Cisco ASA 5505 Configuration Manual page 1650

Information about SNMP
The adaptive security appliance has an SNMP agent that notifies designated management stations if
events occur that are pre-defined to require a notification, for example, when a link in the network goes
up or down. The notification it sends includes an SNMP OID, which identifies itself to the management
stations. The adaptive security appliance SNMP agent also replies when a management station asks for
information.
Information About SNMP Terminology
Table 73-1
Table 73-1
Term
Agent
Browsing
Management
Information
Bases (MIBs)
Network
management
stations (NMSs)
Object identifier
(OID)
Trap
Information About MIBs and Traps
MIBs are either standard or enterprise-specific. Standard MIBs are created by the IETF and documented
in various RFCs. A trap reports significant events occurring on a network device, most often errors or
failures. SNMP traps are defined in either standard or enterprise-specific MIBs. Standard traps are
created by the IETF and documented in various RFCs. Standard traps are compiled into the adaptive
security appliance software.
If needed, you can also download RFCs, standard MIBs, and standard traps from the IETF website:
http://www.ietf.org/
Download Cisco MIBs and OIDs from the following location:
http://www.cisco.com/public/sw-center/netmgmt/cmtk/mibs.shtml
Cisco ASA 5500 Series Configuration Guide using ASDM
73-2
lists the terms that are commonly used when working with SNMP:
SNMP Terminology
Description
The SNMP server running on the adaptive security appliance. The agent responds
to requests for information and actions from the network management station. The
agent also controls access to its Management Information Base, the collection of
objects that the SNMP manager can view or change.
Monitoring the health of a device from the network management station by polling
required information from the SNMP agent on the device. This activity may include
issuing a series of GET-NEXT or GET-BULK requests of the MIB tree from the
network management station to determine values.
Standardized data structures for collecting information about packets, connections,
buffers, failovers, and so on. MIBs are defined by the product, protocols ,and
hardware standards used by most network devices. SNMP network management
stations can browse MIBs and request specific data or events be sent as they occur.
Some MIB data can be modified for administrative purposes.
The PCs or workstations set up to monitor SNMP events and manage devices, such
as the adaptive security appliance.
The system that identifies a device to its NMS and indicates to users the source of
information monitored and displayed.
Predefined events that generate a message from the SNMP agent to the NMS.
Events include alarm conditions such as linkup, linkdown, coldstart,
authentication, or syslog events.
Chapter 73 Configuring SNMP
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