System information

1-7
Basic Configuration
1
Enabling SNMP Management Access
The switch can be configured to accept management commands from Simple
Network Management Protocol (SNMP) applications. You can configure the switch
to (1) respond to SNMP requests or (2) generate SNMP traps.
When SNMP management stations send requests to the switch (either to return
information or to set a parameter), the switch provides the requested data or sets the
specified parameter. The switch can also be configured to send information to
SNMP managers (without being requested by the managers) through trap
messages, which inform the manager that certain events have occurred.
Community Strings
Community strings are used to control management access to SNMP stations, as
well as to authorize SNMP stations to receive trap messages from the switch. You
therefore need to assign community strings to specified users or user groups, and
set the access level.
The default strings are:
• public - Specifies read-only access. Authorized management stations are only
able to retrieve MIB objects.
• private - Specifies read-write access. Authorized management stations are able to
both retrieve and modify MIB objects.
Note: If you do not intend to utilize SNMP, it is recommended that you delete both of the
default community strings. If there are no community strings, then SNMP
management access to the switch is disabled.
To prevent unauthorized access to the switch via SNMP, it is recommended that you
change the default community strings.
To configure a community string, complete the following steps:
1. From the Privileged Exec level global configuration mode prompt, type
“snmp-server community string mode,” where “string” is the community access
string and “mode” is rw (read/write) or ro (read only). Press <Enter>.
2. To remove an existing string, simply type “no snmp-server community string,”
where “string” is the community access string to remove. Press <Enter>.
Trap Receivers
You can also specify SNMP stations that are to receive traps from the switch.
To configure a trap receiver, complete the following steps:
Console(config)#snmp-server community abc rw
Console(config)#snmp-server community private
Console(config)#