HP StorageWorks 2/140 FW 07.00.00/HAFM SW 08.06.00 McDATA E/OS SNMP Support Ma - Page 13

1 Introduction to SNMP Network management is a broad term, including workstation configuration, assignment of IP addresses, network design, architecture, network security, and topologies. All this can fall within the scope of a network manager. Any protocol for managing networks must allow virtually all network devices and systems to communicate statistics and status information to network management stations (network managers). This communication must be independent of the primary network transmission medium and impose little effect on the efficiency of the network. Network managers must be able to obtain status information from managed devices, and make changes in the way the managed devices handle network traffic. Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) is one way of meeting these requirements. SNMP Management SNMP is a mechanism for network management that is complete, but simple. It is designed on the manager/agent paradigm, with the agent residing in the managed device. Information is exchanged between agents (devices on the network being managed) and managers (devices on the network through which management is done). There are many possible transactions between agents and managers. These transactions vary widely with the different types of devices that can be managed. With so many varied requirements for reporting and management, the list of commands a manager must be Introduction to SNMP 1-1