Fast network discovery using SNMP multi-cast

摘要

A network management device sends an SNMP multi-cast GET on a network to discover all the network devices on the network or subnet. The network management device builds a Management Information Base (MIB) based on the responses received from the SNMP multi-cast GET. The MIB information is then sent to a Network Management System (NMS).;The SNMP multi-cast GET can be sent based on a command to discover network devices on the network or can be sent based on a polling algorithm. The system and method also include the ability to send an SNMP multi-cast SET to set the same parameter(s) on all the devices on the network/subnet.

主权项

1. A method of operating a network management device comprising:
in a network interface of the network management device, receiving a command from a Network Management System to discover network devices on a network of the network management device, wherein the Network Management System is located on another side of a firewall from the network; sending from the network interface a Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) multi-cast GET on the network; receiving at the network interface one or more responses to the SNMP multi-cast GET, wherein the one or more responses to the SNMP multi-cast GET are associated with a different network device on the network; building or updating in a Management Information Base (MIB) manager of the network management device, a MIB database based on the one or more responses to the SNMP multi-cast GET; and sending from the network interface at least a portion of the MIB database to the Network Management System in response to the command.