Chapter2020 – SNMPManaging your network using SNMPimple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) enables management of the network.There are many software packages which provide a graphical interface and a graphical viewof the network and its devices. The graphical interface and view would not be possiblewithout SNMP. SNMP is thus the building block for network management.S SSnNMP conceptsNMP provides the protocol to extract the necessary information from aetworked device and display the information. The information is defined andstored in a Management Information Base (MIB). MIB is the “database” of thenetwork management information.jSNMP has evolved over the years (since 1988) using the RFC process. Several RFC’s today definethe SNMP standards. The most common standards for SNMP are SNMP v1 (the original versionof SNMP); SNMP v2 and more recently SNMP v3.SNMP is a poll based mechanism. SNMP manager polls the managed device for information anddisplay the information retrieved in text or graphical manner. Some definitions related to SNMPareCommunity string – A text string used to authenticate messages between a management stationand an SNMP v1/v2c engineSimple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) – A network management protocol thatprovides a means to monitor and control network devices, and to manage configurations,statistics collection, performance, and security.Simple Network Management Protocol Version 2c (SNMPv2c) – The second version ofSNMP, it supports centralized and distributed network management strategies, and includesimprovements in the Structure of Management Information (SMI), protocol operations,management architecture, and security239
