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Which MIB should I use for interface counters?

By Erdem posted 02-02-2016 11:19

  

Question

Which MIB should I use for interface counters?

Answer

Interface management over SNMP is based on two tables:

  • ifTable
  • ifXTable (extension of ifTable)

Both are described in RFC 1213, Management Information Base for Network Management of TCP/IP-based internets: MIB-II and RFC 2233, The Interfaces Group MIB using SMIv2.

 

Interfaces can have several layers, depending on the media, and each sublayer is represented by a separate row in the table. The relationship between the higher layer and lower layers is described in the ifStackTable.

 

The ifTable defines 32-bit counters for inbound and outbound octets (ifInOctets/ifOutOctets), packets (ifInUcastPkts/ifOutUcastPkts, ifInNUcastPkts /ifOutNUcastPkts), errors, and discards.

 

The ifXTable provides similar 64-bit counters, also called high capacity (HC) counters, for inbound and outbound octets (ifHCInOctets/ifHCOutOctets) and inbound packets (ifHCInUcastPkts).

 

For a list of supported standard and enterprise-specific MIBs, click SNMP MIBs and Traps Reference.


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