E3Switch DS3 Operating information manual - page 11
Chapter 4: Remote Management HTTP and SNMP
Event Log File
A timestamped log of operating status and events may be accessed at the HTTP management administration
page.
Resetting
Two options for resetting the converter may be accomplished at the HTTP management administration
page. A management software reset will reset counters, statistics, MIB variables, and management software
of the converter without interrupting data flow across the link. A hardware reset will temporarily interrupt
link data flow as if the converter had experienced a power cycle. For new functionality to take effect, a
hardware reset is required after upgrading firmware but need not be initiated immediately. A software reset
is not appropriate after upgrading firmware, as only the management CPU would be reset while the packet
transfer CPU would be operating with the older, incompatible version of firmware.
SNMP
The converter contains an SNMP agent which can respond to version 1 and version 2c requests for network
statistics from remote SNMP clients. The agent can also generate notifications of important network events
such as when network ports go up/down or experience high error rates. These trap notifications can be sent
to multiple hosts if desired, and using free or commercial software, the receiving hosts can log the
notifications or even generate email or pager messages for network managers.
SNMPv2c is inherently an insecure protocol, so the converter implements VACM to restrict access to
“safe” statistics and settings. Please refer to the security discussion section of this document.
SNMP configuration of various parameters such as community names and trap destinations is accessed
through the HTTP management interface and is implemented as a configuration file having an snmpd.conf
structure. Snmpd.conf is described by third parties in publicly available documents.
Statistics and settings accessible via SNMP are called MIB-variables and are organized in a hierarchical
tree topology. The MIB variable trees implemented by the converter include recent versions of the DS3/E3,
interface, MAU, dot3, and many of the typical IP-network MIB trees. The full list of MIB trees available is
listed by viewing the system.sysORTable of the converter. As mentioned earlier, access to certain trees or
variables is initially disabled for security reasons, but can be set as the user wishes through the VACM
settings. The converter can typically return 1000 MIB variables per second in bulk requests and support
SNMP response message sizes up to 5000 bytes.
Upgrading Firmware
For activation of additional capabilities of the converter, see the “Feature Activation” section. Feature
upgrades do not necessarily require a firmware upgrade.
Firmware upgrades may be transferred to the converter via the LAN port. A hardware reset, which will
interrupt link data flow for several seconds, will be required at some point after the transfer in order to
begin using the new firmware. Instructions for performing the TFTP transfer are included with all firmware
shipments. The most common source of problems when performing upgrades is attempting a TFTP transfer
in ASCII or text mode rather than binary or image mode, resulting in a “too large” or “out of room” type
TFTP error.
Feature Activation/Upgrade
For activation of additional capabilities of the converter after initial purchase, supply the factory with the
serial number from the front of your converter (also shown at the HTTP management page for recent
firmware) and purchase an alphanumeric “factory upgrade key” which is entered at the HTTP management
screen.
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