FW 05.01.00 and SW 07.01.00 HP StorageWorks SNMP Reference for Directors and Edge Switches Reference Guide (AA-RQ7BD-TE, June 2003)

Introduction to SNMP
16 SNMP Reference for Directors and Edge Switches
SNMP Management
SNMP management 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 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 Director and Edge Switch configurations,
faults, performance, accounting, and security from remote SNMP management
stations.
SNMP Simplified
SNMP is the only protocol that is widely available from many vendors of
Transmission Control protocol/Internet protocol (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.