
Configuring SNMP, BootP, and DHCP Services
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SNMP Overview
SNMP is a simple request/response protocol that communicates management
information between two types of SNMP software entities: SNMP applications
(also called SNMP managers) and SNMP agents.
SNMP applications contain manager software that runs on a network management
station (also known as an SNMP client), such as a PC or a workstation. The
manager software implements the protocols used to exchange data with SNMP
agents. SNMP applications issue queries to gather information about the status,
configuration, and performance of external network devices, called network
elements in SNMP terminology. Network elements contain an agent and perform
the network management function that the network management stations request.
The Nortel Networks Site Manager software is an example of a network
management station, and the Nortel Networks Backbone Node (BN
*
) router is an
example of a network element.
The SNMP agent is a software entity that responds to information and action
request messages (SNMP get and set requests) sent by a network management
station (your Site Manager workstation). The messages exchanged between
manager and router SNMP agents enable you to access and manage objects in an
active or inactive (stored) management information base (MIB) on a router.
The agents also send unsolicited reports (called traps) back to the network
management station when certain network activity occurs. An example of a trap is
an overload condition as defined by the packet load’s crossing some threshold.
You use the management station to configure, monitor, and receive trap messages
from other network devices configured as SNMP agents. The management station
can get and set objects in the agents and can receive traps from the agents. The
management station, therefore, has the capability to “manage” a number of
agents.
SNMP Messages
SNMP managers and network elements communicate with each other by sending
SNMP messages (Figure 2-1
).
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