About SNMP

What the SNMP process does

If SNMP is enabled, SNMP managers might query the SNMP agent for information (specified in the Network Appliance custom MIB or the MIB-II specification) from time to time. In response, the SNMP agent gathers information and forwards it to the SNMP managers using the SNMP protocol. The SNMP agent also generates traps, whenever specific events occur, and sends these traps to the SNMP managers. The SNMP managers might then carry out actions based on information received in the trap notifications.

SNMP terms

To understand the SNMP information in this section, review the following terms and definitions:

Network management stations

Client workstations on a network that use third-party applications to process information.

Agent

The process that gathers status and diagnostic information and forwards it to network management stations.

MIB

ASCII files that describe the information that the agent sends to network management stations.

Trap

User-defined process that monitors a specific occurrence on the appliance, for example, a trap that monitors appliance disks.

Communities

Name that is used as a password by the SNMP manager to communicate with the SNMP agent.

SNMP agent and MIB groups supported

For diagnostic and other network management services, the appliance supports an SNMP version 1 compatible agent. This agent provides support for the MIB-II specification and a Network Appliance custom MIB. The following MIB-II groups are supported:

System
Interfaces
Address translation
IP
ICMP
TCP
UDP
SNMP
Note
Transmission and EGP MIB-II groups are not supported.

The Network Appliance custom MIB is discussed in Groups and objects in the custom MIB.

SNMP limits

The appliance supports the following SNMP limits:

Specification of up to eight communities
Trap notifications for up to eight management stations