HP 480-0005-00-15 - Manual (Page 113)

5-2 P/N 480-0005-00-15
Chapter 5: Working with SNMP
What is SNMP?
Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) is the standard protocol used to exchange network manage-
ment information.
SNMP management requires two primary elements: a network manager and an SNMP agent. A network man-
ager is the software running on a workstation through which the network administrator monitors and controls
the different hardware and software systems that comprise a network. The agent is a piece of software running
in a network equipment that implements the SNMP protocol. SNMP defines exactly how a network manager
communicates with an SNMP agent. For example, SNMP defines the format of requests that a network man-
ager sends to an agent and the format of replies the agent returns.
Through an SNMP management system, the network manager can communicate and manage several different
network devices at the same time. The network manager polls the SNMP agents (such as routers, hubs or net-
work servers) for certain requested information. The agent will then gather information about the machine it is
running on and carries requests from the network manager to read and change the information.
How does Tenor CMS utilize SNMP?
The Tenor CMS unit supports the SNMP protocol; specifically, Hewlett® Packard’s HP Openview software
acts as the SNMP network manager for the Tenor CMS unit. Once you set up HP Openview to view and
“auto-discover” Tenor CMS as a network device using SNMP, HP Openview will be able to issue commands,
get responses, and perform certain functions. For example, you can configure the SNMP agent in Tenor CMS
to generate and send traps for existing Tenor CMS alarms to HP Openview.
A Tenor CMS unit can report alarms to up to three network managers.