Configuration Example, Switching

ProCurve – Secure Management

René Jorissen on February 17, 2015 0 Comments • Tags: #hp #management #procurve #secure

Managing networking components is possible via a web interface or via a command-line interface. It doesn’t matter which method you prefer, but it does matter that the connection should be secure. If you use telnet (cli) or http (web interface) the management traffic is send clear-text across the network.

I still notice that a lot of people use insecure communiction methods. It is preferred to use ssh (cli) or https (web interface) to manage your components. The commands below can be used with HP ProCurve components to enable ssh and https and disable telnet and http management protocols.(The key size depends on the type of component and firmware version used)

CLI

switch01(config)# crypto key generate ssh rsa bits 2048
switch01(config)# ip ssh
switch01(config)# no telnet-server

Web Interface

switch01(config)# crypto key generate cert rsa <1024|2048>
switch01(config)# crypto host-cert generate self-signed
Validity start date [02/16/2015]:
Validity end date   [02/16/2016]: 09/23/2320
Common name          [10.10.1.99]: switch01.booches.local
Organizational unit  [Dept Name]: ICT
Organization      [Company Name]: Booches
City or location          [City]: Bocholtz
State name               [State]: Limburg
Country code                [US]: NL
switch01(config)# web-management ssl
switch01(config)# no web-management plaintext

Next to using secure protocols, it is preferred to create unique credentials for every administrator. One way to create unique credentials is by configuring RADIUS / TACACS authentication. A common way is you configure RADIUS between the switch and the Active Directory. The following commands can be used to configure RADIUS on HP ProCurve switches.

switch01(config)# radius-server host 10.10.100.1 key <shared key>
switch01(config)# radius-server host 10.10.100.2 key <shared key>
switch01(config)# aaa authentication web login radius local
switch01(config)# aaa authentication web enable radius local
switch01(config)# aaa authentication ssh login radius local
switch01(config)# aaa authentication ssh enable radius local
switch01(config)# aaa authentication login privilege-mode

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René Jorissen

Co-owner and Solution Specialist at 4IP Solutions
René Jorissen works as Solution Specialist for 4IP in the Netherlands. Network Infrastructures are the primary focus. René works with equipment of multiple vendors, like Cisco, Aruba Networks, FortiNet, HP Networking, Juniper Networks, RSA SecurID, AeroHive, Microsoft and many more. René is Aruba Certified Edge Expert (ACEX #26), Aruba Certified Mobility Expert (ACMX #438), Aruba Certified ClearPass Expert (ACCX #725), Aruba Certified Design Expert (ACDX #760), CCNP R&S, FCNSP and Certified Ethical Hacker (CEF) certified. You can follow René on Twitter and LinkedIn.

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