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VH-2402-L3 Management Guide
9033691-01
2. Switch Management Concepts
SNMP
The Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) is an
OSI layer 7 (the application layer) protocol for remotely
monitoring and configuring network devices. SNMP enables
network management stations to read and modify the
settings of gateways, routers, switches, and other network
devices. SNMP can be used to perform many of the same
functions as a directly connected console, or can be used
within an integrated network management software package
such as NetSight.
SNMP performs the following functions:
•
Sending and receiving SNMP packets through the IP
protocol.
•
Collecting information about the status and current
configuration of network devices.
•
Modifying the configuration of network devices.
The VH-2402-L3 has a software program called an ‘agent’
that processes SNMP requests, but the user program that
makes the requests and collects the responses runs on a
management station (a designated computer on the
network). The SNMP agent and the user program both use
the UDP/IP protocol to exchange packets.
Authentication
The authentication protocol ensures that both the router
SNMP agent and the remote user SNMP application
program discard packets from unauthorized users.
Authentication is accomplished using ‘community strings’,
which function like passwords. The remote user SNMP
application and the router SNMP must use the same
community string. SNMP community strings of up to 20