The TCP/IP Guide  9  TCP/IP Application Layer Protocols, Services and Applications (OSI Layers 5, 6 and 7)       9  TCP/IP Network Configuration and Management Protocols (BOOTP, DHCP, SNMP and RMON)            9  TCP/IP Network Management Framework and Protocols (SNMP and RMON)

TCP/IP MIB Modules and Object Groups 1 SNMP Protocol Overview, History and General Concepts

The overall network management solution for TCP/IP networks is the Internet Standard Management Framework. In the last two subsections we have taken a look at the framework as a whole, and also discussed the two components that define the management information transmitted between TCP/IP devices to accomplish network management. The third major part of the SNMP Framework is the actual Simple Network Management Protocol, SNMP, which is responsible for moving management information between devices.

In this section, I describe the concepts and operation of the actual SNMP protocol. I begin with a brief overview and history of the protocol, discussing it in general terms. I then have two subsections that describe SNMP's operation in detail. The first covers the different operations performed by the protocol and how they work. The second discusses protocol messaging and message formats.

TCP/IP MIB Modules and Object Groups 1 SNMP Protocol Overview, History and General Concepts