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June 2007

Using a Cisco Router as a DNS Server

Wed, 2007-06-06 02:36

The folks over at NIL have put together an excellent article on using a Cisco router as a central DNS server for your organization. They also include a new feature called DNS Views - it allows you to configure your Cisco router for split-DNS: giving private addresses to servers accessible to internal users but public addresses to anyone else asking from the Internet. Nice!!!
Click here for the full story.

Throttle Bandwidth Based on the Time of Day

Sun, 2007-06-24 11:32

Okay...thanks to good-ol Vonage, I've thought of a simple, yet brilliant (in my humble opinion)
method to throttle bandwidth based on the time of day. Here's the story:
I use Vonage VoIP lines for ALL of my phone lines at home - primarily
because I'm cheap, not because of the VoIP "cool factor." The problem? I
run a massive file server at home that holds every digital picture,
work project, video recording, etc... that I've ever done. Sure, I have a
local backup that runs, but I always think "what if the house burns
down?!?" so...I have an automated program that backs EVERYTHING up to a
remote FTP server anytime things change (add/deletes/etc.) on my file
server. The problem? I save so much stuff to the server, the FTP file
backup is always running and destroying my Vonage call quality
for my home phone. Here's how I fixed it:

Recovering Hidden PIX Pre-Shared Keys/Passwords

Tue, 2007-06-26 08:09

The latest Cisco TAC Newsletter had an interesting tip on recovering hidden pre-shared keys (which I've needed to do many times). So simple, it's brilliant :) here's the reprint:
There are times you will need to add configuration or make changes to a live PIX Firewall or ASA. It is common for the original pre-shared keys used in site-to-site VPNs to be mislaid or forgotten. For example, perhaps the previous manager has left the company. It is not possible to see a copy of the configuration with the keys viewable as they are hidden as ******. The answer is to save a copy of the configuration to a TFTP server. This file can then be viewed using any simple text document. It can also be used to re-configure the device back to its original state if necessary.
-Tony Holmes, Cistek Solutions Ltd, Cheltenham, Glos, England, UK



Dr. Radut