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6 user functions, User functions -7 – Cabletron Systems ELS10-26 User Manual

Page 17

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Introduction

1-7

1.6 USER FUNCTIONS

The SNMP primitives may be used to accomplish the following
functions:

• Obtain the ELS10-26’s current value of certain parameters - the

NMS uses the GetRequest or GetNextRequest PDU, and the
ELS10-26 responds with a GetResponse PDU. If the NMS issues
a GetRequest for an unsupported parameter, the ELS10-26 sends
a GetResponse with a noSuchName

ErrorStatus

1

. If the NMS

issues a GetNextRequest for an unsupported parameter, the
ELS10-26 skips to the next object.

• Change the ELS10-26’s value of certain parameters - the NMS

uses the SetRequest PDU, and the ELS10-26 responds with a
GetResponse PDU. The ELS10-26 will change both its current
value and its local default to be used when the ELS10-26 reboots,
unless noted otherwise.

• Obtain the current value of certain parameters and

simultaneously change the value of other parameters - the NMS
uses the SetRequest PDU, and the ELS10-26 responds with a
GetResponse PDU. For the parameters which are being obtained
rather than changed, the NMS must use the ASN.1 NULL value
with the SetRequest PDU.

• Provide notification of significant events - the ELS10-26 uses the

Trap PDU and/or the GetResponse PDU. The NMS uses the
SetRequest PDU to control the frequency that the ELS10-26 may
send Trap PDUs.

1.

If implementing the parameter is required, it might seem more reasonable to

return a GetResponse with no error and the ASN.1 NULL value as the
parameter’s value; however, leading authorities such as Marshall T. Rose (author
of

The Simple Book

) suggest that noSuchName be returned, because many

existing SNMP management stations do not handle NULL values correctly.