Chapter: Network Programming and Management : Simple Network Management
SNMP - Network Management Concepts
SNMP - NETWORK MANAGEMENT CONCEPTS
Network Management Architecture:
The
model of network management that is used for TCP / IP network management
includes the following key elements.
•
Management
Station
•
Management
Agent
•
Management
Information Base
•
Network
Management protocol
Management Station: It is a stand alone device but it may be a capability implemented
on a shared platform. IN either case
Management Station serves as the interface for the hu8man network manager into
the network management system. At a minimum the station will consists of the
following:
•
A set of
management application for data analysis, fault recovery and so on.
• An interface by which the network manager my monitor and control the network.
•
The
capability of translating the network manager‘s requirenment into the actual
monitoring
and control of remote elements in the network
• A
database of information extracted from the MIB of all the managed entities in
the network.
Management Agent: This is other active element. Platforms like bridges, hosts,
routers and hubs may be equipped
with SNMP agents so that they may be managed from the management stations. The
management agent responds to request for information and actions from the
management stations and may asynchronously provide the management stations with
important but unsolicited information.
Management Information Base :
Resources
in the network may be managed by representing those resources as objects. Each
objects is essentially a data variable that represents one aspects of
management agent. The collection of object is referred to as a Management Information Base (MIB) The
MIB functions as a collection of access points at the agent for the management
station. These objects are standardized across system of a particular class
(common set of objects is used for the management of various bridges). A
management station performs the monitoring functions by retrieving the value of
MIB objects. An Management station can cause an action to take place at an
agent or can change the configuration setting at an agent by modifying the
value of specific variables.
Network Management Protocol :
The
management stations and agents are linked by Network Management Protocol. The
protocol used for the management of TCP / IP networks is SNMP, which includes
the following key capabilities:
get :
enables the management station to retrieve the value of the objects at the
agent. set : Enables the management
station to set the4 value of objects at the agent.
trap: enables
an agent to notify the management station of significant events.
It is prudent to have two system to perform
Management station functions to provide redundancy.
Network Management Protocol Architecture:
SNMP was designed to be an application level
protocol that is part of TCP / IP protocol suite. It operates over UDP.
Following figure shows the typical configuration of SNMP Protocol:
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