D-Link TM DES-6500, Manual

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DES-6500 Chassis-based Layer 3 Ethernet Switch Manual
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Section 8
SNMP Manager
SNMP Settings
Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) is an OSI Layer 7 (Application Layer) designed specifically for managing
and monitoring network devices. SNMP enables network management stations to read and modify the settings of
gateways, routers, switches, and other network devices. Use SNMP to configure system features for proper operation,
monitor performance and detect potential problems in the Switch, switch group or network.
Managed devices that support SNMP include software (referred to as an agent), which runs locally on the device. A
defined set of variables (managed objects) is maintained by the SNMP agent and used to manage the device. These objects
are defined in a Management Information Base (MIB), which provides a standard presentation of the information
controlled by the on-board SNMP agent. SNMP defines both the format of the MIB specifications and the protocol used to
access this information over the network.
The DES-6500 switch supports the SNMP versions 1, 2c, and 3. You can specify which version of the SNMP you want to
use to monitor and control the Switch. The three versions of SNMP vary in the level of security provided between the
management station and the network device.
In SNMP v.1 and v.2c, user authentication is accomplished using 'community strings', which function like passwords. The
remote user SNMP application and the Switch SNMP must use the same community string. SNMP packets from any
station that has not been authenticated are ignored (dropped).
The default community strings for the Switch used for SNMP v.1 and v.2c management access are:
public - Allows authorized management stations to retrieve MIB objects.
private - Allows authorized management stations to retrieve and modify MIB objects.
SNMPv3 uses a more sophisticated authentication process that is separated into two parts. The first part is to maintain a list
of users and their attributes that are allowed to act as SNMP managers. The second part describes what each user on that
list can do as an SNMP manager.
The Switch allows groups of users to be listed and configured with a shared set of privileges. The SNMP version may also
be set for a listed group of SNMP managers. Thus, you may create a group of SNMP managers that are allowed to view
read-only information or receive traps using SNMPv1 while assigning a higher level of security to another group, granting
read/write privileges using SNMPv3.
Using SNMPv3 individual users or groups of SNMP managers can be allowed to perform or be restricted from performing
specific SNMP management functions. The functions allowed or restricted are defined using the Object Identifier (OID)
associated with a specific MIB. An additional layer of security is available for SNMPv3 in that SNMP messages may be
encrypted. To read more about how to configure SNMPv3 settings for the Switch read the next section.
Traps
Traps are messages that alert network personnel of events that occur on the Switch. The events can be as serious as a
reboot (someone accidentally turned OFF the Switch), or less serious like a port status change. The Switch generates traps
and sends them to the trap recipient (or network manager). Typical traps include trap messages for Authentication Failure,
Topology Change and New Root.
MIBs
Management and counter information are stored by the Switch in the Management Information Base (MIB). The Switch
uses the standard MIB-II Management Information Base module. Consequently, values for MIB objects can be retrieved
from any SNMP-based network management software. In addition to the standard MIB-II, the Switch also supports its own
proprietary enterprise MIB as an extended Management Information Base. The proprietary MIB may also be retrieved by
specifying the MIB Object Identifier. MIB values can be either read-only or read-write.