OID for Polling Oversized Frames Counters on Individual Interfaces via SNMP MIB

In the realm of network management, Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) plays a crucial role in monitoring and managing network devices. One of the key aspects of network management is the ability to poll counters for oversized frames on individual interfaces. This article delves into the world of SNMP Management Information Base (MIB) and explores the OID (Object Identifier) required for polling oversized frames counters on individual interfaces.

Understanding SNMP and MIB

SNMP is a protocol used for managing and monitoring network devices. It allows network administrators to collect information from, and configure, network devices such as routers, switches, and servers. MIB, on the other hand, is a collection of managed objects that are used to manage a network device. A MIB is essentially a database of objects that can be queried using SNMP.

In the context of SNMP, a managed object is a variable that represents a particular aspect of a network device. Each managed object has a unique OID, which is used to identify the object. OIDs are hierarchical in nature, with each OID being a branch of a larger tree.

OID Structure

An OID is a sequence of numbers that identifies a managed object in a MIB. The OID structure is hierarchical, with each number in the sequence representing a branch in the OID tree. The OID tree is maintained by the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) and is used to ensure that each OID is unique.

An OID typically consists of a series of numbers, each separated by a dot. For example, the OID for the MIB-II (RFC 1213) is 1.3.6.1.2.1. This OID can be broken down into its constituent parts:

• 1: iso (International Organization for Standardization)
• 3: org (Organization)
• 6: dod (Department of Defense)
• 1: internet (Internet)
• 2: mgmt (Management)
• 1: mib-2 (MIB-II)

MIB-II and IF-MIB

MIB-II (RFC 1213) is a standard MIB that provides a set of managed objects for managing network devices. The IF-MIB (RFC 2863) is an extension of MIB-II and provides additional managed objects for managing network interfaces.

The IF-MIB provides a number of managed objects that are relevant to polling oversized frames counters on individual interfaces. These objects include:

• ifInOctets: The total number of octets received on an interface.
• ifInUcastPkts: The number of unicast packets received on an interface.
• ifInNUcastPkts: The number of non-unicast packets received on an interface.
• ifInDiscards: The number of packets discarded on an interface.
• ifInErrors: The number of errors on an interface.
• ifOutOctets: The total number of octets transmitted on an interface.
• ifOutUcastPkts: The number of unicast packets transmitted on an interface.
• ifOutNUcastPkts: The number of non-unicast packets transmitted on an interface.
• ifOutDiscards: The number of packets discarded on an interface.
• ifOutErrors: The number of errors on an interface.

Polling Oversized Frames Counters

To poll oversized frames counters on individual interfaces, you need to use the IF-MIB. The OID for the IF-MIB is 1.3.6.1.2.1.31.

The IF-MIB provides a number of managed objects that are relevant to polling oversized frames counters. These objects include:

• ifHCInOctets: The total number of octets received on an interface, including oversized frames.
• ifHCInUcastPkts: The number of unicast packets received on an interface, including oversized frames.
• ifHCInNUcastPkts: The number of non-unicast packets received on an interface, including oversized frames.
• ifHCOutOctets: The total number of octets transmitted on an interface, including oversized frames.
• ifHCOutUcastPkts: The number of unicast packets transmitted on an interface, including oversized frames.
• ifHCOutNUcastPkts: The number of non-unicast packets transmitted on an interface, including oversized frames.

To poll these objects, you need to use the SNMP GET command. For example, to poll the ifHCInOctets object for an interface with an ifIndex of 1, you would use the following OID:

1.3.6.1.2.1.31.1.1.1.6.1

This OID can be broken down into its constituent parts:

• 1.3.6.1.2.1.31: The OID for the IF-MIB.
• 1.1.1: The OID for the ifTable.
• 6: The OID for the ifHCInOctets object.
• 1: The ifIndex of the interface.

Conclusion

Polling oversized frames counters on individual interfaces is an important aspect of network management. By using the IF-MIB and the SNMP GET command, you can retrieve the necessary information to monitor and manage your network devices. The OID structure and the IF-MIB provide a standardized way of accessing this information, making it easier to manage your network.

In this article, we have explored the OID structure and the IF-MIB, and how they can be used to poll oversized frames counters on individual interfaces. We have also provided examples of how to use the SNMP GET command to retrieve this information. By using this information, you can improve your network management capabilities and ensure that your network is running smoothly and efficiently.