SNMP Monitoring

About SNMP monitoring

SNMP monitoring in INFRAX collects data from network devices without an agent. The current flow is node-centric: configure Parameters -> SNMP with a version, community, or SNMPv3 credentials, then assign a Monitoring template. The Monitoring tab shows Summary (SNMP), metric tables, and the OID browser.

Section Contents

Why SNMP Monitoring Matters

SNMP is the right fit for devices that do not need an agent: switches, routers, UPS units, printers, storage systems, and other network equipment. Configure the node first, assign a monitoring template next, and INFRAX will start collecting and displaying current SNMP data.

📡 Agentless monitoring

Collect data from network equipment over standard SNMP without installing extra software on the device.

🔎 Fast identification

The SNMP summary shows sysName, sysObjectID, sysDescr, vendor, model, device class, and serial number when available.

📊 Templates and tables

One monitoring template can be reused across many similar nodes, while table metrics, formulas, and thresholds stay centralized.

🤖 AI assistant

If there is no ready-made template, the AI assistant can create or fix one from the node's SNMP snapshot.

Configure SNMP on a Node

Open a network node and go to Parameters -> SNMP. This section holds the connection settings and the monitoring template selector. The template block is shown only for network nodes, not for folders.

Open the settings

  1. Open Network nodes
  2. Select the required node in the tree on the left
  3. Click Parameters
  4. Open the SNMP tab

SNMP version

Use the SNMP version field to pick the protocol supported by the device:

Version Used fields Best fit
SNMP v1 Community Legacy devices and simple setups
SNMP v2c Community The default choice for most network devices
SNMP v3 Username, Security Level, Auth Protocol, Auth Password, Priv Protocol, Priv Password, Context Name When authentication and encryption are required

SNMP v2c setup

For v1 and v2c, you only need a Community string:

  1. Choose SNMP v1 or SNMP v2c
  2. Enter the Community string, for example public
  3. Click Save
Security note

public is a common default, but production environments should use a unique community string and restrict SNMP access at the device ACL level.

SNMP v3 setup

SNMP v3 adds authentication and encryption. The UI exposes these fields:

Field Description
Username SNMPv3 user name
Security Level noAuthNoPriv, authNoPriv, or authPriv
Auth Protocol MD5 or SHA
Auth Password Authentication password
Priv Protocol DES or AES
Priv Password Encryption password
Context Name SNMP context, if the device uses one
Monitoring template

In the Monitoring template block, you can pick a template, clear the selection, save the change, open the editor, run Test metric collection, or start Configure with AI assistant. The test run does not write anything to the database. If no template fits, the AI assistant analyzes the SNMP snapshot and can generate a new template or fix the current one. INFRAX Cloud connectivity is required for the assistant.

Inheritance

SNMP settings inherit through the node tree. This is useful when the same version and credentials should apply to a whole folder of devices.

What inherits

  • SNMP version and Community inherit from the parent folder when the node does not define its own values
  • SNMPv3 credentials inherit in the same way as the connection settings
  • Monitoring template does not inherit and is defined per node only

Example

📁 Server room (v2c, community: "monitoring")
  ├── 🖧 Cisco 2960 switch    → inherits v2c and "monitoring"
  ├── 🖧 Cisco 3850 switch    → inherits v2c and "monitoring"
  └── 📁 Servers (v3, user: "admin")
        ├── 🖥️ Dell R740 server   → inherits v3 and "admin"
        └── 🖥️ HP DL380 server    → inherits v3 and "admin"

To set node-specific values, click Set own values or Edit. To return to inheritance, use Reset to inheritance. SNMPv3 credentials can also be removed separately.

SNMP Summary

After SNMP is configured, open the Monitoring tab and the Summary (SNMP) block. It shows connection status, uptime, the last poll time, and the core SNMP identity fields.

What the summary shows

Field Description
Status ONLINE or OFFLINE, depending on SNMP availability
UPTIME Device uptime
Last polled The time of the last successful SNMP poll
sysName Device system name
sysObjectID Device identifier OID
sysDescr Device description, usually including OS or firmware version
Vendor Device manufacturer
Model Device model
Device class Unclassified, compute, network, storage, peripheral, facility, or telecom device
Serial number Serial number when it is available over SNMP
Template-sourced values

If the monitoring template defines Vendor, Model, or Device type, the summary shows a (from template) suffix. The card also uses the current device classes: compute, network, storage, peripheral, facility, and telecom.

Monitoring Templates and Test Collection

Once a template is assigned, the SNMP summary starts showing class-based tiles. Each tile opens its own class tab and shows metrics, tables, thresholds, notifications, active alerts, and history recording counts.

Working with a template

  1. In the Monitoring template block, click Select
  2. Pick a suitable template from the list
  3. Click Save template
  4. Use Edit template if you need to change the rules
  5. Run Test metric collection to validate the template

What the test run does

  • Runs against the selected monitoring template
  • Does not write results to the database
  • If no template is selected, the UI links you to Parameters -> SNMP -> Monitoring template

Tile contents

Tile metrics

  • Metrics and Hidden - visible and hidden metric counts
  • Tables - number of table groups
  • Thresholds - how many threshold rules are defined
  • Notifications and Active - how many alerts are enabled and how many are currently firing
  • History recording and Info - extra tile data

Threshold Rules and Notifications

Threshold rules are defined in the monitoring template. In the table view, you can enable per-row watching, open the rule editor, and inspect historical values.

Available actions

  • Watch thresholds - enable or disable watching for a specific row or metric
  • Notify - create an incident when a threshold is exceeded
  • Edit rule - open the rule editor for the selected metric
  • History - open the recorded value history

Evaluation formulas

Formula Meaning
Current Compare against the current value
Average (3) Compare against the average of the last three samples
Each (3) Trigger only when the last three samples all exceed the threshold
Practical note

Use the average or three-in-a-row formulas for short spikes. That keeps the Helpdesk signal cleaner and reduces false positives.

OID Browser and SNMP Walk

The Browse tab exposes an interactive OID tree. Use it to inspect MIB descriptions, run SNMP Walk, and record OIDs in real time.

Open the tree

  1. Open the required node in Network nodes
  2. Switch to the Browse tab
  3. Expand branches and pick the OID you need

What is available

Navigation and search

  • Search by OID or by name
  • A green marker means there is a MIB description for the OID
  • A gray marker means the OID is unknown
  • The description dialog shows localized and original descriptions

SNMP Walk

  • Select any branch and start SNMP Walk
  • The result appears as OIDs and values are received
  • The scanner returns no more than 999 items, so narrow the branch when possible

OID recording

  • The Record button starts a live stream of OID values
  • The dialog shows the node, elapsed time, received OIDs, and the last OID
  • When recording completes, the file is ready to download
No data available

If SNMP data does not load, check device reachability under Parameters -> General -> Services (SNMP) and verify the node's SNMP settings under Parameters -> SNMP -> SNMP settings.

Typical Scenarios

Network switch

  1. Add the switch as a network node
  2. In Parameters -> SNMP, set SNMP v2c and the Community string
  3. Select a template for network equipment or create one with the AI assistant
  4. Open Monitoring and review the SNMP summary and interface tables
  5. Enable threshold watching for the metrics you care about, such as CPU load or port traffic

UPS

  1. Add the UPS as a network node with its IP address
  2. Configure SNMP connectivity, usually with SNMP v2c
  3. Assign a UPS template and run test metric collection
  4. Set thresholds for battery charge, voltage, or temperature

Bulk setup

  1. Create a folder for the device group
  2. Set SNMP parameters on the folder
  3. Child nodes inherit the version, Community, or SNMPv3 credentials
  4. Assign a separate monitoring template to each node
Next steps

For monitoring template details, see SNMP Monitoring Templates. For OID and MIB references, see SNMP References.