Introduction to SNMP

Ethernet communication modules support SNMP, the standard protocol for managing local area networks (LANs). SNMP defines exactly how a manager communicates with an agent. SNMP defines the format of:

  • requests that a manager sends to an agent

  • replies that the agent returns to the manager

An SNMP agent runs on:

  • Ethernet communication modules

  • CPUs with embedded Ethernet communications ports

SNMP and the NMS

A network management system (NMS) uses SNMP to monitor and control Ethernet architecture components for the rapid network diagnosis.

The NMS allows a network manager to execute these tasks:

  • Monitor and control network components.

  • Isolate troubles and find their causes.

  • Query devices, such as host computer(s), routers, switches, and bridges, to determine their statuses.

  • Obtain statistics about the networks to which they are attached.

NOTE: Network management systems are available from a variety of vendors.