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Chapter 6
SNMP Management
Overview
AT-3600 Series Repeaters contain an SNMP agent that enables the hub to
respond to interrogations from an SNMP Network Management Console
(NMC). The NMC consists of a workstation (MS-DOS
, UNIX
, etc.)
running an SNMP management application program. The NMC is the
Network Manager’s interface to the various SNMP-capable devices on the
network.
SNMP Commands
The SNMP command set consists of only three commands; GET, GET NEXT
and SET. These simple commands are executed against a lengthy list of
variables (or managed objects) within the AT-3600 Hub.
The command “GET” will retrieve a variables value; “GET NEXT” will
retrieve the next part of the variable or the next variable. These two
commands are read commands. The third command is a write command called
“SET.” SET will write a value into a hub variable, provided the variable is not
a read-only variable.
In addition, the agent can inform the stations of significant events via a TRAP
mechanism.
Management Information Base
The variables, or managed objects, are contained in the MIB. Each variable
(managed object) has a value, either numeric or string (text). These values
are stored in registers or accumulators in the hub. Many of these variables
are counters that track network performance, e.g., collisions or number of
packets. Other variables regulate hub configuration, e.g., “turn port X Off
Line” or “Enable Link Test function.”
