Why SNMP?

SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) is a buzzword in the networking world. The key to understanding and using SNMP is the Enterprise MIB. An Enterprise MIB is a Management Information Base that you design and implement in an application-specific manner and customize for your real-time embedded system.

Why in the world would you want to manage a network? There are a number of situations in which it might be useful. For example, you may be building an embedded real-time system that is a network router, and you would like to have the ability to manage the router or a group of routers from a single or distributed control station. As another example, you may be building an embedded real-time system that is a networked color laser printer, and you would like to manage that resource using an off-the-shelf graphical user interface.

In considering why you may want to have SNMP embedded in your real-time system, ask yourself these questions:

• How do I currently manage networks in general?

• How do I currently manage the nodes on networks?

• Would I like to be able to allow for control of routing?

• Would...