How To Run SDM When There is Not Enough Flash Memory?

A web-based device management solution for Cisco IOS routers is called SDM (Security Device Manager). It has a number of features that emphasize management simplicity, common interfaces, interoperability, and security. The fact that it is integrated should be highlighted initially. Simply direct your browser to the router’s active IP address to access the HTML files and other formats that will be stored in the router’s flash memory. If SDM support is enabled, you will then be presented with a graphical user interface that is menu-driven and point-and-click in nature. 

• Features: It has a number of features that emphasize management simplicity, common interfaces, interoperability, and security. The fact that it is integrated should be highlighted initially. 
• Direction to the browser: Simply direct your browser to the router’s active IP address to access the HTML files and other formats that will be stored in the router’s flash memory. 
• SDM support: If SDM support is enabled, you will then be presented with a graphical user interface that is menu-driven and point-and-click in nature.
• Hides Complexity: It shields administrators from the complexity of commands and command-line interfaces, enabling a quicker deployment as well as simpler troubleshooting and monitoring. 
• Wizards: It is powered by wizards, which lets you construct entire configurations for particular functions by answering a few questions.
•  Tools: It will include tools for power administrators who need to edit ACLs, for the old ACLs, and for administrators who still rely on configuration elements and commands for more complex monitoring and troubleshooting.

Cisco Router and Security Device Manager

• A web-based device management solution for Cisco routers called Cisco Router and Security Device Manager (SDM) can increase network managers’ productivity, make router installations simpler, and assist in troubleshooting challenging network and VPN connectivity problems.
• On Cisco router models ranging from the Cisco 830 Series to the Cisco 7301, Cisco SDM is free to use and supports a broad range of Cisco IOS Software updates. All new integrated services routers from the Cisco 850 Series, Cisco 870 Series, 1800 Series, 2800 Series, and 3800 Series come preconfigured with it.
• This is how it seems. You merely direct your browser to a router’s active IP address using standard HTTP. You would employ HTTPS and rely on the secure sockets layer for secure management in order to provide confidentiality, integrity, and endpoint authentication. It has a dashboard-like interface on the home page. It will contain general information about the router, such as the model type, resources that are available, and the availability of features.
• Cisco SDM enables channel partners and network administrators to deploy Cisco routers for integrated services including dynamic routing, WAN access, WLAN, firewall, VPN, SSL VPN, IPS, and QoS more quickly and easily.

• In this illustration, the router serves as a firewall, a VPN, and other functions in addition to IP features. The dashboard includes specific elements and operations for both specialized security operations and general administration of interfaces and DHCP. 
• Although the router has firewall functionality, as can be shown in this case, it is either not configured or the firewall policies are dormant. The number of IPsec tunnels and active VPN clients that are currently connected to the router may also be seen in real-time.

Steps for Configuring Router to Support SDM

It is not sufficient to simply save the SDM files on flash; you must enable and set up access to the application on the router.

Steps:

1. Depending on whether you are providing confidentiality, you would need to enable the router as an HTTP or HTTPS server. It is possible to design rules that permit HTTP connections, but afterward, map the port to HTTPS and conduct an encrypted transaction, the necessary instructions are described here:

 !
ip http server
ip http secure-server
ip http authentication local
!

  2. User accounts must be made in the following step for SDM access. This username and password will be required when administrators connect using their browsers. The required privilege level for user accounts is 15, which is the maximum degree of privilege and has the same permissions as your privileged mode in the CLI. 

   3. When you type the command enable, keep in mind that you enter privileged mode. Lastly, activate privilege level 15 local login for SSH and Telnet.

SDM Startup Process:

1. You must direct your browser to an active IP address of the router because SDM functions as a Java applet in your browser. 
2. In the browser window, the Username and Password dialogue box and the SDM home page both appear. If you can access the account with permission level 15 and log in, the SDM JAVA applet will start downloading to your PC. 
3. Because SDM is a signed Java applet, your browser can issue a security alert. The options will vary depending on the browser you are using, but you can either accept the certificate for this session or always accept the certificate for any following sessions.

Run SDM without enough flash memory:

Following are the possibilities for running SDM when there is not enough flash memory:

1. If you want to run SDM from a different HTTP/FTP/TFTP server, use the “IP HTTP path” command.
2. By using the “boot system URL” command to load the iOS image from a remote place, you can free up space on the flash.
3. Modify the SDM files to make the program compatible with a remote HTTP/FTP/TFTP server.
4. To make the SDM package smaller, remove some files that are not necessary.
5. Utilize a tool like “service compress-config” to compress the contents of flash memory or an iOS image.
6. iOS’s main image is moved there after the ROM upgrade.