SSL VPN

Excitement is building for the beta version of Cisco Configuration Assistant version 2.2.

Two of the most interesting features center around the Cisco SPA525g phones introduced earlier this year.

SSL VPN CLIENT
In case you were wondering why Cisco re-introduced SSL VPN support in CCA 2.1 this is the reason why. 

Cisco is introducing a new beta firmware for these phones that has a built in SSL VPN client. 
That's right, using the built in SSL VPN features of the Uc500 and a supported phone with the new firmware you can have a remote teleworker without a Cisco ASA or Router at the remote site.  The remote phone will use one of the 10 VPN licenses that comes included with a UC500.  Cisco is also including a wizard in Cisco Configuration Assistant 2.2 to help setup this functionality.

There is one thing to note. When working as a SSL remote phone the switchport will not allow a laptop to piggyback on the connection.  I'm told this has to do with the horsepower of the phone when performing VPN functions.

Video Monitor
The Cisco SPA525G has something the "high end" Cisco 7970 series does not.  The ability to show MPEG-4 video.  It looks like with the beta firmware you will be able to hook up to 4 Cisco 2300 Series IP based video cameras per phone and be able to see live video.  An interesting note is that CCA may be using Bonjour networking from Apple to located devices on the network.

I'm hoping to get my hands on a copy of the beta by this weekend to do some serious feature testing.

There is a bunch more due out in CCA 2.2 but I thought I would start with this as a teaser :)

Ted