SNMPv3 can still be simple?
Omar Cherkaoui, Nathalie Rico, Ahmed Serhrouchni · 2003
The simple network management protocol (SNMP) was introduced in 1988. The initial version (SNMPv1) is still widely implemented, deployed, and used. SNMPv3 is now in its final stages of standardization. SNMPv3 allows new capabilities for open, interoperable, and secure management on the Internet environment. SNMPv3 builds on SNMPv1 and v2 to include methods for security (authentication, encryption, and privacy), and a new administrative framework. From a practical perspective, the SNMPv3 architecture must allow the evolution of the system to consider different versions of SNMP, different applications, and different security models. We present an implementation model for SNMPv3 that keeps the simplicity of SNMPv1, while at the same time making it possible to evolve the framework to address different security needs and different configurations. The implementation model is an abstract view of the implementation that represents the building blocks required for any realization of agents, platform, proxies, etc. We explain how the model with a modular approach can allow interoperability with other SNMP applications. The model uses the interfaces as defined by the RFC to achieve the architectural goals (extensibility, reusability, etc.) and to simplify the module construction. An implementation was done at UQAM and it uses Java to create the modular reusable components.