Network Working Group M. Rose
Request for Comments: 1283 Dover Beach Consulting, Inc.
Obsoletes: RFC 1161 December 1991
SNMP over OSI
1. Background
The Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) as defined in [1] is now used as an integral part of the network management framework for TCP/IP-based internets. Together, with its companions standards, which define the Structure of Management Information (SMI) [2], and the Management Information Base (MIB) [3], the SNMP has received widespread deployment in many operational networks running the Internet suite of protocols.
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RFC 1283 SNMP over OSI December 1991
In OSI, there are two such services, a connection-oriented transport services (COTS) as defined in [4], and a connectionless-mode transport service (CLTS) as defined in [5]. Although the primary deployment of the SNMP is over the connectionless-mode transport service provided by the Internet suite of protocols (i.e., the User Datagram Protocol or UDP [6]), a design goal of the SNMP was to be able to use either a CO-mode or CL-mode transport service. As such, this memo describes mappings from the SNMP onto both the COTS and the CLTS.
1.1. A Digression on User Interfaces
It is likely that user-interfaces to the SNMP will be developed that support multiple transport backings. In an environment such as this, it is often important to maintain a consistent addressing scheme for users. Since the mappings described in this memo are onto the OSI transport services, use of the textual scheme described in [7], which describes a string encoding for OSI presentation addresses, is recommended. The syntax defined in [7] is equally applicable towards transport addresses.
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RFC 1283 SNMP over OSI December 1991 1.1.1. Addressing Conventions for UDP-based serviceIn the context of a UDP-based transport backing, addresses would be encoded as:
1.2. A Digression of Layering
Although other frameworks view network management as an application, extensive experience with the SNMP suggests otherwise. In essense, network management is a function unlike any other user of a transport service. The citation [8] develops this argument in full. As such, it is inappropriate to map the SNMP onto the OSI application layer. Rather, it is mapped to OSI transport services, in order to build on the proven success of the Internet network management framework.
2. Mapping onto CLTS
Mapping the SNMP onto the CLTS is straight-forward. The elements of procedure are identical to that of using the UDP, with one exception: a slightly different Trap PDU is used. Further, note that the CLTS and the service offered by the UDP both transmit packets of information which contain full addressing information. Thus, mapping the SNMP onto the CLTS, a "transport address" in the context of [1], is simply a transport-selector and network address.
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RFC 1283 SNMP over OSI December 1991 2.1. Addressing ConventionsUnlike the Internet suite of protocols, OSI does not use well-known ports. Rather demultiplexing occurs on the basis of "selectors", which are opaque strings of octets, which have meaning only at the destination. In order to foster interoperable implementations of the SNMP over the CLTS, it is necessary define a selector for this purpose.
2.1.1. Conventions for CLNP-based service
When the CLTS is used to provide the transport backing for the SNMP, demultiplexing will occur on the basis of transport selector. The transport selector used shall be the four ASCII characters
3. Mapping onto COTS
Mapping the SNMP onto the COTS is more difficult as the SNMP does not specifically require an existing connection. Thus, the mapping consists of establishing a transport connection, sending one or more SNMP messages on that connection, and then releasing the transport connection. Further, a slightly different Trap PDU is used. Consistent with the SNMP model, the initiator of a connection should not require that responses to a request be returned on that connection. However, if a responder to a connection sends SNMP messages on a connection, then these MUST be in response to requests received on that connection.
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Ideally, the transport connection SHOULD be released by the initiator, however, note that the responder may release the connection due to resource limitations. Further note, that the amount of time a connection remains established is implementation- specific. Implementors should take care to choose an appropriate dynamic algorithm.
3.1. Addressing Conventions
Unlike the Internet suite of protocols, OSI does not use well-known ports. Rather demultiplexing occurs on the basis of "selectors", which are opaque strings of octets, which have meaning only at the destination. In order to foster interoperable implementations of the SNMP over the COTS, it is necessary define a selector for this purpose. However, to be consistent with the various connectivity- services, different conventions, based on the actual underlying service, will be used.
3.1.1. Conventions for TP4/CLNP-based service
When a COTS based on the TP4/CLNP is used to provide the transport backing for the SNMP, demultiplexing will occur on the basis of transport selector. The transport selector used shall be the four ASCII characters
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Similarly, SNMP traps are, by convention, sent to a manager listening on the transport selector
3.1.2. Conventions for TP0/X.25-based service
When a COTS based on the TP0/X.25 is used to provide the transport backing for the SNMP, demultiplexing will occur on the basis of X.25 protocol-ID. The protocol-ID used shall be the four octets
4. Trap PDU
The Trap-PDU defined in [1] is designed to represent traps generated on IP networks. As such, a slightly different PDU must be used when representing traps generated on OSI networks.
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FROM CLNS-MIB -- [9] --;
time-stamp -- time elapsed between the last
TimeTicks, -- (re)initialization of the
-- network entity and the
-- generation of the trap
5. Acknowledgements
The predecessor of this document (RFC 1161) was produced by the SNMP Working Group, and subsequently modified by the editor to reflect operational experience gained since the original publication.
6. References
[1] Case, J., Fedor, M., Schoffstall, M., and J. Davin, "A Simple
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[2] Rose M., and K. McCloghrie, "Structure and Identification of
7. Security Considerations
Security issues are not discussed in this memo.
8. Author's Address
Marshall T. Rose Dover Beach Consulting, Inc. 420 Whisman Court Mountain View, CA 94043-2112