Setting up a Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) for Network Monitoring
The Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) is a collection of technologies that enables network administrators to monitor and manage TCP/IP network devices remotely. The term “SNMP” encompasses both an individual communication protocol (sometimes referred to as the SNMP Protocol) and a comprehensive framework for Internet administration (the SNMP Framework).
This protocol is used by various network devices, such as computers, switches, routers, and even other smart IOT devices. It provides all the important details about the device so network administrators can perform regular system health checks and monitor it remotely. For example, we can see when a remote device’s hard disk is about to fill and take appropriate action.
The above monitoring steps can even be automated. Many monitoring tools, such as SolarWinds, ManageEngine, Kaseya, SysAid, Atera, WhatsUp Gold, etc., utilize this.
It is an application layer protocol (stateless datagram-oriented protocol) that
runs on UDP, port 161 and 162.
Working of SNMP
Types of SNMP Devices
Managed Nodes: Managed nodes are standard nodes on a network that have been configured with software that enables them to be monitored through SNMP. These devices are conventional TCP/IP devices, occasionally called managed devices.
Network Management Station (NMS): A network device specifically designed to administer the regularly managed nodes by running specialized software.
Types of SNMP Entities
The software elements that comprise the SNMP entity on a managed node are as follows:
SNMP Agent: A software program that enables a managed node to transmit information to an NMS and accept its instructions, thereby implementing the SNMP protocol.
SNMP Management Information Base (MIB): It is a set of data that specifies the information that can be collected and utilized to administer the managed node. SNMP exchanges information in the form of objects from the MIB.
SNMP Entities on NMS:
SNMP Manager is a software application that implements the SNMP protocol, enabling the NMS to gather data from managed nodes and transmit instructions to them.
SNMP Applications: A software program or programs that let a human network administrator use SNMP to manage a network
The SNMP protocol communicates on UDP port 161. The communication takes place with protocol data units, or PDUs, of seven (7) types.
GetRequest
SetRequest
GetNextRequest
GetBulkRequest
Response
Trap
InformRequest
Installing SNMP Service
Initially, we see in our services that SNMP is not installed.
Open Server Manager in Windows server.
Click on add roles and features.
Keep clicking next till you reach features. Select SNMP Service -> Add Features -> Next
Now click on install.
Go to services and it will show that SNMP Manager is installed.
Now right click SNMP Services and click on properties.
Go to the security tab and add community names.
Now add the hostname or IP of the system you want to monitor remotely, i.e., the system you want to accept SNMP packets from.
Opening Port 161 and 162 for SNMP Service
For this, we will open firewall and network protection.
Here we will select Inbound Rules and click on New Rule.
Select Port
Choose UDP and specify the port range as 161-162.
Give a name to the rule and click on finish.
Now click on outbound rules and repeat the same procedure as inbound rules.
With this, we are done setting up SNMP Services and opening the ports for remote monitoring.
