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In one of my data-center, I have 2 servers, a Windows Server 2008 Core, a Hyper-V host and a Windows Server 2008 standard, the Hyper-V manager. I can access the servers remotely using Logmein and no VPN is in place.I had to copy a large file from my office to the core server and decided to use PPTP VPN. Before I knew, the VPN was connected and Logmein kicked me out. I knew I had to disable the 'use default gateway on remote network' but it was too late to make the change.I could have disconnected the PPTP from the office LAN if I was in office or the firewall had remote management enabled.Anyways, I was able connect to the Server Core and ping the manager server, so I thought of setting up RDP from the core server. I copied the mstsc.exe and mstscax.dll to the server core and tried to run the executable file - no luck :( -  it failed to loadSo I tried to find a standalone RDP client that would allow connection to the server. Luckily I found ChrisControl, I copied the executable to the Server core and ran the application. It worked but I still could not connect to the server.On the Configuration tab, I saw the option to enter the path to the mstsc.exe file, I changed the settings to point to the location of the mstsc.exe file on the manager server and tried connecting again. It worked like a charm, I could see the server desktop and disconnect the VPN connection.

Here are the things to configure for accessing a router through Security Device Manager (SDM)3 things are mandatory to access a router from the SDM interface:1: Create user accounts2: enable HTTP / HTTP server3: Configure the HTTP server to use the LOCAL databaseHere are the commands to carry out the task mentioned above:1: In GLOBAL CONFIGURATION MODE enter the command:username privilege 15 secretThis command will create an user with the username you provide with the privilege level of 15 which is the highest level to manage a Cisco router and the encrypter password. For example:username meadmin privilege 15 password Cisc01232: Enable the HTTP / HTTPS serverip http server OR ip http secure-serverThis command will enable the HTTP server on the Cisco router. This is required as the SDM manages the Cisco router on HTTP/HTTPS protocol. The first command will enable an HTTP server and the second, as it suggest, will enable the secure HTTP server. It is advisable to configure the HTTPS server3: Configure the HTTP server to use LOCAL databaseip http authentication localThis command ensures that the users need to enter the username and password whenever they try to login to the router on the HTTP port . This also helps in keeping track of what changes were done by a particular user on the router.