# Cisco IOS

## About This Document

This guide details the steps necessary to connect Cisco appliances to the Epiphany Intelligence Platform.  The Epiphany Intelligence Platform leverages data from network appliances to provide greater visibility into the network exposure in your environment. 

## Overview

Cisco IOS configuration data can be collected securely via SSHv2 connections to the various appliances operating throughout a network.

Epiphany requires read-only access to Cisco appliances, which can be configured using creating user privileges. 

There are two options to this end; either method is acceptable: 

* **Option 1:** Create a new user, who is designated for use by Epiphany, and provide the user the proper privileges. 
* **Option 2:** Leverage an existing user and follow the steps to ensure the user has the correct privileges to collect all necessary data. 

### SSH Collection

Epiphany has the capability to extract network appliance information via Secure Shell Protocol (SSH). The SSH collectors will establish a SSHv2 session with the appliances and run the needed **show** commands for data collection. There is also a process for [**manual collection**](/technical-documentation/data-sources/cisco-ios/cisco-ios-manual-collection.md) of the network configurations.

## Version Compatibility

* **Epiphany Site Collector**: Epiphany Collector version 1.0 and later.
* **SSHv2.**

## Prerequisites

* [ ] Access to the Cisco IOS CLI.
* [ ] Ability to create a user, or access to an existing user with the read-only role.
* [ ]  If SSH collection is used, SSH access to network appliances by Epiphany on-prem collector.

## What is Needed for Integration <a href="#hlk85191078" id="hlk85191078"></a>

* [ ] A username with the read-only role and its password.&#x20;
* [ ] The IP address of the Cisco IOS appliance.

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