TCP/IP Tutorial and Technical Overview - IBM Redbooks

InformRequest
An InformRequest is generated and transmitted as a request from an application
in an SNMPv2 manager entity that wants to notify another application, acting
also in an SNMPv2 manager entity, of information in the MIB view 1 of a party
local to the sending application. The packet is used as an indicative assertion to
the manager of another party about information accessible to the originating
party (manager-to-manager communication across party boundaries). The first
two variables in the variable binding list of an InformRequest are sysUpTime.0
and snmpEventID.i 2 , respectively. Other variables can follow.
The new administrative model
It is the purpose of the administrative model for SNMPv2 to define how the
administrative framework is applied to realize effective network management in a
variety of configurations and environments.
The model entails the use of distinct identities for peers that exchange SNMPv2
messages. Therefore, it represents a departure from the community-based
administrative model of the original SNMPv1. By unambiguously identifying the
source and intended recipient of each SNMPv2 message, this new strategy
improves on the historical community scheme both by supporting a more
convenient access control model and allowing for effective use of asymmetric
(public key) security protocols in the future. Figure 17-7 on page 645 illustrates
the new message format.
1 A MIB view is a subset of the set of all instances of all object types defined according to SMI.
2
snmpEventID.i is an SNMPv2 manager-to-manager MIB object that shows the authoritative
identification of an event.
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