Product Overview
Cisco IOS® SSL VPN is the first router-based solution offering Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) VPN remote-access connectivity integrated with industry-leading security and routing features on a converged data, voice, and wireless platform. SSL VPN is compelling; the security is transparent to the end user and easy for IT to administer.
With Cisco IOS SSL VPN, end users gain access securely from home or any Internet-enabled location such as wireless hotspots. Cisco IOS SSL VPN also enables companies to extend corporate network access to offshore partners and consultants, keeping corporate data protected all the while.
Cisco IOS SSL VPN in conjunction with the dynamically downloaded Cisco AnyConnect VPN Client provides remote users with full network access to virtually any corporate application. Cisco IOS SSL VPN features easy-to-use wizards that simplify deployment, and powerful tools to monitor and manage sessions in real time. Cisco IOS SSL VPN is a single-box VPN, security, and routing solution, unlike other vendor products that require multiple devices and management systems (Figure 1).
An integrated solution is easier to learn, deploy, provision, manage, and maintain, and has higher availability. This integrated solution has lower initial capital expenditure, lower deployment costs, and lower ongoing operational costs than competing multiple-device solutions.
Applications
Cisco IOS SSL VPN is useful for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) looking to extend remote access to employees and business partners. In addition, enterprises with a large number of small or medium-sized branches can use the Cisco IOS SSL VPN to combine remote access gateway capabilities with branch routers, thereby providing load-distribution functionality and redundancy to central-site VPN gateways. Figure 2 illustrates an application example for Cisco IOS SSL VPN.
Features and Benefits
● Advanced full-network access: The Cisco IOS SSL VPN solution offers extensive application support through its dynamically downloaded AnyConnect VPN Client, enabling network-layer connectivity to virtually any application.
● Ease of deployment and management: Intuitive, Web-based interface with wizards simplifies configuration. Advanced monitoring and management allow zero-touch remote endpoint management.
● SSL VPN gateway network integration: Advanced authentication and access-control features pinpoint who gains access to what; virtualization allows efficient segmentation into departments, customers, or other groups of users.
● Simple and cost-effective licensing: The simple licensing structure of Cisco IOS SSL VPN (no added licenses for special features), combined with the consolidated technology platform, provides customers with unparalleled cost savings and competitive per-user pricing.
Advanced Full-Network Access: Cisco AnyConnect VPN Client
With the Cisco AnyConnect VPN Client (Table 1), Cisco delivers a lightweight, centrally configured, easy-to-support SSL VPN tunneling client that allows access to virtually any application. The Cisco AnyConnect VPN Client can be loaded with any SSL-enabled browser and dynamically made available to the user in one of three methods: ActiveX, Java, or an .exe file.
Table 1. Cisco AnyConnect VPN Client: Features and Benefits
Feature |
Description and Benefit |
Universal Application Access |
This feature provides full client capabilities over SSL, including access to Cisco IP SoftPhone and voice-over-IP (VoIP) support, increasing remote-user productivity. |
Ease of Download and Installation |
● Dynamic download and multiple delivery methods help ensure transparent download and distribution with Java, ActiveX, or .exe.
● Small download size helps ensure rapid delivery.
● No reboot is required after installation.
|
Increased Security |
Client can be either removed at the end of a session or left permanently installed. |
Zero-Touch Remote Administration |
Central-site configuration provides integration, with no administration on the remote client side needed. |
Ease of Deployment and Management
Cisco Configuration Professional(CCP) provides advanced wizards to make it easy to configure Cisco IOS SSL VPN.
Group-based management features allow administrators to design security policies and authentication methods for each group, a feature that is essential when extending network resources to non-corporate-managed users and endpoints.
In addition, Cisco IOS CLI can also be used to configure and monitor SSL VPN, for users who prefer that option.
For medium-sized or large installations, Cisco Security Manager Version 3.1 or later provides enterprise-class scalable SSL VPN configuration on Cisco routers and adaptive security appliances.
SSL VPN Gateway Network Integration
The Cisco IOS SSL VPN service running on Cisco routers allows the integration of SSL VPN with IP services on the router.
Table 3 lists the primary network integration capabilities.
Table 2. Cisco IOS SSL VPN Gateway Network Integration
Feature |
Benefit |
User Authentication: RADIUS or Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting (AAA) Server |
|
Client Side Certification Authentication |
● Ability to authenticate the client based on PKI certificates
|
Network Access Control |
|
Multiple Contexts |
|
Virtual Route Forwarding (VRF) Awareness:
● VRF mapping
|
● Increased security by separating specific routes from global routing table
● Support for overlapping IP address pools
|
Simple and Cost-Effective Licensing
Cisco IOS SSL VPN is a licensed feature available on Cisco routers running the Cisco IOS Advanced Security feature set. Cisco Router Security bundles entitle you to a certain number of free users; beyond that, you need to purchase additional feature licenses. Table 4 specifies the number of free users and the maximum number of users supported on each platform.
Table 3. Number of Concurrent SSL VPN Users Supported per Platform
Platform |
Licenses Included with High Performance Security (HSEC) Bundles |
Maximum Number of Users |
|
Without Advanced Integration Module |
With Advanced Integration Module |
||
Cisco UC/SR500, 870, 880, and 890 Series Routers |
- |
10 users |
- |
Cisco 1800 and 1900 Fixed Routers |
- |
25 licensed users |
- |
Cisco 1841 and 2801 Routers |
10 free users |
- |
75 licensed users |
Cisco 1941 and 2901 Routers |
- |
75 licensed users |
N/A |
Cisco 2811 and 2821 Routers |
10 free users |
- |
100 licensed users |
Cisco 2911 and 2921 Routers |
- |
100 licensed users |
N/A |
Cisco 2851 Routers |
10 free users |
- |
150 licensed users |
Cisco 2951 Routers |
- |
150 licensed users |
N/A |
Cisco 3800 Series Routers |
25 free users |
- |
200 licensed users |
Cisco 3900 Series Routers |
- |
200 licensed users |
N/A |
The feature licenses are available in packs of 10, 25, or 100 simultaneous users directly from the Cisco.com configuration tool or through your Cisco partner or account team; Table 7 provides ordering information.
Product Specifications
Table 5 provides a listing of product specifications.
Table 4. Product Specifications
End-user operating systems supported |
Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Vista |
Browser Compatibility |
Netscape, Internet Explorer, Firefox, and Mozilla |
Protocols |
SSL 3.0 and 3.1; and Transparent LAN Services (TLS) 1.0 configuration and management |
Cypher Suites |
● SSL_RSA_WITH_RC4_128_MD5
● SSL_RSA_WITH_RC4_128_SHA
● SSL_RSA_WITH_DES_CSC_SHA
● SSL_RSA_WITH_3DES_EDE_CBC_SHA
● SSL_RSA_WITH_AES_128_SHA
● SSL_RSA_WITH_AES_256_SHA
|
Configuration Management |
Console command-line interface (CLI), HTTP, HTTPS, Telnet, Secure Shell (SSH) Protocol, and Cisco CCP |
Syslog Support |
Console display, external server, and internal buffer |
System Requirements
Table 6 lists the hardware and software requirements to install and use Cisco IOS SSL VPN.
Table 5. System Requirements
Hardware |
Cisco SR500, 870, 880, 890, 1800, 1900, 2800, 2900, 3800, 3900, 7200 Series and Cisco 7301 Routers |
Cisco IOS Software Release |
Cisco IOS 12.4(9)T or later recommended |
Cisco IOS Software Feature Set |
Advanced Security or higher |
Note: SSL VPN is supported in IOS Software. For hardware acceleration of IOS SSL VPN, a VPN AIM is required. This is supported on the Cisco 1841, 2800, and 3800 Series Integrated Services Routers
For SSL VPN Hardware Support on ISR G2 platforms, refer to the table below
Platform |
Software |
Onboard |
ISM |
8xx |
Y |
Y |
N |
1921 |
Y |
N |
N |
1941 |
Y |
N |
Y |
2901 |
Y |
N |
Y |
2911 |
Y |
N |
Y |
2921 |
Y |
N |
Y |
2951 |
Y |
Y |
Y |
3925 |
Y |
Y |
Y |
3945 |
Y |
Y |
Y |
3925E |
Y |
Y |
N |
3945E |
Y |
Y |
N |
Ordering Information
Tables 7 and 8 provide a list of feature license part numbers. Customers can add these to the configuration while ordering the router system. Features licenses are platform specific and are not interchangeable.
In addition, customers with existing Cisco integrated services routers can gain support for Cisco IOS SSL VPN through a software upgrade, by purchasing these feature licenses and upgrading their Cisco IOS Software feature set as applicable.
To place an order, visit the Cisco Ordering Home Page. To download software, visit the Cisco Software Center.
Table 6. Ordering Information for ISRs (870, 880, 1800, 2800, and 3800 Series Routers)
Product Name |
Part Number |
Feature License SSL VPN for Up to 10 Users (incremental) |
|
Feature License SSL VPN for Up to 25 Users (incremental) |
|
Feature License SSL VPN for Up to 100 Users (incremental) |
|
Feature License SSL VPN for Up to 10 Users (incremental) |
|
Feature License SSL VPN for Up to 25 Users (incremental) |
|
Feature License SSL VPN for Up to 100 Users (incremental) |
Table 7. Ordering Information for the ISRs Generation 2 (890, 1900, 2900, and 3900 Series Routers)
Product Name |
Part Number |
Feature License SSL VPN for Up to 10 Users (incremental) |
FL-SSLVPN10-K9 |
Feature License SSL VPN for Up to 25 Users (incremental) |
FL-SSLVPN25-K9 |
Feature License SSL VPN for Up to 100 Users (incremental) |
FL-SSLVPN100-K9 |
Feature License SSL VPN for Up to 10 Users (incremental) |
FL-SSLVPN10-K9= |
Feature License SSL VPN for Up to 25 Users (incremental) |
FL-SSLVPN25-K9= |
Feature License SSL VPN for Up to 100 Users (incremental) |
FL-SSLVPN100-K9= |
Note: Part numbers ending in “=” are spares and can be ordered independently of any other product(s).
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For More Information
Visit the Cisco Software Center to download Cisco IOS Software. Cisco IOS Software Release 12.4(9)T Advanced Security Image or later is recommended to install and use the Cisco IOS SSL VPN feature set.
For more information about Cisco IOS SSL VPN, visit http://www.cisco.com/go/iossslvpn, contact your local Cisco account representative, or send e-mail to ask-isr-tme@cisco.com.
Acknowledgement
This product includes software developed by the OpenSSL Project for use in the OpenSSL Toolkit.