SNMP

SNMP, short for Simple Network Management Protocol, is a critical and widely-adopted protocol designed for managing devices on IP networks. It enables network administrators to manage network performance, find and solve network problems, and plan for network growth. SNMP works by exchanging management information between network devices like routers, switches, servers, printers, and other IP-based devices, making it an indispensable tool for network management.

Its design allows for a minimal amount of data to be transmitted, which conserves bandwidth, yet it's powerful enough to relay vital information about the state and health of the network. SNMP operates on a simple manager-agent model where the manager sends requests to an agent on the network device, and the agent responds with the requested information. This protocol is particularly valued for its simplicity and effectiveness in network monitoring and management, providing insights into network behavior, usage, and potential issues. SNMP's versatility makes it suitable for a diverse range of devices and applications, cementing its role as a cornerstone in network administration.

Integrating SNMP with groundcover

To start accessing granular insights, just follow these 2 super easy steps:

Step 1: Enable Custom Metrics

Follow our quick guide on how to enable scraping custom metrics on groundcover.

Step 2: Import dashboard using Grafana ID

In the groundcover platform, go to Dashboards -> New -> Import.

In the box titled "Import via grafana.com", enter one of the following dashboard IDs, then click "Load".

ID	Name	Description	More Info
11169	SNMP Stats	For snmp_exporter IF-MIB	Link
12197	SNMP Exporter Internal Stats	Internal metrics of Prometheus' snmp_exporter	Link
1124	SNMP Interface Throughput	-	Link
12492	SNMP Interface Detail	Detailed interface stats from prometheus snmp exporter	Link
12489	SNMP Device Summary	Shows summary data from prometheus snmp_exporter if_mib	Link

Note: The dashboards above are the 5 most downloaded SNMP dashboards on Grafana's website, and are listed by number of downloads. More dashboards are available on their website and the steps to add them is the same. Visit this page for the full list of SNMP dashboards.

That's it!

You can now see the imported dashboard in your list of Dashboards and start using it immediately.

You can repeat this action to load as many of these dashboards as you like.

If you import more than one of these dashboards, you may find it useful to create a SNMP Dashboards Folder in groundcover.

View all custom metrics

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