Configuring SNMP

Description:

Many times administrators will want to monitor servers, switches, etc. Aside from simple ping tests, WMI queries, etc. you may find yourself wanting to use SNMP. SNMP is a chatty protocol that you can learn about my just googling the phrase. Essentially, V3 is recommended but I have only really seen V2 with a custom community string configured.

To Resolve:

1. If I wanted to monitor a switch, for example to send SNMP logs to a PRTG server, I would do the following.
   • For example on my Ubiquity switch: Login via web GUI. Go to System => Advanced => SNMP.
   • Add community => enter community name (make one up, but make sure you know it because all devices will need to be on the same one),
   • Set group name to DefaultRead, and IP address to the target server.
   • I would then go to the Trap Receiver V1/2 and add HostAddress = Host of switch, Community name = same as above, Notify Type = Inform, UDP Port 161.
   • That’s it! Logs will just roll in.
2. For servers, you add the SNMP Service feature. After it’s installed, just run services.msc and go to the SNMP service. Under Security => Check the box to send authentication traps and set the community rights to ReadOnly and the community string to your own string. Click Add. NOTE: If the security tab does not show up, close out of service.msc and open it back up.
   • For more details, see this post but note that you should never use public as the community name.