Understanding SNMP
Table 30-2
SNMP Operations (continued)
Operation
Description
2
get-bulk-request
Retrieves large blocks of data, such as multiple rows in a table, that would otherwise require the
transmission of many small blocks of data.
get-response
Replies to a get-request, get-next-request, and set-request sent by an NMS.
set-request
Stores a value in a specific variable.
trap
An unsolicited message sent by an SNMP agent to an SNMP manager when some event has occurred.
1. With this operation, an SNMP manager does not need to know the exact variable name. A sequential search is performed to find the needed variable from
within a table.
2. The get-bulk command only works with SNMPv2 or later.
SNMP Agent Functions
The SNMP agent responds to SNMP manager requests as follows:
•
•
The SNMP agent also sends unsolicited trap messages to notify an NMS that a significant event has
occurred on the agent. Examples of trap conditions include, but are not limited to, when a port or module
goes up or down, when spanning-tree topology changes occur, and when authentication failures occur.
SNMP Community Strings
SNMP community strings authenticate access to MIB objects and function as embedded passwords. In
order for the NMS to access the switch, the community string definitions on the NMS must match at least
one of the three community string definitions on the switch.
A community string can have one of these attributes:
•
•
•
Catalyst 2960 and 2960-S Switches Software Configuration Guide, Release 15.0(1)SE
30-4
Get a MIB variable—The SNMP agent begins this function in response to a request from the NMS.
The agent retrieves the value of the requested MIB variable and responds to the NMS with that value.
Set a MIB variable—The SNMP agent begins this function in response to a message from the NMS.
The SNMP agent changes the value of the MIB variable to the value requested by the NMS.
Read-only (RO)—Gives read access to authorized management stations to all objects in the MIB
except the community strings, but does not allow write access
Read-write (RW)—Gives read and write access to authorized management stations to all objects in
the MIB, but does not allow access to the community strings
When a cluster is created, the command switch manages the exchange of messages among member
switches and the SNMP application. The Network Assistant software appends the member switch
number (@esN, where N is the switch number) to the first configured RW and RO community strings
on the command switch and propagates them to the member switches. For more information, see
Chapter 6, "Clustering Switches"
on Cisco.com.
and see Getting Started with Cisco Network Assistant, available
Chapter 30
Configuring SNMP
OL-26520-01