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Cisco ONS 15454 DWDM Reference Manual, R8.5
78-18343-02
Chapter 15      Management Network Connectivity
15.2.7    Scenario 7: Provisioning the ONS 15454 Proxy Server
The ONS 15454 gateway setting performs the following tasks:
 • Isolates DCC IP traffic from Ethernet (craft port) traffic and accepts packets based on filtering rules. 
The filtering rules (see Table 15-3 on page 15-17 and Table 15-4 on page 15-17) depend on whether 
the packet arrives at the ONS 15454 DCC or TCC2/TCC2P Ethernet interface.
 • Processes Simple Network Time Protocol (SNTP) and Network Time Protocol (NTP) requests. 
ONS 15454 ENEs can derive time-of-day from an SNTP/NTP LAN server through the GNE 
ONS 15454.
 • Processes Simple Network Management Protocol version 1 (SNMPv1) traps. The GNE ONS 15454 
receives SNMPv1 traps from the ENE ONS 15454s and forwards or relays the traps to SNMPv1 trap 
destinations or ONS 15454 SNMP relay nodes.
The ONS 15454 proxy server is provisioned using the Enable proxy server on port check box on the 
Provisioning > Network > General tab. If checked, the ONS 15454 serves as a proxy for connections 
between CTC clients and ONS 15454s that are DCC-connected to the proxy ONS 15454. The CTC client 
establishes connections to DCC-connected nodes through the proxy node. The CTC client can connect 
to nodes that it cannot directly reach from the host on which it runs. If not selected, the node does not 
proxy for any CTC clients, although any established proxy connections continue until the CTC client 
exits. In addition, you can set the proxy server as an ENE or a GNE:
 • External Network Element (ENE)—If set as an ENE, the ONS 15454 neither installs nor advertises 
default or static routes that go through its Ethernet port. However, an ENE does install and advertise 
routes that go through the DCC. CTC computers can communicate with the ONS 15454 using the 
TCC2/TCC2P craft port, but they cannot communicate directly with any other DCC-connected 
ONS 15454. 
In addition, firewall is enabled, which means that the node prevents IP traffic from being routed 
between the DCC and the LAN port. The ONS 15454 can communicate with machines connected to 
the LAN port or connected through the DCC. However, the DCC-connected machines cannot 
communicate with the LAN-connected machines, and the LAN-connected machines cannot 
communicate with the DCC-connected machines. A CTC client using the LAN to connect to the 
firewall-enabled node can use the proxy capability to manage the DCC-connected nodes that would 
otherwise be unreachable. A CTC client connected to a DCC-connected node can only manage other 
DCC-connected nodes and the firewall itself. 
 • Gateway Network Element (GNE)—If set as a GNE, the CTC computer is visible to other 
DCC-connected nodes and firewall is enabled.
 • SOCKS Proxy-only—If Proxy-only is selected, firewall is not enabled. CTC can communicate with 
any other DCC-connected ONS 15454s. 
Note If you launch CTC against a node through a Network Address Translation (NAT) or Port Address 
Translation (PAT) router and that node does not have proxy enabled, your CTC session starts and initially 
appears to be fine. However CTC never receives alarm updates and disconnects and reconnects every two 
minutes. If the proxy is accidentally disabled, it is still possible to enable the proxy during a reconnect 
cycle and recover your ability to manage the node, even through a NAT/PAT firewall.
Note ENEs that belong to different private subnetworks do not need to have unique IP addresses. Two ENEs 
that are connected to different GNEs can have the same IP address. However, ENEs that connect to the 
same GNE must always have unique IP addresses.