The Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) allows SNMP network management software to manage network resources, including the configuration of workstations on the network, from remote locations. If your network administrators use an SNMP network manager, you must run the SNMP Agent on your machine for them to maintain your workstation's configuration.

If your network administrators do not use SNMP network management software, there is no need to use the SNMP Agent. Check with your network administrator.

This section includes:

• Starting and Stopping the SNMP Agent
• Setting Up the SNMP Agent
• Enabling SNMP Traps

For the SNMP network manager to access your machine over the network, the SNMP Agent application must not only be active, but you must start the agent.

To start the SNMP Agent application, select it from the Cisco Suite 100 group in the Start menu, or double-click the SNMP Agent icon. Once the application is active, you can start the agent by clicking on the Start Agent button. You can minimize the application while it is running, if desired.

To stop the SNMP agent, click the Stop Agent button. The agent also stops if you exit the application.

You can start the Agent automatically by adding it to the Windows Startup group. See the online help for more information.

Setting Up the SNMP Agent

To set up the SNMP Agent so that it provides accurate information to the SNMP network manager:

1. Click the Stop Agent button if the agent is started.
2. Choose the System tab.
3. Enter the desired information in the sysDescr, sysContact, and sysLocation fields. Click the Defaults button to prime these fields with information that Cisco TCP/IP Suite can gather from your existing configuration. Ask your network administrator if there are any standards for the information you include in these fields:
   • sysDescr is a description of your machine; for example, the make, model, amount of memory, and hard drive size of your workstation.
   • sysContact is the contact information for the machine; for example, your name, email address, and telephone number.
   • sysLocation is the location of the machine; for example, building and room number.
4. Enter the read and write community names for your machine. These are passwords that the SNMP network manager must use to access your machine. Get these names from your network administrator.
5. Click the Save button.
6. Click the Start Agent button to restart the SNMP Agent.

SNMP agents send trap messages to SNMP network managers to inform them of certain events. For example, your workstation sends a trap message whenever you reboot the machine. Trap messages help the SNMP network manager identify potential problems in the network, and help automate network management.

To enable your machine to send SNMP traps:

1. Click the Stop Agent button if the agent is started.
2. Choose the Trap tab.
3. Check Enable Authorization Failure Traps to have your workstation send trap messages when an SNMP network manager tries to access your machine with the wrong read or write community password. If you do not check this, your workstation sends all traps except authentication failures.
4. Click the Add button to add trap destinations to the list. This list must contain the IP address of at least one workstation that is running an SNMP network manager for traps to be sent and received. Ask your network administrator for a complete list of trap destinations.
5. Enter the trap community name. This is a password that ensures your machine is allowed to send traps to the indicated destinations. Ask your network administrator for this name.
6. Click the Save button to save your changes.
7. Click the Start Agent button to restart the SNMP agent.

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