Re: snmpEngineBoots

Hi,

Thanks for your information. I guess that this definition has originated
from the Unix system where the SNMP protocol can be operational when the
SNMP agent is down?

In many embedded systems, snmpEngineBoots would then start from 1 as these
systems would not respond to any SNMP requests until the SNMP agent is up
and running.

Regards,
Ann


"C. M. Heard" wrote:

> On Fri, 2 May 2003, Ann Lo wrote:
> > Should snmpEngineBoots be initialized to 0 or 1? rfc3414 (USM)
> > says 0.
>
> That's the correct initial value.
>
> > rfc3411 says 1.
>
> More precisely, it says that's the minimum value that can be
> returned in respose to a Get-Request-PDU.
>
> > To be really consistent with both rfc's, the implemention could be as
> > follows:
> >
> >    * Set snmpEngineBoots to 0 when the SNMP agent is first installed.
> >    * Do not provide a MIB instance to snmpEngineBoots when it is 0.
>
> Note that the engine _cannot_ return any value until after it is
> booted at least one, so the second step is automatic.
>
> I seem to recall that this discussion has taken place on this list
> before.
>
> //cmh