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Chapter 6. Managing the Router
This chapter describes the options available for booting software, how to upgrade the router with new releases of
software, and explains the process for maintaining copies of configuration files.
Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP)
SNMP, a member of the TCP/IP protocol suite, was designed to provide network management interoperability
among different vendors' management applications and equipment. SNMP provides for the exchange of messages
between a management client and a management agent. The messages contain requests to get or set variables that
exist in network nodes, thus allowing a management client to obtain statistics, set configuration parameters and
monitor events. These variables (or objects) are defined in Management Information Bases (MIBs), some of
which are general or standard SNMP-defined bases. Other bases, Enterprise Specific MIBs are defined by the
different vendors for specific hardware.
The router provides SNMP agent support and support for standard as well as Enterprise Specific MIBs. SNMP is
also used internally for configuration of the router. The active SNMP agent within the router accepts SNMP
requests for status, statistics and configuration updates. Communication with the SNMP agent occurs over the
LAN or WAN connection.
The supported MIB and a description of their contents are listed in the following table:
Any management application using SNMP over UDP/IP has access to the local SNMP agent. SNMP network
management tools vary but often have features to display network maps of SNMP nodes, poll nodes at intervals,
trigger alarms on thresholds, graph or list node statistic counters, view and edit individual MIB variables and print
reports.
An example of useful information that can be obtained from a remote SNMP client would be the current status of
the router’s WAN link and Ethernet interfaces including: protocol (PPP, CSMA-CD), line speed, maximum frame
(transmission unit) size, physical address, operating status, or packet traffic rates.
MIB II
Internet-standard MIB contains only essential elements such as system,
interface, addressing, protocol (IP, etc.) and SNMP objects
Bridge MIB
States/statistics (including spanning tree states) within bridging system
Ethernet MIB
State/statistics of Ethernet port (collisions, etc.)
IP Forwarding MIB
State of routing tables (updates MIB II)
PPP MIB For LCP
State/Statistics for each PPP link
Enterprise MIB for
configuration
Router-specific objects for configuration purposes