Terminologies used in SNMP

In Previous article, we have seen that what actually is SNMP.  In this article we will discuss on different terminologies used in SNMP.

(1) SNMP

• Application-layer protocol for managing TCP/IP based networks.
• Runs over UDP, which runs over IP

(2) NMS (Network Management Station)

• Device that pools SNMP agent for info (Client)

(3) SNMP Agent

• Device (e.g. Router) running software that understands SNMP language. You can imagine like a Server.

(4) MIB

• Database of info conforming to SMI.

(5) SMI (Structure of Management Information)

• Standard that defines how to create a MIB.

(6) Trap:

• Traps are like events. This is a way the SNMP agent pushes the information to client. Asynchronously, events can be fired to client from server (agent).

(7) Ports:

• The SNMP agent receives requests on UDP port 161. The manager may send requests from any available source port to port 161 in the agent. The agent response will be sent back to the source port on the manager. The manager receives notifications (Traps and InformRequests) on port 162. The agent may generate notifications from any available port.

There are basically 5 commands supported by SNMP:

1. GetRequest, aka Get
2. GetNextRequest, aka GetNext
3. GetResponse, aka Response
4. SetRequest, aka Set
5. Trap

In next article, we will discuss that how to start the SNMP in Windows XP and Overview of MIB explorer.