Q-Logic MKII-BASE16 user manual Simple Network Management Protocol, Polling-Only Data Collection

Managing the Switch Using SNMP

specific. The Ancor MKII Accounting MIB is an enterprise MIB.

The Simple Network Management Protocol

SNMP is a well-defined, public standard that is widely used by the Internet community. The SNMP was first developed to address router management issues on the Internet and was designed to be protocol-independent (so it can be used over IP, IPX, AppleTalk, OSI, and other transport protocols as necessary). SNMP is a set of protocols and specifications that provides a means of collecting network management information from nodes on the network. It also provides a means for the nodes to report problems and errors to the network management station.

SNMP was designed to allow network management station software to communicate with agents in the managed nodes. The communication may involve request messages from the management station, response messages from the agents, or error messages (alarms) generated from the agents to the management station. SNMP allows the administrator to remotely query existing variables from an SNMP-compliant node as well as set new values.

Data Collection Methods

There are several processes that network management stations and nodes use to communicate with each other. The procedures allow the management station to systematically request data as well as provide a method for nodes to transmit error messages to alert the management station about network problems. SNMP- compatible network components use the following data collection methods:

Polling-Only Data Collection

This method allows the management station total control of the communications. The management station queries the nodes for statistics and data transmission at regular, user-specified intervals. A disadvantage of this method is timeliness of information, particularly errors. Polling-only requires a regulated interval and node sequence for polls. Short intervals generate excessive, unnecessary traffic and long intervals in the wrong order can result in delayed notification of catastrophic events.

Figure 3-14 illustrates how an SNMP management station polls the managed node for information.

3-52Switch Management	GigWorks MkII-16 Switch Model MKII-BASE16
	59003-01 Rev. A	Installer's/User's Manual