Let's start with how to configure SSH on a Cisco IOS router. This configuration process is also very similar on Cisco switches and firewalls.

For some reason my Cisco 2600 router sometimes refuses telnet connections. It becomes a real problem when I want to get in to change anything. I can fix it by power cycling it, but I was wondering ...

Instead, the accepted alternative to Telnet's lack of security is Secure Shell (SSH). Learn how to configure SSH on your Cisco router. David Davis has the details.