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Configuring the Master Agent on UNIX
Configuring the Master Agent on UNIX
In order to use SNMP, you must configure the master agent by specifying
community strings and trap destinations.
Community Strings
A community string is a password that an SNMP agent uses for authorization.
A community string is a text string that an SNMP master agent uses for
authorization. Whenever a network management station sends a message, it
includes a community string. The agent receiving the message can then verify
whether the network management station is authorized to obtain information.
Community strings are not concealed when sent in SNMP packets; they are sent as
ASCII text.
To ensure that a network management station is authorized to obtain information,
the SNMP master agent compares the community string sent by the station to its
list of accepted community strings. If the community string is listed, the network
management station is authenticated.
Trap Destinations
An SNMP trap is a message the SNMP agent sends to a network management
station. For example, an SNMP agent might send a trap when a server goes down.
The SNMP agent must know the address of the network management station in
order to send traps. This address is called a trap destination.
Configuring the Master Agent using Netscape
Console
Netscape Console provides an easy way to work with SNMP parameters. You can
add, edit, and remove community strings and trap destinations from the
Administration Server management window. You can also set the SNMP
operations that a particular community string can request, as well as view any trap
destinations you have already configured.
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Managing Servers with Netscape Console • December 2001
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