System information

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Simple Network Management Protocol

Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) is a communication protocol

designed specifically for managing devices on a network. Equipment commonly

managed with SNMP includes switches, routers and host computers. SNMP is

typically used to configure these devices for proper operation in a network

environment, as well as to monitor them to evaluate performance or detect potential

problems.

The switch includes an onboard agent that continuously monitors the status of its

hardware, as well as the traffic passing through its ports, based on the Simple

Network Management Protocol (SNMP). A network management station can access

this information using software such as HP OpenView. Access rights to the onboard

agent are controlled by community strings. To communicate with the switch, the

management station must first submit a valid community string for authentication.

The options for configuring community strings and related trap functions are

described in the following sections.

Setting Community Access Strings

You may configure up to five community strings authorized for management access.

All community strings used for IP Trap Managers should be listed in this table. For

security reasons, you should consider removing the default strings.

Command Attributes

• SNMP Community Capability – Indicates that the switch supports up to five

community strings.

• Community String – A community string that acts like a password and permits

access to the SNMP protocol.

Default strings: “public” (read-only access), “private” (read/write access)

Range: 1-32 characters, case sensitive

• Access Mode

- Read-Only – Specifies read-only access. Authorized management stations are

only able to retrieve MIB objects.

- Read/Write – Specifies read-write access. Authorized management stations are

able to both retrieve and modify MIB objects.