Building VPN to Brazil

Okay, so I tried to build a site-to-site VPN to our factory in Brazil. Sounds easy enough, right? They are using some kind of Aker Firewall. Since I’m not familiar with that firewall, I sent them a checklist of all the IPSec configurations I support. They sent it back, and we went to configuring.

Well, the VPN tunnel came up, but none of the traffic was coming through. Usually, when this happens, I’m thinking of an improper access-list or NAT issue. Since it looked good on my end, I started inquiring about the far end.

Turns out, they didn’t know what was wrong. So, a little frustrated, I figured I would try to figure it out. I asked them if I could gain control of their computer, and take a look at their firewall. Even though I don’t know the Aker, I hoped I could figure it out, since IPSec is IPSec.

Well, like an idiot… as soon as I get access to the computer, and look at the screen…. my mouth dropped. I’m not in Kansas anymore, Toto! It’s all in Portuguese. I’m such an idiot. Duhh…Aaron

Well, to make a long story short, I purchased a cheap ASA5505, configured it, and sent it to them for a quick turn-key solution.

I just can’t believe I assumed everything to be in English! I felt so ashamed to be so arrogant.

Technorati Tags: Brazil, foreign, Language, ipsec, vpn

Nashville Cisco Users Group

Being in the Nashville area for the last 18 months, I figured it was about time to start getting some social networking processes started in my industry.

I did some looking, and found the Cisco Nashville Users Group. So, I joined.  I haven’t been to a meeting yet, but March’s meeting sounds really interesting. See agenda below. I may joine the Java User Group as well, but haven’t decided if I can commit to that much time yet.

MARCH 2008 NCUG MEETING: The March 2008 NCUG meeting will occur on a THURSDAY! (gasp). This meeting will occur on Thursday March 13th 2008 from 5pm-7pm Central time. It will be hosted by AT&T and will be on the topic of 3G broadband aircards connected to Cisco routers. Dinner and a free AT&T Blackberry door prize will be provided by AT&T, and additional free book door prizes will be provided by Wiley and Cisco Press.

The title of the presentation is

"Cisco High Speed Wireless Interface Card and AT&T Network Services"

The agenda should be approximately as follows:

Dinner and Meet and Greet @ 5pm

Introductions and open discussion @ approx 5:30pm

Presenter	Title	Topic	Time
Gary Weatherford	AT&T Systems Engineer	GSM 3G Network Overview	15 minutes
Theresa Corballis	Cisco Systems	AT&T Service Creation Cisco High Speed Wireless Interface Card (HWIC)	30 minutes
H. Bryan Pettus, CCSP	AT&T Technical Network Consultant	Cisco HWIC-MPLS Case study	15 minutes

DIRECTIONS:

The AT&T Mobility Office in the Maryland Farms Complex in Brentwood, TN is located at 5310 Maryland Way, adjacent to the Tractor Supply Corporate HQ. The best contact number to provide is my cellular, 336-7087. Directions below:

From North of Downtown Nashville :

• I-65 South to Old Hickory Blvd. West
• Go approximately 2 miles west on Old Hickory Blvd. to Granny White Pike, turn Left going south on Granny White Pike.
• Go approximately 1/4 mile to the traffic light @ Maryland Way, turn Left going west on Maryland Way.
• Go approximately 1/4 mile and 5310 Maryland Way is on the left. Park on the Maryland Way side (south) parking lot.

From South of Brentwood TN :

• I-65 North to Old Hickory Blvd. West .
• Go approximately 2 miles west on Old Hickory Blvd. to Granny White Pike, turn Left going south on Granny White Pike.
• Go approximately 1/4 mile to the traffic light @ Maryland Way, turn Left going west on Maryland Way.
• Go approximately 1/4 mile and 5310 Maryland Way is on the left. Park on the Maryland Way side (south) parking lot.

Please let me know if you need anything else.

Thanks!

David L. Kessler, Mobility Applications Consultant

Business Markets Group - Global Channel

AT&T Mobility® 615-336-7087 david.kessler@att.com

http://www.wireless.att.com/home Data Support: (800) 331-0500

PLEASE RSVP to nashvillecisco@yahoo.com by Thursday March 6th 2008 one week out, because escorts are required in this building, and so that AT&T orders the right amount of dinner, and so that AT&T makes sure you have a seat at this Thursday March 13th 2008 event.

Thanks again, and if you are no longer interested in receiving invitations to our free dinner & learns, please send an email to nashvillecisco@yahoo.com with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject line. Take care…

Swearing at your co-workers? Good?

Rajan Sodhi found a very interesting story, where a UK study showed it could be beneficial to swear at work, in lueue of special circumstances.

I do agree with this. While, you probably won’t hear me cussing-out my boss, or swearing in front of my CFO anytime soon, there are some benefits to swearing to my colleagues.

I feel it expresses feelings much more so, than the socially-accepted words such as “Oh fooey”, or “Hooray”. Sometimes, I just want to say, “F*&! it, I’m tired of this sh*&!”. That seems to express my frustration more so than “Oh drat, I don’t think I can do this anymore”.

And generally, when feelings are expressed in a deeper fashion, social-networking dictates a special bond or camaraderie with another co-worker. Of course, I could just be full of ……… ((ahem))…….. nevermind.

Actually, when I first read the story, there was one person that came to mind, on top of anyone else on my list…. and it’s a pretty long list (I was in the Navy).  Anyone guess who???  hahahah

Cheers!

At the end of the day….

Another work day complete. Did I accomplish anything? Do I feel satisfied? Has anything happened today that allows me to walk away thinking… “ahhhh… another good day”.

Nope… just your normal, overwhelming day at work. I really need to get organized. My desk is a mess, paperwork is everywhere. I choose to work on creating a new VPN subnet and watching the OSPF updates, rather than completing Expense Reports. I’m burned out.

Tomorrow will be a better day. Yes, tomorrow is a good day to work on Procrastination……

Update: OSPF stands for Open Shortest Path First, and is a popular routing protocol, used to advertise networks (or lack thereof) to other routers. I mention this, in case I get comments to the effect of…. “Watching OSPF?? I don’t know what kind of sports it shows, but get back to work!……..<Administrator>, make sure to block OSPF on the internet!”

….. yeah, go ahead and block OSPF. That will go over reeealll welllll. Just make sure to tell me first, so I can call in sick……

Technorati Tags: life, work, feelings