4. SNMP MANAGEMENT
The SNMP Protocol
SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) is a communication protocol designed specifically for the purpose of managing devices or other elements on a network. Network equipment commonly managed with SNMP includes hubs, switches, routers, and host computers. SNMP is typically used to configure these types of devices for proper operation in their network environment, as well as to monitor them to evaluate their performance and detect potential problems.
Managed entities supporting SNMP typically contain software, which runs locally on the device and is referred to as an agent. In Figure
Figure 4-1. VH-2402S Switches Managed by an
SNMP Management Workstation
A defined set of variables, referred to as managed objects, is maintained by the agent and used to manage the device. These objects are defined in a Management Information Base (MIB) which allows for a standard presentation of the information controlled by the agent over the network.
The software used to access the information maintained by the SNMP agents across a network is referred to as the SNMP Manager, and typically runs on a workstation.
The SNMP manager software uses a MIB specification, equivalent to that which the agent maintains, to read and write objects controlled by the agent for purposes of configuring and monitoring the device. SNMP defines the format of the MIB specifications and the protocol used to access this information.
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