Re: Port forwarding - can it be dangerous ?

justneedsomehel · 03-23-2009, 09:43 AM

I am looking for some help. I'm trying find a solution to this situation:

I am hiring reps who will work from home. I provide them a VOIP-ready Linksys phone. Training is done in person at my location. Before giving the phone to them I program a telephone number in it. (I know how to program each extension, get SIP settings from my VOIP service provider, etc)

They take it home, plug it in, works fine.

But, down the road. I may want to add an additional line (extensions 2 thru 4). OR they might quit. OR I might fire them.

I need to have access to the configuration page for that phone for each of those scenarios.

It's my understanding that they need to forward a port so I can gain access remotely (am I using the correct terminology?)

My questions are:

How easy is it for me to help them set up port forwarding from my remote location? (can I do it for them via WebX or GoToMeeting?)

Does it present an on-going danger to their computer to set that up and leave it set up? I want to be able to access that configuration page at any time. If they quit/get fired, the only way to ensure they don't answer calls from my customers is to get in there and remove the SIP settings in the extension configuration on that phone. I've checked with my VOIP service provider and I cannot go to the service provider and ask them to change the username and password for that phone line, so I must take action on that configuration page to have control when employment ends.

I don't want to teach/show the rep how to configure the phone themselves or I lose control. I have set up a password on the admin login so I am able to access the configuration page, but they are not.

Thanks in advance for your help. I can be reached via email for more in-depth discussion.

**johnwill** · 03-23-2009, 05:51 PM

Even though it appears you're having the same problem, please start a new thread when you have a new issue. It's very difficult to keep two problems straight and who's working on what in a single thread.

I've created a new thread for your issue here.

Note: You will need to post complete details of your configuration and your specific issue in this new thread for us to help you.

Thanks for your cooperation.

**bilbus** · 03-26-2009, 07:00 AM

you have a crappy voip phone, all of this stuff should be done on the sip gateway at the office.

All you should have to do is program the sip phone to talk to the gateway, and the gateway should be filling in the information on each phone.

**Jason09** · 03-28-2009, 08:43 AM

It can often depend on what port it is as to whether it would be very dangerous or not.

**bilbus** · 03-28-2009, 09:33 AM

It is not based on the port, its based on the service that is running on that port.

**Jason09** · 03-28-2009, 09:58 AM

Yeah, true.

03-23-2009, 09:43 AM	#1 (permalink)
justneedsomehel Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 1 OS: XP	Re: Port forwarding - can it be dangerous ? I am looking for some help. I'm trying find a solution to this situation: I am hiring reps who will work from home. I provide them a VOIP-ready Linksys phone. Training is done in person at my location. Before giving the phone to them I program a telephone number in it. (I know how to program each extension, get SIP settings from my VOIP service provider, etc) They take it home, plug it in, works fine. But, down the road. I may want to add an additional line (extensions 2 thru 4). OR they might quit. OR I might fire them. I need to have access to the configuration page for that phone for each of those scenarios. It's my understanding that they need to forward a port so I can gain access remotely (am I using the correct terminology?) My questions are: How easy is it for me to help them set up port forwarding from my remote location? (can I do it for them via WebX or GoToMeeting?) Does it present an on-going danger to their computer to set that up and leave it set up? I want to be able to access that configuration page at any time. If they quit/get fired, the only way to ensure they don't answer calls from my customers is to get in there and remove the SIP settings in the extension configuration on that phone. I've checked with my VOIP service provider and I cannot go to the service provider and ask them to change the username and password for that phone line, so I must take action on that configuration page to have control when employment ends. I don't want to teach/show the rep how to configure the phone themselves or I lose control. I have set up a password on the admin login so I am able to access the configuration page, but they are not. Thanks in advance for your help. I can be reached via email for more in-depth discussion. Last edited by justneedsomehel; 03-23-2009 at 09:48 AM.

03-23-2009, 05:51 PM	#2 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,727 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Re: Port forwarding - can it be dangerous ? Even though it appears you're having the same problem, please start a new thread when you have a new issue. It's very difficult to keep two problems straight and who's working on what in a single thread. I've created a new thread for your issue here. Note: You will need to post complete details of your configuration and your specific issue in this new thread for us to help you. Thanks for your cooperation. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

03-26-2009, 07:00 AM	#3 (permalink)
bilbus TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 949 OS: OS2 Warp	Re: Port forwarding - can it be dangerous ? you have a crappy voip phone, all of this stuff should be done on the sip gateway at the office. All you should have to do is program the sip phone to talk to the gateway, and the gateway should be filling in the information on each phone.

03-28-2009, 08:43 AM	#4 (permalink)
Jason09 Moderator, Games Team Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Near Washington, D.C. Posts: 2,348 OS: Windows XP Home Edition Service Pack 3 My System	Re: Port forwarding - can it be dangerous ? It can often depend on what port it is as to whether it would be very dangerous or not. __________________ Gaming troubleshooting steps. Real peace cannot be found in what happens in Washington, D.C. Only God can give true peace to people.

03-28-2009, 09:33 AM	#5 (permalink)
bilbus TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 949 OS: OS2 Warp	Re: Port forwarding - can it be dangerous ? It is not based on the port, its based on the service that is running on that port.

03-28-2009, 09:58 AM	#6 (permalink)
Jason09 Moderator, Games Team Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Near Washington, D.C. Posts: 2,348 OS: Windows XP Home Edition Service Pack 3 My System	Re: Port forwarding - can it be dangerous ? Yeah, true. __________________ Gaming troubleshooting steps. Real peace cannot be found in what happens in Washington, D.C. Only God can give true peace to people.