SNMP messaging

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The Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) enables the tape library to exchange information over a TCP/IP local area network with an SNMP manager running systems management software, such as NetView®.

SNMP allows alerts (called traps) to be sent to an SNMP manager. Using the information that is supplied in each SNMP trap, the monitoring software can alert operations staff of possible problems or operator interventions that occur. Monitoring programs (such as NetView) can be used to send email or pager notifications when they receive an SNMP trap. For more information, see your NetView documentation or the manual for your network management application.

Occasionally, the tape library might encounter situations that you want to know about. These situations can be conditions that affect library performance, such as an open door that causes the library to stop. You might also want to log user actions, such as a cartridge move or export that is initiated from the TS4500 management GUI. SNMP messages can alert you of these conditions.

The monitoring server must be loaded with systems management software that can receive and process the trap. SNMP supports a get and get-response mechanism for an operator to gather more information about a problem or query the library about its status. Through an SNMP manager, the operator issues a "get" to request information about the library. A get-response is the information that is provided in response to the get. This type of support generally requires an up-to-date library Management Information Base (MIB). The library's MIB contains units of information that specifically describe an aspect of a system, such as the system name, hardware number, or communications configuration.

IBM provides the MIBs that are supported by the library. They include:
  • IBM 3584 MIB for Version 2c traps
  • Storage Networking Industry Association (SNIA) Storage Media Library (SML) MIB Version 1.12

Library settings cannot be changed with SNMP. Settings are changed by using the TS4500 management GUI.

Figure 1 shows the flow of SNMP communication from the library over the Ethernet LAN to an SNMP monitoring server.

Figure 1. SNMP messaging system
Image is described in surrounding text.

Additional information is available in the Implementing IBM Tape in Linux and Windows Redbook. Also, see the Implementing IBM Tape in Unix Systems Redbook.