Network Management Project

Introduction

Short for Simple Network Management Protocol, a set of protocols for managing complex networks. The first versions of SNMP were developed in the early 80s. SNMP works by sending messages, called protocol data units (PDUs), to different parts of a network. SNMP-compliant devices, called agents, store data about themselves in Management Information Bases (MIBs) and return this data to the SNMP requesters.

Each SNMP element manages specific objects with each object having specific characteristics. Each object / characteristic has a unique object identifier (OID) consisting of numbers separated by decimal points (i.e., 1.3.6.1.4.1.2682.1). These object identifiers naturally form a tree as shown below. The MIB associates each OID with a readable label (i.e., dpsRTUAState) and various other parameters related to the object. The MIB then serves as a data dictionary or code book that is used to assemble and interpret SNMP messages.

Short for Management Information Base, a database of objects that can be monitored by a network management system. Both SNMP and RMON use standardized MIB formats that allows any SNMP and RMON tools to monitor any device defined by a MIB.

Development Stage

In developing this Network Management System, we use Visual Basic 6 as our tool. We choose this particular application because it is easier to work with as our entire group member familiar with Visual Basic 6.

First we create interface as input and output data. The interface is important as it is for the user to interact with the system. It give the first impression of the system to the user. Then we copy the MIB from SNMP folder and paste it in the Visual Basic folder. This is for the Visual Basic can detect the MIB. After that we write all the codes to connect MIB tree with Visual Basic. This is the difficult part of the system development. By connecting the MIB tree to the visual basic, the system can display the MIB tree when demand. We use winsock to connect to the network. As the system can connect to the network, it can retrieve data from other host.

How the System Work

This is the initial state of the system. There are just one page of interface with a few textbox. First is the Remote IP address textbox. It is for the user to insert IP address of the host that will be retrieving from. Community Name textbox is for user to select either public, private or secret. Attention is needed as community name must be same between manager and agent. Object ID textbox is to display the MIB tree of the host. System description textfield will display the information about the system such as system name, system description, system contact, system location, system services. Start walking at mib value is for user to choose for mib tree. They can scroll down the dropdown box. The Get SNMP button is to start the process. Meaning that, the user clicks it to display the information about DNS of the host. Get Next SNMP is to display the next information each time user clicks the button. Exit button is to exit or quit the system.

Manual

Figure 1 : The interface of the SNMP Manager

1. User must insert the hostname IP address of the client in the Remote IP address textbox.

2. User can select the community name from the list. Community name must be same between manager and agent, such as public, private or secret.

3. User has to select the MIB tree from the list. MIB object id will be displayed