Introduction
226
IPLink Software Configuration Guide
20 • SNMP configuration
Introduction
This chapter provides overview information about Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) and
describes the tasks used to configure those of its features supported by IPLink software.
This chapter includes the following sections:
•
Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP)
•
SNMP tools (see
page 228
)
•
SNMP configuration task list (see
page 228
)
•
Using the AdventNet SNMP utilities (see
page 234
)
•
Standard SNMP version 1 traps (see
page 237
)
Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP)
The Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) is an application-layer protocol that facilitates the
exchange of management information between network devices. It is part of the Transmission Control Proto-
col/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) suite. SNMP enables network administrators to manage network performance,
find and solve network problems, and plan for network growth.
Two versions of SNMP exist: SNMP version 1 (SNMPv1) and SNMP version 2 (SNMPv2). Both versions
have a number of features in common, but SNMPv2 offers enhancements, such as additional protocol opera-
tions. Standardization of yet another version of SNMP—SNMP version 3 (SNMPv3)—is pending. This chap-
ter provides general descriptions of the SNMP version 1 and 2 protocol operations. Be aware that the SNMP
agent running in IPLink software is SNMP version 1 (SNMPv1) compliant.
SNMP basic components
An SNMP managed network consists of three key components: managed devices, agents, and network-man-
agement systems (NMSs).
A managed device is a network node that contains an SNMP agent and resides on a managed network. Man-
aged devices collect and store management information and make this information available to NMSs using
SNMP. Managed devices, sometimes called network elements, can be routers and access servers, switches and
bridges, hubs, computer hosts, or printers.
An agent is a network-management software module that resides in a managed device. An agent has local
knowledge of management information and translates that information into a form compatible with SNMP.
An NMS executes applications that monitor and control managed devices. NMSs provide the bulk of the pro-
cessing and memory resources required for network management. One or more NMSs must exist on any man-
aged network.
SNMP basic commands
Managed devices are monitored and controlled using four basic SNMP commands:
read
,
write
,
trap
, and
tra-
versal
operations.
•
The
read
command is used by an NMS to monitor managed devices. The NMS examines different vari-
ables that are maintained by managed devices.