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SNMP Development & Consulting
SNMP MIB Design
Chateau Systems designs custom MIBs to support client product lines or networks.
After comprehensive discussions with clients, we produce graphical MIBs for
client approval prior to actually coding the MIBs themselves.
Management Information Base (MIB)
- A definition of data that will be managed by the SNMP agent, and reported
to SNMP Managers.
- The format of a MIB is strictly defined by a notation that can be
confusing to the uninitiated.
- Good MIB design is a prerequisite to Agent design. MIBs must be designed
with Agent semantics in mind.
- While there are currently no MIB design style-guides published, there is a
body of good practice that should be applied.
- MIB definitions include:
- Header information
- Structural Node definitions
- Data and data structure definitions
- Definitions of Traps (or Alarms). Good Trap design is crucial, and there
are many issues which are discussed with clients during the design process.
The MIB Design Process
- Understand top-level Corporate needs so that future MIBs will organize
into a coherent structure
- Model the physical (or logical) system to be supported using graphical
representations of MIBs.
- Iterate with the client to ensure all issues have been resolved
- Apply good naming practices to MIB nodes, data, and traps
- Code the MIB
- Test the correctness of the MIB using several validating MIB compilers
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SNMP Agent
Development
Agent Development Tools
- SNMP Agents are developed based on the client's Enterprise MIB
definitions.
- Agents can be developed using client-purchased SDKs or using public
domain
tools. There are trade-offs using either approach.
- The development process described below varies as per the chosen SDK.
The Agent Development Process
- Define the required MIBs.
- Define data access mechanisms for the Agent.
- Use tools to compile the MIB and generate Agent code stubs.
- Hand code portions of the generated code to:
- Respond to 'get' and 'set' requests from SNMP Managers.
- Send Traps (also called Notifications or Alarms) to the SNMP Manager.
- Communicate with the managed product to access managed data.
- Static Agent testing
- Code a test process which drives the Agent and simulates the client
application software.
- Test all data access mechanisms and traps. Test CPU usage and for memory
leaks. Stress the Agent to ensure reliability.
- Agent/Application integration
- Dynamic Agent testing
- Test the integrated system against all possible hardware conditions and
faults.
- Ensure correct status reporting, and that all traps are correctly sent.
- Design Documentation
- MIB design rationale.
- Outline of Agent Installation procedures.
- Outline of Agent productization issues.
- Software architecture descriptions.
- Document all software and hardware interfaces.
- Work with the client's engineering department to hand-off the Agent
software.
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Network Management Consulting
- Development of monitoring plans and strategies for client networks
- Configuration of network management systems to monitor networks and
process Traps
- Configuration of SNMPc (Castlerock Network Management System)
- SNMPc is a very scalable Management System that is useful for management of large or
small networks, as well as an agent development test tool.
- This is the tool that is demonstrated in our seminars & we are also a
reseller of this product.
- Chateau Systems can assist in the configuration of SNMPc to manage
client networks, and provide one-on-one training in its use.
- See our Links Page for a link to the Castlerock
web site.
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Previous SNMP Project Examples
- Consulting support to a company using the Standard Printer MIB to support
their line of merchandising printers.
- SNMPc Configuration to support monitoring a large microwave network for a Cellular Service provider.
- Large project for major Utility Provider in the Midwest. Helped develop
their overall plan for SNMP monitoring. Plan included use of Native Agents and
development of custom MIBs and Agents.
- MIB definitions and Agent development for SNMP management of a large
satellite to the home broadcast facility.
- MIB definitions for a provider of network security products
- MIB definitions and Agent development for provider of television
broadcaster modular signal processing products.
- MIB definitions for provider of Internet Server accelerator product.
- SNMP Seminars have been presented to many of our clients.
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CONTACT US
360 387-2615
larry@chateausystems.com
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