HP StorageWorks 2/140 FW 07.00.00/HAFM SW 08.06.00 McDATA E/OS SNMP Support Ma - Page 14

Introduction to SNMP 1 SNMP Simplified SNMP Commands able to issue is overwhelming, and every new manageable device can increase the list. SNMP was created to allow all these things to be easily done on any growing network. SNMP operates on a simple fetch/store concept. With SNMP the available transactions between manager and agent are limited to a handful. The manager can request information from the agent or modify variables on the agent. The agent can respond to a request by sending information, or if enabled to do so, voluntarily notify the manager of a change of status on the agent (issue a trap). With SNMP, administrators can manage the switch configuration, faults, performance, accounting, and security from remote SNMP management stations. SNMP is the only network management protocol that is widely available from many vendors of TCP/IP networks and internetworks. SNMP: • Allows network management with a simple set of commands. • Allows new devices added to a network to be easily managed with minimal intervention. • Is adequate for many basic network management needs. • Is generalized for application to networks other than TCP/IP, such as IPX and OSI. • Provides considerable versatility for managing a great many types of devices. • Allows all networks to employ the same method for management. A manager requests information from an agent by sending a single command, the Get command. The Get command also has a variation (GetNextRequest) that permits more efficient operation: • GetRequest - Requests the value of a specified variable on the agent. This command is used to retrieve management data. • GetNextRequest - Requests the value of the next variable after the one specified in the command. This command is used to retrieve lists and tables of management data. 1-2 E/OS SNMP Support Manual