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What is a MIB
(Management
Information Base)?
Object names in this syntax are called object identifiers (object IDs, or OIDs), and
are a series of numbers that uniquely identifies an object to an SNMP agent.
A Management Information Base (MIB) provides a description for a set of network
objects. For example, if your organization wishes to develop an application and
you wish that application to be remotely managed, then the architects will create a
MIB. The MIB contains information, such as the variables that should be relayed to
the Manager, variable descriptions, or the value that each variable represents.
Each variable is assigned a unique identifier in SNMP that is called an object
identifier (OID). The OID is a unique ID. The format of OID is a sequence of
numbers including two roots for object identifiers (iso (.1) and ccit (.0)). Most object
identifiers start with .1.3.6.1 (where 1 = iso, 3 = org, 6 = dod, 1 = internet). From
internet, there are two branches, mgmt and private.
iso(1)
org(3)
dod(6)
internet(1)
mgmt(2)
private(4)
mib-2(1)
enterprise(1)
All standard MIBs reside under mgmt (.1.3.6.1.2). The distinction between the
standard and private MIBs is the control over the object definitions (that is, defining
the variables ). Standard MIBs are approved by the Internet Activities Board (IAB).
MIBs defined unilaterally by equipment and software vendors are initially defined
as private MIBs under private.enterprises. A branch within the private.enterprises
sub-tree is allocated to each vendor that registers for an enterprises OID. Q1 Labs
has the enterprise OID 20212. Therefore, all the variables defined for Q1 Labs are
included under .1.3.6.1.4.1.20212. (.iso.org.dod.internet.private.enterprise.Q1
Labs).
For example, if a company wished to develop a printer, they would need to
configure variables, such as, NoOfPapers or inkLevel. This would allow system
STRM SNMP Agent
What is a MIB (Management Information Base)?
Q1 Labs(20212)
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