Using SNMP and the MADMAN MIB

Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) is a standard, nonsecure communication protocol used to collect information from devices on a TCP/IP network. SNMP was developed within the Internet community to monitor activity on network devices such as routers and bridges. Since then, acceptance of and support for SNMP have grown. Many devices, including computers running Windows, can now be monitored with SNMP.

How SNMP Works

SNMP has a small command set and maintains a centralized database of management information. An SNMP system has three parts:

• SNMP Agent The SNMP Agent is the device on a network that is being monitored. This device is typically a computer that has the SNMP Agent software installed. Windows Server 2003 includes SNMP Agent software in the form of the Microsoft SNMP Service. (You install SNMP Service by using Add/Remove Windows Components in the Add/Remove Programs Control Panel tool.)

• SNMP Management System The SNMP Management System is the component that does the actual monitoring in an SNMP environment. Windows does not provide an SNMP Management System. Third- party SNMP Management Systems include Hewlett-Packard’s OpenView and IBM’s NetView.

• Management Information Base The Management Information Base (MIB) is a centralized database of all the values that can be monitored for all of the devices in an SNMP system. Different MIBs are provided for monitoring different types of devices and systems. Windows Server 2003 comes with four MIBs: Internet MIB II, LAN Manager MIB II, DHCP MIB, and WINS MIB. These four MIBs allow the remote monitoring and management of most components of Windows.

Exchange Server 2003 and the MADMAN MIB

Exchange Server 2003 includes a special MIB that you can use to enable an SNMP Management System that manages many Exchange Server 2003 functions. This MIB is based on a standardized MIB named the Mail and Directory Management (MADMAN) MIB, which is detailed in RFC 1566. Microsoft’s implementation of the MADMAN MIB meets all the specifications of the standard and adds a few touches of its own. The Exchange MADMAN MIB works by converting the System Monitor counters for the MTA and IMS objects to MIBs, using utilities provided with the Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Resource Kit Tools, available at http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=9d467a69- 57ff-4ae7-96ee-b18c4790cffd &displaylang=en;or link to the tools from http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/downloads/default.mspx.

More Info

Despite its name, Simple Network Management Protocol is not so simple to use. This chapter offers only a glimpse of it so that you will know that it is available. If you are interested in deploying SNMP in your Exchange organization, consult the Microsoft Windows 2000 Server Resource Kit (Microsoft Press).