Linux Networking Cookbook

14.2. Configuring SNMP on Debian

Problem

You need to make sure SNMP is operating correctly before you configure MRTG. What's a good basic configuration, and how do you test it?

Solution

You need to first make sure that snmpd is running. The installer should have automatically started it. Check snmpd with this command:

	$ snmpwalk -v 2c -c public localhost system
	SNMPv2-MIB::sysDescr.0 = STRING: Linux xena 2.6.20-16-generic #2 SMP Thu Jun 7 20:19:
	32 UTC 2007 i686
	SNMPv2-MIB::sysObjectID.0 = OID: NET-SNMP-MIB::netSnmpAgentOIDs.10
	DISMAN-EVENT-MIB::sysUpTimeInstance = Timeticks: (359297) 0:59:52.97
	SNMPv2-MIB::sysContact.0 = STRING: Root <root@localhost> (configure /etc/snmp/snmpd.
	local.conf)
	SNMPv2-MIB::sysName.0 = STRING: xena
	[...]

Now, we'll move the default snmpd.conf file out of the way, and replace it with our own bare bones edition:

	# cd /etc/snmp
	# mv snmpd.conf snmpd.conf-old
	# chmod 0600 snmpd.conf
	# chmod 0666 snmpd.conf-old

The last command is optional; it makes the default file available to ordinary users for study and reference. Our new snmpd.conf consists of just a few lines. Replace password with your own choice for a password. Don't use public or private, the default snmp passwords:

 ###/etc/snmp/snmpd.conf ## sec.name source community ## ======== ====== ========= com2sec local localhost password com2sec lan 192.168.1.0/24 password ## Access.group.name sec.model sec.name ## ================= ========= ======== group ROGroup_1 v1 local group ROGroup_1 v1 lan group ROGroup_1 ...