CHAPTER
22-1
Ethernet Card Software Feature and Configuration Guide, R7.2
January 2009
22
Configuring SNMP
This chapter describes how to configure the ML-Series card for operating with Simple Network
Management Protocol (SNMP).
Note For complete syntax and usage information for the commands used in this chapter, see the Cisco IOS
Configuration Fundamentals Command Reference, Release 12.2.
This chapter consists of these sections:
Understanding SNMP, page 22-1
Configuring SNMP, page 22-6
Displaying SNMP Status, page 22-14

Understanding SNMP

SNMP is an application-layer protocol that provides a message format for communication betwee n
managers and agents. The SNMP system consists of an SNMP manager, an SNMP agent, and a MIB.
The SNMP manager can be part of a network management system (NMS) such as CiscoWorks. To
configure SNMP, you define the relationship between the manager and the agent.
The SNMP agent contains MIB variables whose values the SNMP manager can request or change. A
manager can get a value from an agent or store a value in an agent. The agent gathers data from the MIB ,
the repository for information about device parameters and network data. The agent can also respond to
a manager’s requests to get or set data.
An agent can send unsolicited traps to the manager. Traps are messages that alert the SNMP manager to
a condition on the network. Traps can mean improper user authentication, restarts, link status (up or
down), MAC address tracking, closing of a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) connection, lo ss of
connection to a neighbor, or other significant events.
This section includes information about these topics:
SNMP on the ML-Series Card, page 22-2
SNMP Versions, page 22-3
SNMP Manager Functions, page 22-3
SNMP Agent Functions, page 22-4
SNMP Community Strings, page 22-4