Snmp Client - Planet ADN-4000 User Manual

3.6.3 SNMP Client

SNMP Pro tocol
The Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) is an application layer protocol that
facilit ates the exchange of management information between network devic es. It is part of
the Tr ansmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) protocol suite. SNMP enables
network administrators to manage network performance, find and solve network problems,
and plan for network growth.
Tw o versions of SNMP exist: SNMP version 1 (SNMPv1) and SNMP version 2 (SNMPv 2).
Both versions have a number of features in common, but SNMPv2 of fers enhancements,
such as additional protocol operations. Figure 1 illustrates a basic network managed by
SNMP.
Figure1: SNMP Facilitates the Exchange of Network Information between Devices
An SNMP-managed network consists of three key components: managed devices, agents,
and network-management systems (NMSs).
A managed device is a network node that contains an SNMP agent and that resides on a
managed network. Managed devices collect and store management information and mak e
this information available to NMSs using SNMP. Managed devices, sometimes called
network elements, can be routers and access servers, switches and bridges, hubs,
computer hosts, or printers.
An agent is a network-management software module that resides in a managed device. An
agent has local knowledge of management information and translates that information into
a form compatible with SNMP.
An NMS executes applications that monitor and control managed devices. NMSs provide
the bulk of the processing and memory resources required for network management. One
or more NMSs must exist on any managed network.
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