1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
393
394
395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409
410
411
412
413
414
415
416
417
418
419
420
421
422
423
424
425
426
427
428
429
430
431
432
433
434
435
436
437
438
439
440
441
442
443
444
445
446
447
448
449
450
451
452
453
454
455
456
457
458
459
460
461
462
463
464
465
466
467
468
469
470
471
472
473
474
475
476
477
478
479
480
481
482
483
484
485
486
487
488
489
490
491
492
493
494
495
496
497
498
499
500
501
502
503
504
505
506
507
508
509
510
511
512
513
514
515
516
517
518
519
520
521
522
523
524
525
526
527
528
529
530
531
532
533
534
535
536
537
538
539
540
541
542
543
544
545
546
547
548
549
550
551
552
553
554
555
556
557
558
559
560
561
562
563
564
565
566
567
568
569
570
571
572
573
574
575
576
577
578
579
580
581
582
583
584
585
586
587
588
589
590
591
592
593
594
595
596
597
598
599
600
601
602
603
604
605
606
607
608
609
610
611
612
613
614
615
616
617
618
619
620
621
622
623
624
625
626
627
628
629
630
631
632
633
634
635
636
637
638
639
640
641
642
643
644
645
646
647
648
649
650
651
652
653
654
655
656
657
658
659
660
661
662
663
664
665
666
667
668
669
670
671
672
673
674
675
676
677
678
679
680
681
682
683
684
685
686
687
688
689
690
691
692
693
694
695
696
697
698
699
700
701
702
703
704
705
706
707
708
709
710
711
712
713
714
715
716
717
718
719
720
721
722
723
724
725
726
727
728
729
730
731
732
733
734
735
736
737
738
739
740
741
742
743
744
745
746
747
748
749
750
751
752
753
754
755
756
757
758
759
760
761
762
763
764
765
766
767
768
|
Network Working Group J. Case
Request for Comments: 1441 SNMP Research, Inc.
K. McCloghrie
Hughes LAN Systems
M. Rose
Dover Beach Consulting, Inc.
S. Waldbusser
Carnegie Mellon University
April 1993
Introduction to version 2 of the
Internet-standard Network Management Framework
Status of this Memo
This RFC specifes an IAB standards track protocol for the
Internet community, and requests discussion and suggestions
for improvements. Please refer to the current edition of the
"IAB Official Protocol Standards" for the standardization
state and status of this protocol. Distribution of this memo
is unlimited.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction .......................................... 2
2 Components of the SNMPv2 Framework .................... 3
2.1 Structure of Management Information ................. 3
2.2 Textual Conventions ................................. 4
2.3 Protocol Operations ................................. 4
2.4 Transport Mappings .................................. 4
2.5 Protocol Instrumentation ............................ 5
2.6 Administrative Framework ............................ 5
2.7 Conformance Statements .............................. 5
3 Acknowledgements ...................................... 7
4 References ............................................ 11
5 Security Considerations ............................... 13
6 Authors' Addresses .................................... 13
Case, McCloghrie, Rose & Waldbusser [Page 1]
^L
RFC 1441 Introduction to SNMPv2 April 1993
1. Introduction
The purpose of this document is to provide an overview of
version 2 of the Internet-standard Network Management
Framework, termed the SNMP version 2 framework (SNMPv2). This
framework is derived from the original Internet-standard
Network Management Framework (SNMPv1), which consists of these
three documents:
RFC 1155 [1] which defines the Structure of Management
Information (SMI), the mechanisms used for describing and
naming objects for the purpose of management.
RFC 1212 [2] which defines a more concise description
mechanism, which is wholly consistent with the SMI.
RFC 1157 [3] which defines the Simple Network Management
Protocol (SNMP), the protocol used for network access to
managed objects.
For information on coexistence between SNMPv1 and SNMPv2,
consult [4].
Case, McCloghrie, Rose & Waldbusser [Page 2]
^L
RFC 1441 Introduction to SNMPv2 April 1993
2. Components of the SNMPv2 Framework
A network management system contains: several (potentially
many) nodes, each with a processing entity, termed an agent,
which has access to management instrumentation; at least one
management station; and, a management protocol, used to convey
management information between the agents and management
stations. Operations of the protocol are carried out under an
administrative framework which defines both authentication and
authorization policies.
Network management stations execute management applications
which monitor and control network elements. Network elements
are devices such as hosts, routers, terminal servers, etc.,
which are monitored and controlled through access to their
management information.
2.1. Structure of Management Information
Management information is viewed as a collection of managed
objects, residing in a virtual information store, termed the
Management Information Base (MIB). Collections of related
objects are defined in MIB modules. These modules are written
using a subset of OSI's Abstract Syntax Notation One (ASN.1)
[5]. It is the purpose of the Structure of Management
Information for SNMPv2 document [6] to define that subset.
The SMI is divided into three parts: module definitions,
object definitions, and, trap definitions.
(1) Module definitions are used when describing information
modules. An ASN.1 macro, MODULE-IDENTITY, is used to
concisely convey the semantics of an information module.
(2) Object definitions are used when describing managed
objects. An ASN.1 macro, OBJECT-TYPE, is used to
concisely convey the syntax and semantics of a managed
object.
(3) Notification definitions are used when describing
unsolicited transmissions of management information. An
ASN.1 macro, NOTIFICATION-TYPE, is used to concisely
convey the syntax and semantics of a notification.
Case, McCloghrie, Rose & Waldbusser [Page 3]
^L
RFC 1441 Introduction to SNMPv2 April 1993
2.2. Textual Conventions
When designing a MIB module, it is often useful to new define
types similar to those defined in the SMI. In comparison to a
type defined in the SMI, each of these new types has a
different name, a similar syntax, but a more precise
semantics. These newly defined types are termed textual
conventions, and are used for the convenience of humans
reading the MIB module. It is the purpose of the Textual
Conventions for SNMPv2 document [7] to define the initial set
of textual conventions available to all MIB modules.
Objects defined using a textual convention are always encoded
by means of the rules that define their primitive type.
However, textual conventions often have special semantics
associated with them. As such, an ASN.1 macro, TEXTUAL-
CONVENTION, is used to concisely convey the syntax and
semantics of a textual convention.
2.3. Protocol Operations
The management protocol provides for the exchange of messages
which convey management information between the agents and the
management stations. The form of these messages is a message
"wrapper" which encapsulates a Protocol Data Unit (PDU). The
form and meaning of the "wrapper" is determined by an
administrative framework which defines both authentication and
authorization policies.
It is the purpose of the Protocol Operations for SNMPv2
document [8] to define the operations of the protocol with
respect to the sending and receiving of the PDUs.
2.4. Transport Mappings
The management protocol, version 2 of the Simple Network
Management Protocol, may be used over a variety of protocol
suites. It is the purpose of the Transport Mappings for
SNMPv2 document [9] to define how the SNMPv2 maps onto an
initial set of transport domains. Other mappings may be
defined in the future.
Case, McCloghrie, Rose & Waldbusser [Page 4]
^L
RFC 1441 Introduction to SNMPv2 April 1993
Although several mappings are defined, the mapping onto UDP is
the preferred mapping. As such, to provide for the greatest
level of interoperability, systems which choose to deploy
other mappings should also provide for proxy service to the
UDP mapping.
2.5. Protocol Instrumentation
It is the purpose of the Management Information Base for
SNMPv2 document [10] to define managed objects which describe
the behavior of a SNMPv2 entity. The Manager-to-Manager MIB
document [11] defines an initial set of managed objects which
describe the behavior of a SNMPv2 entity which acts in a
manager role. It is expected that extensions to this MIB will
be defined in the future.
2.6. Administrative Framework
It is the purpose of the Administrative Model for SNMPv2
document [12] to define the behavior of a SNMPv2 party - a
conceptual, virtual execution context whose operation is
restricted (for security or other purposes) to an
administratively defined subset of all possible operations of
a particular SNMPv2 entity.
Associated with each SNMPv2 party is a single authentication
protocol and a single privacy protocol. It is the purpose of
the Security Protocols for SNMPv2 document [13] to define
those protocols.
The Party MIB for SNMPv2 document [14] defines managed objects
which correspond to the properties associated with a SNMPv2
party.
2.7. Conformance Statements
It may be useful to define the acceptable lower-bounds of
implementation, along with the actual level of implementation
achieved. It is the purpose of the Conformance Statements for
SNMPv2 document [15] to define the notation used for these
purposes. There are two kinds of notations:
Case, McCloghrie, Rose & Waldbusser [Page 5]
^L
RFC 1441 Introduction to SNMPv2 April 1993
(1) Compliance statements are used when describing
requirements for agents with respect to object
definitions. An ASN.1 macro, MODULE-COMPLIANCE, is used
to concisely convey such requirements.
(2) Capability statements are used when describing
capabilities of agents with respect to object
definitions. An ASN.1 macro, AGENT-CAPABILITIES, is used
to concisely convey such capabilities.
Finally, collections of related objects are grouped together
to form a unit of conformance. An ASN.1 macro, OBJECT-GROUP,
is used to concisely convey the syntax and semantics of a
group.
Case, McCloghrie, Rose & Waldbusser [Page 6]
^L
RFC 1441 Introduction to SNMPv2 April 1993
3. Acknowledgements
The SNMPv2 framework is based on the outstanding technical
direction pioneered by the original authors of the SGMP: James
R. (Chuck) Davin, of the MIT Laboratory for Computer Science,
Mark S. Fedor, of Performance Systems International, Inc.,
Martin L. Schoffstall, also of PSI, and Jeffrey D. Case.
Since the invention of the SGMP in 1987, many individuals have
devoted much energy toward creating the unprecedented success
of the Internet-standard Network Management Framework. As
such, the list of people worthy of acknowledgement is too
great to enumerate here.
However, in retrospect, it seems clear that the concepts in
the original architecture, as envisioned by Chuck Davin, have
provided the basis for the success of the current framework.
We hope that the SNMPv2 framework will be able to successfully
build on this work.
Finally, the comments of the SNMP version 2 working group are
gratefully acknowledged:
Beth Adams, Network Management Forum
Steve Alexander, INTERACTIVE Systems Corporation
David Arneson, Cabletron Systems
Toshiya Asaba
Fred Baker, ACC
Jim Barnes, Xylogics, Inc.
Brian Bataille
Andy Bierman, SynOptics Communications, Inc.
Uri Blumenthal, IBM Corporation
Fred Bohle, Interlink
Jack Brown
Theodore Brunner, Bellcore
Stephen F. Bush, GE Information Services
Jeffrey D. Case, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
John Chang, IBM Corporation
Szusin Chen, Sun Microsystems
Robert Ching
Chris Chiotasso, Ungermann-Bass
Bobby A. Clay, NASA/Boeing
John Cooke, Chipcom
Tracy Cox, Bellcore
Juan Cruz, Datability, Inc.
Case, McCloghrie, Rose & Waldbusser [Page 7]
^L
RFC 1441 Introduction to SNMPv2 April 1993
David Cullerot, Cabletron Systems
Cathy Cunningham, Microcom
James R. (Chuck) Davin, Bellcore
Michael Davis, Clearpoint
Mike Davison, FiberCom
Cynthia DellaTorre, MITRE
Taso N. Devetzis, Bellcore
Manual Diaz, DAVID Systems, Inc.
Jon Dreyer, Sun Microsystems
David Engel, Optical Data Systems
Mike Erlinger, Lexcel
Roger Fajman, NIH
Daniel Fauvarque, Sun Microsystems
Karen Frisa, CMU
Shari Galitzer, MITRE
Shawn Gallagher, Digital Equipment Corporation
Richard Graveman, Bellcore
Maria Greene, Xyplex, Inc.
Michel Guittet, Apple
Robert Gutierrez, NASA
Bill Hagerty, Cabletron Systems
Gary W. Haney, Martin Marietta Energy Systems
Patrick Hanil, Nokia Telecommunications
Matt Hecht, SNMP Research, Inc.
Edward A. Heiner, Jr., Synernetics Inc.
Susan E. Hicks, Martin Marietta Energy Systems
Geral Holzhauer, Apple
John Hopprich, DAVID Systems, Inc.
Jeff Hughes, Hewlett-Packard
Robin Iddon, Axon Networks, Inc.
David Itusak
Kevin M. Jackson, Concord Communications, Inc.
Ole J. Jacobsen, Interop Company
Ronald Jacoby, Silicon Graphics, Inc.
Satish Joshi, SynOptics Communications, Inc.
Frank Kastenholz, FTP Software
Mark Kepke, Hewlett-Packard
Ken Key, SNMP Research, Inc.
Zbiginew Kielczewski, Eicon
Jongyeoi Kim
Andrew Knutsen, The Santa Cruz Operation
Michael L. Kornegay, VisiSoft
Deirdre C. Kostik, Bellcore
Cheryl Krupczak, Georgia Tech
Mark S. Lewis, Telebit
Case, McCloghrie, Rose & Waldbusser [Page 8]
^L
RFC 1441 Introduction to SNMPv2 April 1993
David Lin
David Lindemulder, AT&T/NCR
Ben Lisowski, Sprint
David Liu, Bell-Northern Research
John Lunny, The Wollongong Group
Robert C. Lushbaugh Martin, Marietta Energy Systems
Michael Luufer, BBN
Carl Madison, Star-Tek, Inc.
Keith McCloghrie, Hughes LAN Systems
Evan McGinnis, 3Com Corporation
Bill McKenzie, IBM Corporation
Donna McMaster, SynOptics Communications, Inc.
John Medicke, IBM Corporation
Doug Miller, Telebit
Dave Minnich, FiberCom
Mohammad Mirhakkak, MITRE
Rohit Mital, Protools
George Mouradian, AT&T Bell Labs
Patrick Mullaney, Cabletron Systems
Dan Myers, 3Com Corporation
Rina Nathaniel, Rad Network Devices Ltd.
Hien V. Nguyen, Sprint
Mo Nikain
Tom Nisbet
William B. Norton, MERIT
Steve Onishi, Wellfleet Communications, Inc.
David T. Perkins, SynOptics Communications, Inc.
Carl Powell, BBN
Ilan Raab, SynOptics Communications, Inc.
Richard Ramons, AT&T
Venkat D. Rangan, Metric Network Systems, Inc.
Louise Reingold, Sprint
Sam Roberts, Farallon Computing, Inc.
Kary Robertson, Concord Communications, Inc.
Dan Romascanu, Lannet Data Communications Ltd.
Marshall T. Rose, Dover Beach Consulting, Inc.
Shawn A. Routhier, Epilogue Technology Corporation
Chris Rozman
Asaf Rubissa, Fibronics
Jon Saperia, Digital Equipment Corporation
Michael Sapich
Mike Scanlon, Interlan
Sam Schaen, MITRE
John Seligson, Ultra Network Technologies
Paul A. Serice, Corporation for Open Systems
Case, McCloghrie, Rose & Waldbusser [Page 9]
^L
RFC 1441 Introduction to SNMPv2 April 1993
Chris Shaw, Banyan Systems
Timon Sloane
Robert Snyder, Cisco Systems
Joo Young Song
Roy Spitier, Sprint
Einar Stefferud, Network Management Associates
John Stephens, Cayman Systems, Inc.
Robert L. Stewart, Xyplex, Inc. (chair)
Kaj Tesink, Bellcore
Dean Throop, Data General
Ahmet Tuncay, France Telecom-CNET
Maurice Turcotte, Racal Datacom
Warren Vik, INTERACTIVE Systems Corporation
Yannis Viniotis
Steven L. Waldbusser, Carnegie Mellon Universitty
Timothy M. Walden, ACC
Alice Wang, Sun Microsystems
James Watt, Newbridge
Luanne Waul, Timeplex
Donald E. Westlake III, Digital Equipment Corporation
Gerry White
Bert Wijnen, IBM Corporation
Peter Wilson, 3Com Corporation
Steven Wong, Digital Equipment Corporation
Randy Worzella, IBM Corporation
Daniel Woycke, MITRE
Honda Wu
Jeff Yarnell, Protools
Chris Young, Cabletron
Kiho Yum, 3Com Corporation
Case, McCloghrie, Rose & Waldbusser [Page 10]
^L
RFC 1441 Introduction to SNMPv2 April 1993
4. References
[1] Rose, M., and McCloghrie, K., "Structure and
Identification of Management Information for TCP/IP-based
internets", STD 16, RFC 1155, May 1990.
[2] Rose, M., and McCloghrie, K., "Concise MIB Definitions",
STD 16, RFC 1212, March 1991.
[3] Case, J., Fedor, M., Schoffstall, M., Davin, J., "Simple
Network Management Protocol", STD 15, RFC 1157, SNMP
Research, Performance Systems International, MIT
Laboratory for Computer Science, May 1990.
[4] Case, J., McCloghrie, K., Rose, M., and Waldbusser, S.,
"Coexistence between version 1 and version 2 of the
Internet-standard Network Management Framework", RFC
1452, SNMP Research, Inc., Hughes LAN Systems, Dover
Beach Consulting, Inc., Carnegie Mellon University, April
1993.
[5] Information processing systems - Open Systems
Interconnection - Specification of Abstract Syntax
Notation One (ASN.1), International Organization for
Standardization. International Standard 8824, (December,
1987).
[6] Case, J., McCloghrie, K., Rose, M., and Waldbusser, S.,
"Structure of Management Information for version 2 of the
Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMPv2)", RFC 1442,
SNMP Research, Inc., Hughes LAN Systems, Dover Beach
Consulting, Inc., Carnegie Mellon University, April 1993.
[7] Case, J., McCloghrie, K., Rose, M., and Waldbusser, S.,
"Textual Conventions for version 2 of the the Simple
Network Management Protocol (SNMPv2)", RFC 1443, SNMP
Research, Inc., Hughes LAN Systems, Dover Beach
Consulting, Inc., Carnegie Mellon University, April 1993.
[8] Case, J., McCloghrie, K., Rose, M., and Waldbusser, S.,
"Protocol Operations for version 2 of the Simple Network
Management Protocol (SNMPv2)", RFC 1448, SNMP Research,
Inc., Hughes LAN Systems, Dover Beach Consulting, Inc.,
Carnegie Mellon University, April 1993.
Case, McCloghrie, Rose & Waldbusser [Page 11]
^L
RFC 1441 Introduction to SNMPv2 April 1993
[9] Case, J., McCloghrie, K., Rose, M., and Waldbusser, S.,
"Transport Mappings for version 2 of the Simple Network
Management Protocol (SNMPv2)", RFC 1449, SNMP Research,
Inc., Hughes LAN Systems, Dover Beach Consulting, Inc.,
Carnegie Mellon University, April 1993.
[10] Case, J., McCloghrie, K., Rose, M., and Waldbusser, S.,
"Management Information Base for version 2 of the Simple
Network Management Protocol (SNMPv2)", RFC 1450, SNMP
Research, Inc., Hughes LAN Systems, Dover Beach
Consulting, Inc., Carnegie Mellon University, April 1993.
[11] Case, J., McCloghrie, K., Rose, M., and Waldbusser, S.,
"Manager-to-Manager Management Information Base", RFC
1451, SNMP Research, Inc., Hughes LAN Systems, Dover
Beach Consulting, Inc., Carnegie Mellon University, April
1993.
[12] Galvin, J., and McCloghrie, K., "Administrative Model for
version 2 of the Simple Network Management Protocol
(SNMPv2)", RFC 1445, Trusted Information Systems, Hughes
LAN Systems, April 1993.
[13] Galvin, J., and McCloghrie, K., "Security Protocols for
version 2 of the Simple Network Management Protocol
(SNMPv2)", RFC 1446, Trusted Information Systems, Hughes
LAN Systems, April 1993.
[14] McCloghrie, K., and Galvin, J., "Party MIB for version 2
of the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMPv2)", RFC
1447, Hughes LAN Systems, Trusted Information Systems,
April 1993.
[15] Case, J., McCloghrie, K., Rose, M., and Waldbusser, S.,
"Conformance Statements for version 2 of the the Simple
Network Management Protocol (SNMPv2)", RFC 1444, SNMP
Research, Inc., Hughes LAN Systems, Dover Beach
Consulting, Inc., Carnegie Mellon University, April 1993.
Case, McCloghrie, Rose & Waldbusser [Page 12]
^L
RFC 1441 Introduction to SNMPv2 April 1993
5. Security Considerations
Security issues are not discussed in this memo.
6. Authors' Addresses
Jeffrey D. Case
SNMP Research, Inc.
3001 Kimberlin Heights Rd.
Knoxville, TN 37920-9716
US
Phone: +1 615 573 1434
Email: case@snmp.com
Keith McCloghrie
Hughes LAN Systems
1225 Charleston Road
Mountain View, CA 94043
US
Phone: +1 415 966 7934
Email: kzm@hls.com
Marshall T. Rose
Dover Beach Consulting, Inc.
420 Whisman Court
Mountain View, CA 94043-2186
US
Phone: +1 415 968 1052
Email: mrose@dbc.mtview.ca.us
Steven Waldbusser
Carnegie Mellon University
4910 Forbes Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
US
Phone: +1 412 268 6628
Email: waldbusser@cmu.edu
Case, McCloghrie, Rose & Waldbusser [Page 13]
^L
|