SNMP is the common language of network monitoring–it is integrated into most network infrastructure devices today, and many network management tools include the ability to pull and receive SNMP information. SNMP extends network visibility into network-attached devices by providing data collection services useful to any administrator. These devices include switches and routers as well as servers and printers. The following information is designed to give the reader a general understanding of what SNMP is, the benefits of SNMP, and the proper usage of SNMP as part of a complete network monitoring and management solution.
SNMP is widely used to manage devices in a network. Its components typically include a manager and an agent. The SNMP agents run on each device which has to be managed and provide information regarding the devices. This information is hard to comprehend in its native form, and that's where MIB files come in. These files provide a structure to read the SNMP-related information sent out by agents for each particular device. SNMP Network Monitoring is a process to monitor network devices like firewalls, routers, UPS, Printers, Operating Systems, Application servers, Web Services, DNS and so on, that can communicate with the SNMP protocol.
SNMP is a standard application layer protocol (defined by RFC 1157) that allows a management station (the software that collects SNMP information) to poll agents running on network devices for specific pieces of information.What the agents report is dependent on the device. For example, if the agent is running on a server, it might report the server’s processor utilization and memory usage. If the agent is
running on a router, it could report statistics such as interface utilization, priority queue levels, congestion notifications, environmental factors (i.e. fans are running, heat is acceptable), and interface status.
All SNMP-compliant devices include a specific text file called a Management Information Base (MIB). A MIB is a collection of hierarchically organized information that defines what specific data can be collected from that particular device. SNMP is the protocol used to access the information on the device the MIB describes. MIB compilers convert these text-based MIB modules into a format usable by SNMP management stations.With this information, the SNMP management station queries the device using different commands to obtain device-specific information.
There are three principal commands that an SNMP management station uses to obtain information from an SNMP agent:
1. The get command collects statistics on SNMP devices.
2. The set command changes the values of variables stored within the device.
3. The trap command reports on unusual events that occur on the SNMP device.
The SNMP management console reviews and analyzes the different variables maintained by that device to report on device uptime, bandwidth utilization, and other network details.
Make no mistake-SNMP monitoring should be a part of any network management solution. But effective administration of enterprise networks requires more than SNMP management. Only a comprehensive network analyzer can deliver both in-depth analysis along with the ability to manage and view statistics from SNMP-
compliant devices. When selecting a network analyzer, choose a solution that provides full network coverage for multi-vendor hardware networks including a console for SNMP devices anywhere on your LAN or WAN. Also, look for a solution that includes a network mapping program that can help you visualize the network by
continually monitoring and displaying device and route statuses. In addition, the network analyzer should report information about services running on the primary devices. This information is important to an administrator of a single site, and invaluable to an administrator who is responsible for multiple sites. Often, the network mapping program is integrated with the SNMP management station, allowing the two systems to share information. This is accomplished by using the network mapping tool as a first step, SNMP as a high-level drill down, and finally a network analyzer for deeper level statistics and information.
A comprehensive network analyzer also includes a packet decoding and analysis tool. Providing the additional depth that SNMP management lacks, a network analyzer allows you to look beyond simple statistics into the actual frames being transmitted across the network. While network analyzers vary greatly in their feature sets some of the primary functions you should look for in addition to packet capture and decode is some form of Expert analysis for advanced problem identification and resolution, long-term reporting capabilities, and triggered notifications. These features can provide ongoing insight into the day-to-day operations of the
network, at a level beyond the scope of SNMP.
Our SNMP Monitor service implements SNMP protocol to monitor most devices that support SNMP. It can monitor network devices where SNMP agents are running. It uses MIB files that you have to provide for each device you wish to monitor and provides you with and easy-to-use tree structure from where you can select the attributes you would like to monitor. SNMP Network Monitoring solution is platform independent.