CHAPTER
21-1
Cisco Systems IntelligentGigabit Ethernet Switch Modules for the IBM BladeCenter, Software Configuration Guide
24R9746
21
Configuring SNMP
This chapter describes how to configure the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) on your
Cisco Systems Intelligent Gigabit Ethernet Switch Module.
Note For complete syntax and usage information for the commands used in this chapter, see the switch
command reference for this release and to the Cisco IOS Configuration Fundamentals Command
Reference for Release 12.1.
This chapter consists of these sections:
•Understanding SNMP, page 21-1
•Configuring SNMP, page 21-5
•Displaying SNMP Status, page 21-15

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. The
agent and MIB reside on the switch. To configure SNMP on the switch, 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 into the 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 alerting 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 TCP connection, loss of connection to a neighbor, or other
significant events.
This section includes information about these topics:
•SNMP Versions, page 21-2
•SNMP Manager Functions, page 21-3
•SNMP Agent Functions, page 21-3
•SNMP Community Strings, page 21-4