Netscape ENTREPRISE SERVER 6.0 - ADMINISTRATOR Administrator's Manual page 240

Understanding SNMP Messages
NMS-initiated Communication. The NMS either requests information from the
server or changes the value of a variable store in the server's MIB. For example:
The NMS sends a message to the Administration Server master agent. The
1.
message might be a request for data (a GET message) or an instruction to set a
variable in the MIB (a SET message).
The master agent forwards the message to the appropriate subagent.
2.
The subagent retrieves the data or changes the variable in the MIB.
3.
The subagent reports data or status to the master agent, and then the master
4.
agent forwards the message back (a GET message) to the NMS.
The NMS displays the data textually or graphically through its network
5.
management application.
Server-initiated Communication. The server subagent sends a message or "trap"
to the NMS when a significant event has occurred. For example:
The subagent informs the master agent that the server has stopped.
1.
The master agent sends a message or "trap" reporting the event to the NMS.
2.
The NMS displays the information textually or graphically through its network
3.
management application.
240 Netscape Enterprise Server Administrator's Guide • November 2001