Layer 3, all routers are able to communicate via the EIGRP routing protocol. This setup is a relatively simple hub-and-spoke Frame Relay network. It's pretty easy to setup. Once I acquire more routers, I would like to experiment with Full Mesh (fully redundant interconnected) Frame Relay designs. In this design, if the HQ router fails, that entire WAN goes down from my understanding.

All connections were made using Cisco WIC-2Ts and Smart Serial (DCE/DTE) Cables.

Linux Access Server

This week I configured a Linux-based access server rather than purchasing a new router solely for that purpose. I recruited my wife's old HP Mini 1101 netbook she stopped using after she got her new 15" HP laptop. I wanted to configure a server that I could use to log into all devices out-of-band in the event of a layer 3 failure and for layer 2 only devices like frame-relay switches. Check out the specifications.

Server

• HP Mini 1101 (My wife's old netbook she no longer uses)
• 1GB RAM, Intel Atom, 160GB HDD
• Ubuntu 12.10 Server
• Openssh-Server (for remote server management)
• Xinetd Telnetd (for remote access to network equipment)
• Ser2net (server to network proxy)

*I disabled the default Ubuntu firewall for ease of use since I would be opening so many ports and because Linux based firewalls combined with SELinux seem to be a hassle at times. Plus my Vyatta Internet Router handles firewalling.

Console Hardware

• Sabrent 7-port USB Hub
• 7 RS232-Serial-to-USB Adapters
• 7 Cisco Console Cable

Port Mappings

• Access Server IP 192.168.1.141 (accessible over SSH or Tenet)
• Telnet 192.168.1.141:2000 (HQ Router)
• Telnet 192.168.1.141:2001 (HQ Switch 1)
• Telnet 192.168.1.141:2002 (HQ Switch 2)
• Telnet 192.168.1.141:2003 (HQ Access Switch)
• Telnet 192.168.1.141:2004 (Frame Relay Switch)
• Telnet 192.168.1.141:2005 (Branch Router 1)
• Telnet 192.168.1.141:2006 (Branch Router 2)

Pictures soon!

Lab Pics: New Frame Relay Switch

Here are some pictures of my newest edition to my lab --- primarily my new Cisco 2811 Frame Relay switch with three WIC2T interfaces (supporting a total of 6 Serial WAN connections). 
 

 

Inventory

Current Rack Inventory (Updated 2-11-13)

(1. Vyatta Router (Custom Build)
(2. Cisco 2951 (1 x WIC-2T)
(3. Cisco 2811 (3x WIC-2T)
(4. Cisco 2821 (1x WIC-2T - 1x T1 CSU/DSU WIC)
(5. Cisco 2821 (1x WIC-2T)
(6. Cisco 3750-48-TS
(7. Cisco 3750-48-TS
(8. Cisco 2960-TT-L

Wish List (Updated 2-11-13)

(1. Linux Access Server
(2. APC Remote PDU
(3. 1 x Cisco 2960-TT-L (2nd HQ Access Switch)
(4. 2x Cisco 2960-TT-L (BR1 and BR2 Access Switch)
(5. 1x Cisco 2821 (IPv6 Router w/ 6-to-4 Tunnel)
(6. 1x Cisco 2960-TT-L (IPv6 Access Switch)

New Projects (UPDATED)

(1. Linux-based Access Server (Starting)

(2. Remote PDU access --- for remote powering on and off lab. (Queue)