SNMP Overview

Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) is a standards-based network control protocol for managing elements in a network. The SNMP Manager, usually implemented by a third-party Network Management System (NMS) or AudioCodes One Voice Operations Center (OVOC), connects to an SNMP Agent (embedded on a remote Network Element (NE) to perform network element Operation, Administration, Maintenance, and Provisioning (OAMP).

Both the SNMP Manager and the NE refer to the same database to retrieve information or configure parameters. This database is referred to as the Management Information Base (MIB), and is a set of statistical and control values. Apart from the standard MIBs documented in IETF RFCs, SNMP additionally enables the use of proprietary MIBs, containing non-standard information set (specific functionality provided by the Network Element).

Directives, issued by the SNMP Manager to an SNMP Agent, consist of the identifiers of SNMP variables (referred to as MIB object identifiers or MIB variables) along with instructions to either get the value for that identifier, or set the identifier to a new value (configuration). The SNMP Agent can also send unsolicited events towards an EMS, called SNMP traps.

The definitions of MIB variables supported by a particular agent are incorporated in descriptor files, written in Abstract Syntax Notation (ASN.1) format, made available to EMS client programs so that they can become aware of MIB variables and their usage.

The device contains an embedded SNMP Agent supporting both general network MIBs (such as the IP MIB), VoP-specific MIBs (such as RTP) and proprietary MIBs (acGateway, acAlarm, acMedia, acControl, and acAnalog MIBs) enabling a deeper probe into the interworking of the device. All supported MIB files are supplied to customers as part of the release.