Management Information Base

(MIB)

Management Information Base (MIB)

The MIB can be thought of as a virtual information store, holding managed objects whose values collectively reflect the current state of the network Managed objects are specified using the OBJECT-TYPE SMI construct and gathered into MIB modules using the MODULE-IDENTITY construct as just discussed.

Management Information Base (MIB)

The MIB contains the name object identifier (a numeric value) data type and indication of whether the value associated with the object can be read from and/or written to

MIB

Each managed object in a MIB has a unique identifier. The identifier includes the object's type (such as counter, string, gauge, or address) the object's access level (such as read or read/write) size restrictions and range information.
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SNMP

Management Information Base (MIB) Structure of Management Information. MIB Object Definition.

MIB(Management Information Base)

Each resource to be managed is represented by an object. Collections of these objects is MIB. Each object is a data variable that represents one aspect of the managed agent. e.g.: these aspects may be the TCP,IP,UDP connections done . MIB is a text file that describes the managed object using syntax of ASN.1(Abstract Syntax Notation).

STRUCTURE OF MANAGEMENT INFORMATION

SMI generates a framework within which a MIB can be defined and constructed. SMI identifies the data types used in MIB and specifies how resources within the MIB can be represented and named. Defines individual object including the syntax and the value of the object.

Structure Of Management Information

Data Types: 1.SIMPLE TYPES:

INTEGER OBJECT STRING OBJECT IDENTIFIER Gauge Counter Time Ticks IP Address Opaque Network Address
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2.APPLICATION-WIDE TYPES:

MIB Structure

Each Type of object is associated with an identifier called Object Identifier(OID). Identifier serves to name the object and also a value is associated with the type of the object. An OID is represented by a sequence of integers separated by decimal points. Set of defined objects has a Tree Structure.

MIB Object Group

iso(1) org(3) dod(6) internet(1) directory(1) mgmt(2) experimental(3) private(4)

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MIB Object Group Condt

system (1) interface (2) at (3) mgmt (2) mib-2(1) ip (40) icmp (50) tcp (6) udp (7) egp (8) transmission(10) snmp(11)
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Organization of Managed objects

Example: When a SNMP manager requests for the object, it will send first an OID to the SNMP agent requesting the information about the object. The OID : 1.3.6.1.2.1.6.4 iso.org.dod.internet.mgmt.mib-2.tcp.tcpMaxConn 1 3 6 1 2 1 6 4

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Example of an Object Definition

tcpMaxConn OBJECT-TYPE SYNTAX INTEGER ACCESS read-only STATUS mandatory DESCRIPTION The limit on the total number of TCP connections the entity can support. In entities where the tcp(mib-2 6) maximum number of connection is dynamic, this object should contain the value 1. ::= {tcp 4}

tcpRtoAlgorithm(1)

tcpRtoMin(2)

tcpRtoMax(3)

tcpMaxConn(4)

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The MIB

Located on each network device Contains statistics about each managed object:
Actual pieces of hardware Configuration parameters Performance statistics

Information is gathered through SNMP protocol

The MIB Modules

More than 200 standard MIB modules Large number of vendor-specific (private) modules Identification and classification system
Part of the ASN.1 (Abstract Syntax Notation One) object definition language Naming is achieved in hierarchical (tree) manner where each branch point is given both a name and a number Using these two parameters, each object, being a point in the tree, is identifiable through the path from the root to its place in the tree. MIB modules are found under the MIB-2 branches.
There are modules for TCP, IP, UDP, etc, as well as for system, interface and address translation.

How is the MIB used?

Analysis of the data is needed in order to form a policy or to take actions against exceptional conditions. People are often needed able to think creatively, as well as analytically foresee problems and act in advance. Automated management takes care of the network basically all the time this network is operational. cannot take preemptive actions unless more complicated algorithms are needed to achieve successful automation.

Organization of a MIB
MIB module specified via SMI MODULE-IDENTITY

MODULE

OBJECT TYPE:

OBJECT TYPE: OBJECT TYPE:

objects specified via SMI OBJECT-TYPE construct

Naming Within a MIB

ISO Object Identifier tree:

Hierarchical naming of all objects. Each branch point has name, number. Part of ASN.1.

1.3.6.1.2.1.7.1
ISO ISO-ident. Org. US DoD Internet udpInDatagrams UDP MIB2 management

ASN.1 object identifier tree (OID)

MIB Example: UDP Module

Object ID
1.3.6.1.2.1.7.1

Name

Type

Comments
total # datagrams delivered at this node

udpInDatagrams Counter32

1.3.6.1.2.1.7.2 udpNoPorts

Counter32

# undeliverable datagrams with no application at port

1.3.6.1.2.1.7.3 udpInErrors

Counter32

# undeliverable datagrams for all other reasons

1.3.6.1.2.1.7.4 udpOutDatagrams Counter32 1.3.6.1.2.1.7.5 udpTable

SEQUENCE

# datagrams sent one entry for each port in use by an application, gives port # and IP address

MIB examples

They are installed with the SNMP service in the %systemroot%\system32 directory

DHCP.MIB Microsoft-defined MIB that contains object types for monitoring the network traffic between remote hosts and DHCP servers HOSTMIB.MIB Contains object types for monitoring and managing host resources

MIB examples

LMMIB2.MIB Covers workstation and server services MIB_II.MIB Contains the Management Information Base (MIB-II), which provides a simple, workable architecture and system for managing TCP/IP-based internets WINS.MIB Microsoft-defined MIB for the Windows Internet Name Service (WINS)

SNMP-MIB Browser

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SNMP MIB Browser (3)

Navigation - MIB Tree System

sysUpTime

-Notice Lower LHS - Notice OID

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SNMP MIB Browser (4)

SNMP PDUs (1) Get - Select Go Get - RHS has values. - OID Value

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SNMP MIB Browser (5)

SNMP PDUs (2) GetNext -Selected OID is: .1.3.6.1.2.1.1.5 -Returned value: (.1.3.6.1.2.1.1.6) or DSG, OReilly Institute, F.35

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SNMP MIB Browser (6)

SNMP (3) Get SubTree -Position of MIB: .1.3.6.1.2.1.1 (a.k.a. system) -RHS values: Returns all values below system.

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SNMP MIB Browser (7)

SNMP (4) Walk -MIB Location: .1.3.6.1.2.1 (a.k.a. mib-2) - Returns *ALL* values under mib-2

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SNMP MIB Browser (8)

Tables - MIB Location: .1.3.6.1.2.1.2.2 (or interfaces) - Select ifTable, Go, then Table View. - Refresh/Poll

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