Cabletron Systems ESXMIM-F2 manual Management Agent, In-Band vs. Out-of-Band

Chapter 1: Introduction

1.4.1The Management Agent

The management agent is a process within the ESXMIM which collects statistical information (e.g., frames received, errors detected) about the managed network’s operational performance. Local Management communicates with the management agent for the purpose of viewing statistics or issuing management commands.

1.4.2In-Band vs. Out-of-Band

Network management systems are often classified as either in-band or out-of-band. In-band network management passes data along the same medium (cables, frequencies) used by all other stations on the network. An example of an in-band network management system is Cabletron Systems SPECTRUM.

Out-of-band network management passes data along a medium that is entirely separate from the network’s common data carrier, for example, a cable connection between a dumb terminal and the ESXMIM’s COM port. Cabletron Systems Local Management is an out-of-band network management system.

A device connected out-of-band to the management agent is not connected to the LAN. This type of connection allows you to communicate with a network device even when that device is unable to communicate through the network, for example, at the time of installation.

1.4.3Local vs. Remote Management

Network management applications are usually described as either local or remote management applications. Local management applications reside within the management device’s management agent. Remote management applications run within the circuits of another device that provides management services. This allows you to perform network management from a remote location.

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