RAD Data comm ASMI-450 operation manual Management Information Base, MIB Structure

SNMP Management

The Management Information Base

The management information base (MIB) includes a collection of managed objects. A managed object is defined as a parameter that can be managed, such as a performance statistics value.

The MIB includes the definitions of relevant managed objects. Various MIBs can be defined for various management purposes, types of equipment, etc.

An object's definition includes the range of values (also called “instances”) and the “access” rights:

Read-only Object value can be read, but cannot be set.

Read-writeObject value can be read or set.

Not accessible Object value cannot be read, nor set.

MIB Structure

The MIB has an inverted tree-like structure, with each definition of a managed object forming one leaf, located at the end of a branch of that tree. Each “leaf” in the MIB is reached by a unique path, therefore by numbering the branching points, starting with the top, each leaf can be uniquely defined by a sequence of numbers. The formal description of the managed objects and the MIB structure is provided in a special standardized format, called Abstract Syntax Notation 1 (ASN.1).

Since the general collection of MIBs can also be organized in a similar structure, under the supervision of the Internet Activities Board (IAB), any parameter included in a MIB that is recognized by the IAB is uniquely defined.

To provide the flexibility necessary in a global structure, MIBs are classified in various classes (branches), one of them being the experimental branch, and another the group of private (enterprise-specific) branch. Under the private enterprise-specific branch of MIBs, each enterprise (manufacturer) can be assigned a number, which is its enterprise number. The assigned number designates the top of an enterprise-specific sub-tree of non-standard MIBs. Within this context, RAD has been assigned the enterprise number 164. Therefore, enterprise MIBs published by RAD can be found under

1.3.6.1.4.1.164.

MIBs of general interest are published by the IAB in the form of a Request for Comment (RFC) document. In addition, MIBs are also often assigned informal names that reflect their primary purpose. Enterprise-specific MIBs are published and distributed by their originator, which is responsible for their contents.

MIBs Supported by the ASMi-450 SNMP Agent

The interpretation of the relevant MIBs is a function of the SNMP agent of each managed entity. The ASMi-450 SNMP agent supports the standard MIB-II RFC 1158.

ASMi-450 Installation and Operation Manual B-3