Snmp Manager And Agent Communication - Cisco 11503 - CSS Content Services Switch Administration Manual

Chapter 5 Configuring Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP)

SNMP Manager and Agent Communication

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There are many different SNMP management applications, but they all perform
the same basic task: They allow SNMP managers to communicate with agents to
monitor, configure, and receive alerts from the network devices. You can use any
SNMP-compatible NMS to monitor and control a CSS.
There are several ways that the SNMP manager and the agent communicate.
The manager can:
•
Retrieve a value (a GET action).
–
The SNMP manager requests information from the agent, such as the
number of users logged on to the agent device, or the status of a critical
process on that device. The agent gets the value of the requested MIB
object and sends the value back to the manager.
Retrieve the value immediately after the variable you name (a
–
GET-NEXT action).
The SNMP manager retrieves values from within a MIB. Using the
get-next function, you do not need to know the exact MIB object instance
you are looking for; the SNMP manager takes the variable you name and
then uses a sequential search to find the desired variables.
Retrieve a number of values (a GET-BULK action).
–
The SNMP manager performs a number of get-next actions that you
specify.
Change a setting on the agent (a SET action).
–
The SNMP manager requests the agent to change the value of the MIB
object. For example, you could run a script or an application on a remote
device with a set action.
Cisco Content Services Switch Administration Guide
SNMP Overview
5-3