Essential SNMP

Agent Configuration Walkthroughs

In the following sections we will walk through the configurations of some typical SNMP agents. We have chosen devices that are found on almost every modern network (x86 PCs, Unix Servers, routers, UPSs, etc.). The point of this discussion isn’t to show you how your particular agent is configured -- that would not be practical, given the hundreds of devices and vendors out there. Our intent is to give you a feel for what the common options are, and what steps you’ll typically go through to configure an agent.

Windows 95/98 Agent

In this section, we’ll walk through the SNMP configuration for the Windows 95/98 agent, using the Windows System Policy Editor. The settings are all stored in the registry, so you can also make changes to the configuration using regedit, but there’s less chance of error if you use the System Policy Editor. It’s worth noting that Windows 95, 98, and NT all have the same SNMP entries in the registry, so configuration for these operating systems is similar. It’s also worth noting that Microsoft’s SNMP agent isn’t terribly robust, although it’s adequate if you want only basic SNMP functionality. Other agents are available; Concord’s SystemEDGE and Castle Rock’s SNMPc support the Microsoft operating systems.

Warning

Unless you are completely comfortable taking the registry editing leap, we strongly recommend that you use the System Policy Editor to make agent configuration changes. Incorrect settings in the registry can result ...