RFC 1448 (rfc1448) - Page 2 of 35
Protocol Operations for version 2 of the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMPv2)
Alternative Format: Original Text Document
RFC 1448 Protocol Operations for SNMPv2 April 1993
1. Introduction
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.
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)
[1], termed the Structure of Management Information (SMI) [2].
The management protocol, version 2 of the Simple Network
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 this document, Protocol Operations for
SNMPv2, to define the operations of the protocol with respect
to the sending and receiving of the PDUs.
1.1. A Note on Terminology
For the purpose of exposition, the original Internet-standard
Network Management Framework, as described in RFCs 1155, 1157,
and 1212, is termed the SNMP version 1 framework (SNMPv1).
The current framework is termed the SNMP version 2 framework
(SNMPv2).
Case, McCloghrie, Rose & Waldbusser