Alcatel Carrier Internetworking Solutions Omni Switch/Router - Manual (Page 321)

Page 13-1
13 SNMP (Simple Network
Management Protocol)
Introduction
Simple Network Management Protocol ( SNMP ) is an application layer protocol that allows
network devices to exchange management information. SNMP works by sending messages,
called protocol data units ( PDUs ), to network devices. Network administrators use SNMP to
monitor network performance and to solve network problems.
An SNMP -managed network is comprised of three fundamental parts: agents, managed
devices, and network management systems ( NMSs ). An agent, which resides within a
managed device (i.e., a switch), is responsible for translating its local knowledge of manage-
ment information into a form compatible with
SNMP . When certain defined asynchronous
events occur within a switch, the managed device sends traps, using the SNMP protocol , to a
designated NMS . The NMS then views and monitors the switch’s information through manage-
ment software applications such as HP Open View or X-Vision.
SNMP parameters and traps are configurable through the snmpc command. For more informa-
tion on this command, refer to Configuring SNMP Parameters and Traps on page 13-2. You
can view
SNMP statistics through the snmps command. For more information on this
command, refer to Viewing SNMP Statistics on page 13-8. Both of these commands are also
listed on the
Networking menu.