SNMP MIB Handbook [Paperback]

Larry Walsh (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 20, 2008

Essential Guide to SNMP MIB Development, Use, and Diagnosis. The Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) allows Managers (software) to communicate with Agents (also software) on network-managed devices, to collect status, for configuration and control, and to receive unsolicited events (traps). A MIB (Management Information Base) is a file containing syntax defining data objects to be managed and traps to be sent. MIB objects and their values are the focus of the protocol. Simplicity of SNMP is the reason for its initial and continued success -- simple MIB objects define information sent using a simple message set. Yet it is flexible and scalable, used to manage small networks as well as large, distributed networks. This handbook is intended for developers (MIB and agent designers) and end-users (network engineers and IT-management specialists). It serves as an instructional manual and as a reference, and contains case descriptions, examples, practical advice, clear descriptions of standards, user exercises and quiz questions. It is an important book for anyone involved with SNMP, suitable for those new to the protocol as well as for experienced practitioners.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

SNMP MIB HANDBOOK
The Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) allows Managers (software) to communicate with Agents (software) on network-managed devices -- to collect status information, to effect configuration and control, and to receive unsolicited alarms (called traps).

A MIB (Management Information Base) is a file containing specific syntax defining data objects to be managed and traps to be sent. MIB objects and their values are topics of conversation between managers and agents, and are the focal point of the protocol.

The simplicity of SNMP is the reason for its initial and continued success -- simple MIB objects define information that is transported by a simple message set. Yet it is flexible and scalable, and is used to manage very small networks as well as large, distributed networks. Many good tools are available, both open source and commercial.

This handbook is intended for both developers (MIB designers, agent software developers) and end-users (network engineers, IT management specialists). It serves as an instructional manual as well as a reference, and contains case studies, practical advice, clear descriptions of standards, user exercises and quiz questions.

Content is based on a series of training seminars developed by the author, which have been delivered to SNMP practitioners in a variety of endeavors -- government agencies, university IT-department, telephone companies, electronics manufacturers, printer company, aircraft manufacturer, televison equipment providers, televison broadcaster, automated fare collection system, space agency.

This handbook is MIB-centeric, but covers many closely related topics. Sample topics include:
+ SNMP tutorial describing important aspects of the entire protocol, including messaging standards, security, agent models, network models, and enterprises.
+ Clear descriptions of the two version of MIB syntax, SMIv1 and SMIv2.
+ MIB syntax examples are provided from many standard MIBs.
+ Diagnosing problem MIBs (which managers fail to compile properly).
+ MIB-toolkit recommendations.
+ Managing networks. How to research MIB requirements and how to locate needed MIBs.
+ Partitioning -- Enterprise SMI MIB, Textual Convention MIB, Subsystem MIB, Product MIB.
+ Expected support for standard MIBs by all agents.
+ Agent semantics and development issues.
+ Trap models and configuration of trap filters in managers.
+ Indexed tables, agent row-creation, manager row-creation.
+ A recommended MIB development process is described.

Product Details

• Paperback: 408 pages
• Publisher: Wyndham Press (March 20, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0981492207
• ISBN-13: 978-0981492209
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #186,857 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #94 in Books > Computers & Technology > Networking > Intranets & Extranets

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Bible of MIB Design, January 7, 2009

By 

O. Gura (MD, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: SNMP MIB Handbook (Paperback)

Let me start simple: I'm neither a book author nor a professional "reviewer".
The only reason for this review -- and yes, this is my very first one -- is that I'm truly impressed with "SNMP MIB Handbook". Let me try to explain how did I happen to find it -- and why do I consider it "The Bible of MIB Design".

My recent task was (well, still is :)) to design an architecture for Enterprise Infrastructure Management, where the term "Infrastructure" is broad and a little bit vague (or should I say: "yet to be defined"? :)) -- but at the very least it includes hardware, software and essential business processes. SNMP, by no surprise, is one of several "ways to go" -- so I decided to refresh my SNMP knowledge.

After reading some introductory tutorials and not-so-introductory books, it occurred to me that something is missing, while 80% of information is "covered" again and again. Everybody talks about familiar subject: SNMP history, the fact that SNMP is based on UDP -- and how it is encapsulated; differences between SNMPv1, SNMPv2c and SNMPv3, the internal format of different types of SNMP messages, what is MIB, the concept of TRAP (notification), how to configure and use various commercial or freeware SNMP tools, etc.

What's missing then? Here is the short answer: nobody tells you how to DESIGN *your* MIB.

Let me make an analogy: there are plenty books on English Grammar; there are also quite a few on different reading "techniques". But how many books will teach you writing? Not writing in general, but writing *good prose* or *nice poems*? There you are!

Does it matter? Well, as usual, it depends. If your job is to *use* already existing MIBs -- that's one thing. But what if you have to *create* (i.e. design and implement) a MIB of your own -- the one that *others* will have to use? How would you do that? Where to start? What to cover - and what to omit? What are current design practices? What are the most typical mistakes?
Try to "google" on a topic of MIB design -- you'd be surprised with the results.

That being said, what's so special about this book?
It has answers to all of the questions above -- and goes far beyond.

Without further ado let me provide brief highlights about what I like most:
-- Not only it teaches you SMI (v1 and v2) syntax but also tells *how to read* MIBs, how to tell whether a particular MIB is good or not - and why;
-- While most other SNMP books fall short on advanced MIB objects (telling you about MIB tables at most), this one goes deep into the world of complex MIBs: you'll know about tables with multiple INDEX objects (and about different types of INDEX objects themselves), about row-create tables (and different scenarios of using them), about object identifier POINTERS, INDEX pointers, etc.
-- MIB Design Patterns: this part alone justifies the price! All-in-One vs. Product-specific MIBs; why SMI registration MIBs are important (and what to put inside); how to design TRAPs *properly* (different models for TRAP design, best practices, typical mistakes, consequences for end-users (e.g.: network engineers)); what objects are essential for Enterprise MIB design; how to *partition* you MIB properly (for example, how to model Product Options, how to account for future versions of the Product, how to model new/modified/deprecated functionality of the Product, the importance of state information -- and the difference between dynamic and static state info). And on top of that the book provides real-world *full* Enterprise-level MIB examples -- to read and learn from!
-- References (Appendix A) are really useful. Ever tried to figure out what RFCs define SNMPv3 (and what are *current* ones)? What SNMP Validation compilers are available? Where to look for various Enterprise MIBs?
-- Did I mention short quiz-type exercises after each chapter? You'll have a chance to grade yourself: Appendix F has correct answers.

To sum it up: this book is brilliantly written, easy to read and comprehend -- and *incredibly* useful.
It fills-in an important gap in today's SNMP literature: MIB Design Patterns and Practices.
Second to none, it establishes a Gold Standard on the subject -- for years to come.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Detailed MIB coverage., May 18, 2008

By 

A. Thorpe - See all my reviews
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This review is from: SNMP MIB Handbook (Paperback)

The SNMP MIB Handbook by Larry Walsh is a must-have book whether you need to use existing MIBs or you need to develop your own MIBs. This book is written for administrators and developers by a developer and educator. A first glance through the book might seem intimidating due to the amount of material covered. It is full of practical information that will ensure that your MIBs are written correctly and will work with the various SNMP managers out there.

There are references to the MIB-related specifications (RFCs) as well as Web sites dedicated to the support of MIB development. Also, tools for developing and verifying your MIBs are listed. Most topics are followed by at least one example and there is an enterprise-level MIB example. Where ever necessary, the differences between the SNMP messaging versions and the SMI versions are detailed. Exercises test your understanding of the material in each chapter.

This book brings together in one place the information needed to efficiently develop clean MIBs. There are hints and recommendations on how to produce the best MIBs. Extremely useful checklists ensure a good process is being used, including one for diagnosing problems and one for the whole MIB design process.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Valuable Reference for MIB Developers and Users, June 19, 2008

By 

J. Powers - See all my reviews
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This review is from: SNMP MIB Handbook (Paperback)

If you are a MIB network manager, developer or user, you need this book. It will help network managers to identify bad MIB's, developers to write correct MIB's, and users to repair MIB's. Novice or expert, there's something in this book for you.

There are many illustrations, screen shots, and examples of actual MIB's. This is one of the easiest SNMP books to read and understand because of its excellent organization. The author starts with basic concepts and builds from there. And, because this book provides such a clear and concise guide to MIB's, it is an excellent companion to "Essential SNMP" by Mauro and Schmidt.