Chapter 36 Configuring Snmp Ifindex Persistence; Understanding Snmp Ifindex Persistence; Configuring Snmp Ifindex Persistence - Cisco 6500 Series Software Configuration Manual

Configuring SNMP IfIndex Persistence

This chapter describes how to configure the SNMP ifIndex persistence feature on Catalyst 6500 series
switches. Release 12.1(13)E and later releases support SNMP ifIndex persistence.
This chapter consists of these sections:
•
•
•

Understanding SNMP IfIndex Persistence

The SNMP ifIndex persistence feature provides an interface index (ifIndex) value that is retained and
used when the switch reboots. The ifIndex value is a unique identifying number associated with a
physical or logical interface.
There is no requirement in the relevant RFCs that the correspondence between particular ifIndex values
and their interfaces be maintained when the switch reboots, but many applications (for example, device
inventory, billing, and fault detection) require maintenance of this correspondence.
You can poll the switch at regular intervals to correlate the interfaces to the ifIndexes, but it is not
practical to poll constantly. The SNMP ifIndex persistence feature provides permanent ifIndex values,
which eliminates the need to poll interfaces.
The following definitions are based on RFC 2233, "The Interfaces Group MIB using SMIv2." The
following terms are values in the Interfaces MIB (IF-MIB):
•
•
•
Configuring SNMP IfIndex Persistence
These sections describe how to configure SNMP ifIndex persistence:
•
•
78-14099-04
Understanding SNMP IfIndex Persistence, page 36-1
Configuring SNMP IfIndex Persistence, page 36-1
Configuration Examples, page 36-3
ifIndex —A unique number (greater than zero) that identifies each interface for SNMP
identification of that interface.
ifName—The text-based name of the interface, for example, "ethernet 3/1."
ifDescr—A description of the interface. Recommended information for this description includes the
name of the manufacturer, the product name, and the version of the interface hardware and software.
Enabling and Disabling SNMP IfIndex Persistence Globally, page 36-2
Enabling and Disabling SNMP IfIndex Persistence on Specific Interfaces, page 36-2
Catalyst 6500 Series Switch Cisco IOS Software Configuration Guide—Release 12.1 E
C H A P T E R
(Optional)
36
(Optional)
36-1