Ubuntu Linux replacement / alternative to Secure CRT

I used to be an avid user of Secure CRT in windows. I needed it for work purposes to mostly configuring Cisco Network equipment. Moving to Ubuntu had me trying all kinds of alternatives to replace CRT; like: running it in WINE, using normal ssh and telnet from the command line, and using clogin scripts.

I finally got a few Linux apps to work together that give me a similar experience I had using Windows Secure CRT. I decided to write this tutorial so I can refer back to it if I ever need to do this again, but want to share it with others as well. Try this - at your own risk.

My (personal) requirement

I needed this alternative to be able to do the following:
1- Telnet and SSH support
2- Tabs
3- Login scripts (where possible)
4- Shortcut keys (for repetitive typing tasks)
5- Search through output
6- Save output
7- Copy/Paste functionality
8- Saved login settings per device/server you want to access

Apps to install (using synaptic or your favorite installation method)

- Ubuntu
This resolves point 1 (telnet and ssh included in default Ubuntu Desktop install)

"man ssh" in a terminal if you want to see the available options, for example to change the default port number from 22 to something else, or changing the cypher from 3des to des (or any other setting).

I'm currently using Ubuntu Karmic Koala (9.10).

- Konsole (if you are using anything other than KDE)
This resolves points 2, 5, 6 and 7.

Just remember to change some of the settings in Konsole. Go to "Settings" > "Edit current profile...". I changed the Scrollback to unlimited on the Scrolling Tab. You can also change where the Tabs appear using the "Tabs" tab.

Copy/Paste work great using the mouse right click inside the Konsole terminal window. If you got very used to "Copy AND Paste" function Secure CRT had, then remember the mouse middle click function in Linux. If you highlight text in the terminal and then mouse middle click it does a Copy AND Paste function just like CRT had in its mouse right click menu.

The search function (Ctrl+Shift+F) is great - even highlights what you are searching for and it can do regular expressions.

- clogin / rancid
This resolves point 3

Login Scripts is a bit more tricky. It depends how you log in to devices in your environment. Initially I used clogin a lot. If you require a login password AND an enable password, (as is required on Cisco equipment) then this is the way to go.
Lately it is no longer a requirement for me on some devices as the username/password authentication (using TACACS) already puts the user in enable mode. So you will need to decide if you should use clogin or not. If you just want a simple ssh client (i.e. no enable password required) then clogin is not the way to go. See the next option.

If you need it, install it using synaptic. Search for the rancid and rancid-core packages.

The most important part of clogin is the .cloginrc file you must create in your home folder. When you then do a "clogin <network-device/server>" in a terminal it uses the login details in this file.

Here is some sample configs for this file: (more details can be obtained in the cloginrc man pages)

# Simple SSH login requiring enable password

add method my-router {ssh}
# the cyphertype can also be {3des} for example (the default I think)
add cyphertype my-router {des}
add user my-router my-username
add password my-router my-password {my-enable-password}

# Simple telnet login requiring enable password

add user *-router-* my-username
add password *-router-* my-password {my-enable-password}

In the last example you can see wild-cards (*) used in the hostname. So whenever a hostname has -router- in the name it will use these login details to connect. Also remember that the .cloginrc file must be in your home directory and should have 640 permission settings. In a terminal do the following after creating the file:

cd ~/
chmod 640 .cloginrc

clogin is also great for bash scripting; to log into a device and run certain commands. But that is beyond the scope of this tutorial.

- SSHMenu Applet
This resolves point 1, and some of point 8 (for SSH)

If you just want to SSH to the same devices regularly, then this client might be exactly what you need. Go here for the lowdown.

- Text Entry Shortcuts
This resolves point 4

Another feature CRT has that is often used is the shortcut keys to quickly enter text, for example your username. I used this tutorial to add this functionality in Ubuntu.

- Saving Login Settings per Device
This resolves point 8

CRT saved your logins in a folder format. The easiest way to achieve this in Ubuntu is to use a normal folder structure (in the file manager - nautilus). So create yourself all the folders you require, like "Core Routers" or "Switches", etc. Then create Desktop Launchers and move these Launchers to the correct folders once completed.

Let me give an example step-by-step:

1) Right click on the desktop and select "Create Folder"
2) Give the folder a name (e.g. Routers)
3) Right click on the desktop again and select "Create Launcher"
4) The Type must be "Application", the Name and Comment whatever you require (typically the hostname you are trying to connect to)
5) The Command must be one of the following depending on your requirement:

konsole --new-tab -e telnet <hostname/ip>
OR
konsole --new-tab -e ssh <username@host>
OR
konsole --new-tab -e clogin <hostname/ip>

6) Then move the created Launcher into the correct folder
7) Now you can just double-click whichever Launcher so you can access a specific device. The --new-tab argument allows the login to be opened in the same konsole window, but inside a new tab.

- Finally - The hosts file

If you want to use hostnames, but do not have a DNS server on your network, you can add the IP to hostname resolution in your local /etc/hosts file. You must be root to edit this file.

That is it. You should be able to forget you ever used Secure CRT ;-)
Let me know if this worked for you or not. If there are any other alternatives you are using then share with us all. And please let me know if you think something is not clear in this tutorial.

This was your life...

YouVersion - It's alive...

I use this website app called YouVersion for Bible reading. The nice thing (for me) is that I can keep notes while I am reading and tag scripture etc.

Recently they added the YouVersion Live feature. With this you can create "live" events and have the congregation, Bible study group, youth group etc. participate in the event by putting your Scripture references, polls, prayer requests, links and other features in your live event.

All they need is a internet enabled mobile device.

Below is a simple one I made.



Some additional places I tought you could use this is:
- pre-prepared sermons or talks so you can reference them if you suddenly need to give a talk.
- have your apologetics scriptures at hand in case of emergency ;-)

I hope to be using this a lot more for the Live Events feature, but not all congregation members have access to internet enabled mobile phones/devices...

So for now I will probably use it more for myself.

Ubuntu 9.10

09 09/09/09

WOW! On the 9th of the 9th (September) of the 9th (2009), it was the 9th one. My wife and I were married for 9 whole years... Cool hey!

Marriage is a wonderful thing. Anyone who says it is not, is not in it for the right reasons.

Found this over at: biblebell.org

The four main principles of marriage

Therefore...
* a man shall leave his father and his mother
* and shall cleave unto his wife
* and they shall be one flesh.
* And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.
Gen 2.24-25

As ordained by God, marriage is based on four main principles:

1) a man shall leave his father and mother

Severance
The husband must sever the parent-child bond and lead his own family. This doesn't mean he ignores or abandons his parents, but that he is no longer subordinate to them.

2) and shall cleave unto his wife

Permanence
Since permanence of the marriage bond is ordained by God, the question should not be, "What must we do to stay together?" Rather, it must be, "Since we WILL stay together, what must we do to keep our marriage as joyful as God intends?"

3) and they shall be one flesh

Unity
Marital unity resembles a pair of shears...
* Two people who are so joined that they can't be separated
* Sometimes moving in different directions
* Yet always cutting through anything that comes between them

4) And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed

Openness
Spouses must be open and honest in sharing with each other -- emotionally, spiritually, and physically. No shame. No secrets. No reservations.

Good advice if you ask me ;-)

Online Gaming Mag!

There is a new gaming mag on the block - and the best of all is that it is FREE!!!

Being an Open Source (that is FREE software for the non-geeks) fan, I LOVE FREE stuff... who does not ;-)

It is the 3rd edition already, but you can check all of them out online at www.gamecca.co.za. Pretty decent for a locally produced mag. And did I mention it is FREE!!!

Oh, and they published my really short mail to them in their second edition - check it out ;-)

Good food...

Had an awesome meal last night with the in-laws (out-laws ;-) last night at Fahrenheit Seafood & Grill (Edenvale).


The wife had their 18 big prawns special which, according to her, was great. And I had the 300g fillet stuffed with this feta cheese, jalapeno and peppadew "mengelmoes" which was stunning. I would drive out that way again for a meal like that.

Life is too short to eat rubbish ;-)

The Password Protector

Never worry about having your password stolen again!



For the paranoid, this medium security device will keep your confidential credentials secret (& your hands warm in winter!)



For those slightly more paranoid (or TOTALLY paranoid), perhaps the high security version will suffice?

Blatantly ripped from www.isgafrica.org/blog

Confed Cup, Bafana Bafana & Life

What a hectic last two weeks...

A change in work schedule (working shifts from 11am till 8pm) set my clock out so much I am still having difficulty getting up for work now ;-)

We were involved with the FIFA Confed Cup from a networking perspective. It was a bit of a intellectual shift for me as I have been focusing on network security the last few years and all of a sudden I was asked to help with the networking side of things again. I'm not complaining, was a good refresher for me, but it was a definite mind shift from what I normally do to what I used to do. But all in all it was good.

The whole event was quite successful and I learned a lot, especially customer interaction again. Something I have also not done for a while since I look more at internal networks normally.

All in all it was a good experience and I think the FIFA World Cup will be successfully hosted by South Africa.

Congrats to Bafana Bafana for exceeding most peoples expectations. I think they played pretty well. Personally - I think the best I have ever seen them play. They can only improve from here on. Good luck for next year.

Poverty & Prosperity

Been hectic at work the last few days - involved with the FIFA Confed Cup.

Got this in my inbox and thought I'd share - I think it is good ;-)

"You cannot legislate the poor into prosperity by legislating the wealthy out of prosperity.

What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving.

The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else.

When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that my dear friend, is the beginning of the end of any nation. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it."

- Adrian Rogers, 1931 -

What should Church realy look like?

"A lot of people think the church is three songs and a sermon. But if you want to have an impact on people, you've got to do it differently."
Craig Gross (AKA The Porn Pastor)

This quote from the Craig Gross, a pastor with an evangelical outreach ministry among the porn industry, really got my attention.

They started a ministry in Las Vegas without opening a church!!!

"A lot of people are bothered by the fact that we call ourselves a church when we don't have a storefront. But long gone are the days when we could expect people to come to our church just because we had a building and a cool band."

This made me wonder - do we perhaps put too much emphasis on the building and the happenings inside the building? Or, should it be more about what the people that meet at that building do in and around their community that should have the emphasis?

Check out this "Evangelism Message". It is another way of sharing the Gospel with someone. See where the emphasis is.



YES! Repentance and Trust in Jesus is the only way - but what is the result of your salvation? An outward manifestation of an inward experience. You want to DO stuff... Are YOU doing enough? Or ANYTHING at ALL?

Eish!

Its been a (busy) while...

To all my Blogger Fans... (silence, except for the sound of crickets ;-)

Had a hectically (is that a word) busy few days... Did 22 hours overtime in one weekend - eish!
Not normal for me, but with projects at work increasing - things are just gonna get more busy.

So, if I do not get to my blogging - that is unfortunately life... I will just have to learn to live with it ;-)

But in the times we are living in I think South Africa is a great place to have a job. I have a job and can even work overtime in these financially difficult times we are in. RSA has escaped most of the worldwide economic fallout, but there is still people suffering who has lost jobs or can not afford their bills anymore...

I'm currently using the www.lifechurch.tv material - "Life.Money.Hope - Biblical Advice in Difficult Times" as a teaching message during the giving part of our Sunday services.

Check it out if you have time...

Religion vs Lifestyle

"Religion is hanging around the cross, Christianity is hanging on the cross."
— Stephen Hill

I have always proclaimed Christianity should be a Lifestyle and NOT a Religion. This quote just so vividly reminded me of that again. "Christianity is hanging on the cross"... it is about sacrificing yourself for what you believe in.

This video "Penn Says: A Gift of a Bible" from YouTube was also an awesome eye opener for me AGAIN (I love how God repeats stuff until you get it).



If we are to have a Lifestyle of Christianity instead of a Religion - we MUST be reaching out to as many people as possible around us for the Kingdom of God. In every way in every circumstance we should be ready to share the Good News.

Are you sharing it as often as possible?

I was wondering whether it would be OK to start sharing the Gospel with those irritating Telemarketers, but initially felt it would be just a way for me to put them off from talking to me... Now I am wondering if it should not rather be an imperative to share it with them.

What are your thoughts on this?

it

I just finished reading this book called "it" by Craig Groeschel. Awesome read if you are a leader in ministry.

The entire book spoke to me, but the part that really messed me up was the second last chapter. Craig discusses your own spiritual walk with God and states that without a solid relationship of your own with God, you can not expect to do any great things for Him in your ministry. At least that is the way it spoke to me.

Now, the question is this - what changes do I have to make to get my relationship with God right? Other things have become more important than my relationship with God. Like the example Craig gives of how ministry (or the church) actually became more important to him than his relationship with God.

A second point that encouraged me was that it might take some time to get that back and right again.

So this is my decision: Read the Bible more for my own spiritual growth - rather than just preparing for ministry and sermons etc. And journal more, i.e. don't just read the Word, write down what God is telling/revealing to you.

I actually started this a few days ago, even before I read that chapter. But the fact that it will take me a while to get into it again was very encouraging.

What are your thoughts on how to increase (and improve) your relationship with God?

Wow

Wow, just had an awesome revelation (again) of how thankful we should be for what God has done for us through His Son Jesus Christ.

I watch these Way of the Master Youtube clips on sharing your faith. Watching this one just made me realise again that few so called "Christians" really even understand the Gospel message.



If we truly understand it, we MUST be extremely thankful for what Christ has done. It is not ANYTHING we have done, but completely a FREE gift from God. Just Repent and put your Trust in Jesus.

Ubuntu 9.04

I like FREE stuff - and nothing is more free and cooler (for a geek like me) than Linux.

Just installed the latest Ubuntu 9.04 and I must say - quite impressed. With the ext4 filesystem I cut my boot time with 12 seconds. Cool hey!

Very Geeky I know - but that's me ;-)

Voting - what a rush!

Hope you went voting yesterday? (If you are South African).

What a rush it was, between discovering lost ID books and getting photo's and temporary ID's and then standing in a queue for a while... quite fun ;-)

Never wanna do that again. Mental note to self - Get your ID book ready a day or two before the voting begins.

Anycase, made my X - hope you made yours.

Why a Personal Website and Blog?

So my Buddy and Pal (the only one following this blog at the time of writing ;-) asked me to explain my thoughts behind creating a personal website (http://www.frankharvie.za.net) and a personal blog (http://frankharvie.blogspot.net).

Another ex-colleague/bud wrote an article on how to obtain an absolutely free website (from the domain name to the hosting (http://www.mantidipo.co.za/freewebsite). I followed it, and while creating it decided to create a personal website. I did this just to check if the method worked, which it did.

Then later I stumbled on another article (as a result of an rss feed I follow - LifeChurch.tv Online Church blog). This article included a link to another article on which was a link to yet another article discussing personal branding (I know, I know, too much info ;-)

The bottom line was this - creating an online presence for yourself can assist when you are: impressing your friends, joining in on the online socializing revolution, job-hunting, doing online evangelism, or just simply establishing your brand.

You give people a URL (www.frankahrvie.za.net) and they can get a feel for who you are and what you are about. Your likes and dislikes. Your beliefs and un-beliefs. etc.

Bottom line: Chicks dig it! (as one of our Cisco instructors always used to say, not that I have to impress chicks - cause I am happily married ;-)

Hello World

Hi

This is my first ever blog posting... and what would a blog posting by a computer junky / trained programmer be without the classic basic program of...

"Hello World"

There we go - got that out of my system. Anycase, I will see what this blogging thing is all about and decide if I will continue in due course ;-)

See you around... I hope.

Check out my other sites in the meantime:

www.frankharvie.za.net
www.dare2dv8.co.za

Chiao