Tp-Link TL-SG3216 [175/236] Chapter 12 snmp

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Chapter 12 SNMP

¾ SNMP Overview

SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) has gained the most extensive application on the

UDP/IP networks. SNMP provides a management frame to monitor and maintain the network

devices. It is used for automatically managing the various network devices no matter the physical

differences of the devices. Currently, the most network management systems are based on SNMP.

SNMP is simply designed and convenient for use with no need of complex fulfillment procedures

and too much network resources. With SNMP function enabled, network administrators can easily

monitor the network performance, detect the malfunctions and configure the network devices. In

the meantime, they can locate faults promptly and implement the fault diagnosis, capacity planning

and report generating.

¾ SNMP Management Frame

SNMP management frame includes three network elements: SNMP Management Station, SNMP

Agent and MIB (Management Information Base).

SNMP Management Station: SNMP Management Station is the workstation for running the

SNMP client program, providing a friendly management interface for the administrator to manage

the most network devices conveniently.

SNMP Agent: Agent is the server software operated on network devices with the responsibility of

receiving and processing the request packets from SNMP Management Station. In the meanwhile,

Agent will inform the SNMP Management Station of the events whenever the device status

changes or the device encounters any abnormalities such as restarting the device.

MIB: MIB is the set of the managed objects. MIB defines a few attributes of the managed objects,

including the names, the access rights, and the data types. Every SNMP Agent has its own MIB.

The SNMP Management station can read/write the MIB objects based on its management right.

SNMP Management Station is the manager of SNMP network while SNMP Agent is the managed

object. The information between SNMP Management Station and SNMP Agent are exchanged

through SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol). The relationship among SNMP

Management Station, SNMP Agent and MIB is illustrated in the following figure.

Figure 12-1 Relationship among SNMP Network Elements

¾ SNMP Versions

This switch supports SNMP v3, and is compatible with SNMP 1 and SNMP v2c. The SNMP

versions adopted by SNMP Management Station and SNMP Agent should be the same.

Otherwise, SNMP Management Station and SNMP Agent can not communicate with each other

normally. You can select the management mode with proper security level according to your actual

application requirement.