grjitdept
asked on
Help understanding SNMP!
Hi,
I'm considering making use of SNMP to start monitoring the status and health of my network at work.
I understand the basic idea of SNMP, i.e. that's it's a protocol designed to broadcast events and status of network devices, but that's where my knowledge ends.
In a typical network that utilises SNMP, what components are there? Does any device configured to use SNMP have to point to a SNMP server? If so what are the requirements (software-wise) for this server?
I've heard 'Community' mentioned as a required setting... what's that?
I'm considering making use of SNMP to start monitoring the status and health of my network at work.
I understand the basic idea of SNMP, i.e. that's it's a protocol designed to broadcast events and status of network devices, but that's where my knowledge ends.
In a typical network that utilises SNMP, what components are there? Does any device configured to use SNMP have to point to a SNMP server? If so what are the requirements (software-wise) for this server?
I've heard 'Community' mentioned as a required setting... what's that?
ASKER
OK but what about typical structure? Is a cecntral server required that all devices haave to point to? Is so, what software required on this central server/device? Typical settings/terminology?
Hi,
For each brand you have different softwares.
Say for DELL you have IT manager a console SNMP configured
DELL laptops,servers,desktops all have different softwares.
For HP you have iSEE
For each brand you have different softwares.
Say for DELL you have IT manager a console SNMP configured
DELL laptops,servers,desktops all have different softwares.
For HP you have iSEE
ASKER
OK... but I thought SNMP was a standard protocol... what then does' Community' mean?
It may help if I give a more specific example. I use DELL OpenManage server administrator on all our servers, and want to monitor them all from a single server using DELL IT Administrator. I apparently need to configure SNMP for this but I'm not sure how. When configuring the IT Administrator software to scan for available devices, there is an SNMP option, that includes parameters such as community etc - hence my question...
It may help if I give a more specific example. I use DELL OpenManage server administrator on all our servers, and want to monitor them all from a single server using DELL IT Administrator. I apparently need to configure SNMP for this but I'm not sure how. When configuring the IT Administrator software to scan for available devices, there is an SNMP option, that includes parameters such as community etc - hence my question...
Hi,
how many servers,laptops and desktops are we talking about to configure SNMP.
how many servers,laptops and desktops are we talking about to configure SNMP.
ASKER
6 servers running DELL OpenManage Administrator, and one of those 6 also with DELL IT Administrator, with which I wish to monitor the others SNMP alerts. Need to know how to configure all of them.
Need to go to services.
SNMP
Traps
Community name > Public
Trap destination > Add > give the ip address of the server where IT assistant is installed.After which run a discovery in IT assistant there you can see the server with the healt status.
Hope this helps...
SNMP
Traps
Community name > Public
Trap destination > Add > give the ip address of the server where IT assistant is installed.After which run a discovery in IT assistant there you can see the server with the healt status.
Hope this helps...
ASKER
Hi,
Yes this sounds promising! I'm unclear what you mean by 'Services > SNMP'... There is an SNMP service and an SNMP trap service running on each server, but where/how would I configure them? Through Windows, through OpenManage?
Yes this sounds promising! I'm unclear what you mean by 'Services > SNMP'... There is an SNMP service and an SNMP trap service running on each server, but where/how would I configure them? Through Windows, through OpenManage?
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ASKER
OK I've noticed that in OpenManage server administrator on each machine there are a few options for configuring SNMP - is this what you mean? Under Preferences > SNMP Configuration, there is the option to change the root password (whatever that is!?) and in the main system settings there is also the option to flag SNMP traps, but this doesn't seem to be what you were refering to...?
ASKER
Oops yeah my bad - didn't realise there were configuration options within the service... let me experiment with this and see how I get on... will be back shortly...
Ok...If you have no luck configuring them close this Q and raise a new one for a script to configure SNMP automatically.Someone shall help doing it or i shall help doing the same in the morning.
You should start from "engineering tools set", and "orion managment" from http://www.solarwinds.com/products/ by downloading trials.
Then set up XP boxes for example with "SNMP services" under "control panel"-"adminstrative tools"-"services".
In "SNMP services" "properties" tab add "community name", where is "public" is common to "get" nformation, after that by using mentioned soft , add "nods" to monitor using the same "public" and PC IP's.
If u using firewalls, make sure ports 161/162 open, and "SNMP.exe" services is allowed throught. It can be any other hardware supporting "SNMP"- they usially have "public" as default, and u can add them all to monitor in Solarwinds soft.
It will get u started.
After that you can move into "SNMP" editing soft, to customize alarms, and messages- http://www.snmplink.org/ and start modifying "MIB" files (used to send info about devices using SNMP protocol).
This should more than enouf , to beging with.
Then set up XP boxes for example with "SNMP services" under "control panel"-"adminstrative tools"-"services".
In "SNMP services" "properties" tab add "community name", where is "public" is common to "get" nformation, after that by using mentioned soft , add "nods" to monitor using the same "public" and PC IP's.
If u using firewalls, make sure ports 161/162 open, and "SNMP.exe" services is allowed throught. It can be any other hardware supporting "SNMP"- they usially have "public" as default, and u can add them all to monitor in Solarwinds soft.
It will get u started.
After that you can move into "SNMP" editing soft, to customize alarms, and messages- http://www.snmplink.org/ and start modifying "MIB" files (used to send info about devices using SNMP protocol).
This should more than enouf , to beging with.
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snmp
SNMP is the simple network managemnt protocol used to monitor and manage devices
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simple_Network_Management_Protocol