Consolidated Platform Configuration Guide, Cisco Ios Release 15.2(4)E (Catalyst 2960-X Switches - Cisco Catalyst 2960 series Configuration Manual

Prerequisites for SNMP
• SNMPv2C replaces the Party-based Administrative and Security Framework of SNMPv2Classic with
the community-string-based Administrative Framework of SNMPv2C while retaining the bulk retrieval
and improved error handling of SNMPv2Classic. It has these features:
• SNMPv3—Version 3 of the SNMP is an interoperable standards-based protocol defined in RFCs 2273
to 2275. SNMPv3 provides secure access to devices by authenticating and encrypting packets over the
network and includes these security features:
Note To select encryption, enter the priv keyword.
Both SNMPv1 and SNMPv2C use a community-based form of security. The community of managers able to
access the agent's MIB is defined by an IP address access control list and password.
SNMPv2C includes a bulk retrieval function and more detailed error message reporting to management
stations. The bulk retrieval function retrieves tables and large quantities of information, minimizing the number
of round-trips required. The SNMPv2C improved error-handling includes expanded error codes that distinguish
different kinds of error conditions; these conditions are reported through a single error code in SNMPv1. Error
return codes in SNMPv2C report the error type.
SNMPv3 provides for both security models and security levels. A security model is an authentication strategy
set up for a user and the group within which the user resides. A security level is the permitted level of security
within a security model. A combination of the security level and the security model determine which security
method is used when handling an SNMP packet. Available security models are SNMPv1, SNMPv2C, and
SNMPv3.
The following table identifies characteristics and compares different combinations of security models and
levels:
Table 46: SNMP Security Models and Levels
Model
SNMPv1
SNMPv2C

Consolidated Platform Configuration Guide, Cisco IOS Release 15.2(4)E (Catalyst 2960-X Switches)

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◦SNMPv2—Version 2 of the Simple Network Management Protocol, a Draft Internet Standard,
defined in RFCs 1902 through 1907.
◦SNMPv2C—The community-string-based Administrative Framework for SNMPv2, an Experimental
Internet Protocol defined in RFC 1901.
◦Message integrity—Ensures that a packet was not tampered with in transit.
◦Authentication—Determines that the message is from a valid source.
◦Encryption—Mixes the contents of a package to prevent it from being read by an unauthorized
source.
Level
noAuthNoPriv
noAuthNoPriv
Authentication Encryption
Community string No
Community string No
Result
Uses a community
string match for
authentication.
Uses a community
string match for
authentication.