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Introduction to SNMP
Network management is a broad term, including workstation
configuration, assignment of IP addresses, network design,
architecture, network security, and topologies. All this can fall within
the scope of a network manager.
Any protocol for managing networks must allow virtually all
network devices and systems to communicate statistics and status
information to network management stations (network managers).
This communication must be independent of the primary network
transmission medium and impose little effect on the efficiency of the
network. Network managers must be able to obtain status
information from managed devices, and make changes in the way the
managed devices handle network traffic. Simple Network
Management Protocol (SNMP) is one way of meeting these
requirements.
SNMP Management
SNMP is a mechanism for network management that is complete, but
simple. It is designed on the manager/agent paradigm, with the
agent residing in the managed device. Information is exchanged
between agents (devices on the network being managed) and
managers (devices on the network through which management is
done).
There are many possible transactions between agents and managers.
These transactions vary widely with the different types of devices
that can be managed. With so many varied requirements for
reporting and management, the list of commands a manager must be
Introduction to SNMP
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