Skip to main content

What is MIBs (Management Information Base)?

Published on:
.
18 min read
.
For German Version

An essential component of network administration is a management information base (MIB). MIB makes it possible to monitor, debug, and plan network devices efficiently by offering an organized and defined method. Network performance maintenance will require the use of technologies like MIB as networks expand and become more complicated.

A hierarchically structured database called a management information base (MIB) contains data items related to a device that is monitored by a network management system (NMS). Using remote access to the MIB's archived managed resource values, the NMS maintains tabs on nodes. Each entity is uniquely recognized by an object identifier (OID).

In this article, you can find everything you want to know more comprehensively about MIBs under the following headings:

  • What is the Definition of a Management Information Base (MIB) in Networking?
  • How Do MIBs Facilitate the Management of Network Devices?
  • What is the Structure of a Typical MIB?
  • What are the Differences Between Web Based and Cloud Based Management Information Systems?
  • What are Vendor-Specific MIBs?
  • What Distinguishes Standard MIBs from Vendor-Specific MIBs?
  • What is the Role of MIBs in the SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) Framework?
  • How Do Different Versions of SNMP (e.g., SNMPv1, SNMPv2, SNMPv3) Interact with MIBs?
  • What are MIB Objects?
  • How are Objects Organized Within a Management Information Base?
  • How are MIB Objects Identified Using Object Identifiers (OIDs)?
  • How are OIDs Structured?
  • What Information Do OIDs Convey About MIB Objects?
  • What is an MIB Browser?
  • What are the Recommended Popular MIB Browser Tools for Network Administrators?
    1. Paessler PRTG Network Monitor
    2. SolarWinds SNMP Walk
    3. MG-SOFT MIB Browser
    4. ManageEngine SNMP MIB Browser
    5. iReasoning MIB Browser
    6. Ethereal MIB Browser
    7. OidView SNMP MIB Browser
    8. SNMPSoft Tools
    9. AdRem Free Remote Console
    10. HiliSoft SNMP MIB Browser
  • How Do MIB Browsers Facilitate Troubleshooting and Configuration Tasks?
  • Can Organizations Customize or Extend MIBs to Suit Their Specific Network Requirements?

What is the Definition of a Management Information Base (MIB) in Networking?​

Management Information Base (MIB) is a database used to manage the entities in a communication network. The Management Information Base (MIB) plays a crucial role inside the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP), facilitating the monitoring and control of network devices. Management Information Bases (MIBs) encompass comprehensive data pertaining to every device within the network, encompassing its current condition, capacity, and performance. The monitoring of nodes by network management platforms involves the retrieval of the controlled resource values from the Management Information Base (MIB). The behavior of managed resources can be influenced by management platforms through the modification of MIB values, such as the establishment of thresholds that trigger the generation of alerts.

The "Structure of Management Information Version 2 (SMIv2)" RFC 2578 subset of Abstract Syntax Notation One (ASN.1) is used to define objects in the MIB. An MIB compiler is a piece of software that does the parsing.

Each record in the hierarchical, tree-structured database is identified by an object identifier (OID). The Management Information Bases (MIBs) are covered in Internet documentation RFCs, specifically RFC 1155, "Structure and Identification of Management Information for TCP/IP-Based Internets," and its two companions, RFC 1213, "Management Information Base for Network Management of TCP/IP-Based Internets," and RFC 1157, "A Simple Network Management Protocol."

Between human network administrators and the network devices they are in charge of, MIB serves as a translator. An object identifier (OID) is assigned in the MIB to each object (or entity) on a network, such as a router, server, or printer.

Because these OIDs are globally unique and hierarchical, any device can be uniquely recognized and controlled. A network management system utilizes SNMP to query or adjust the OID values recorded in the MIB in order to retrieve or modify device-specific information.

The main application of MIB is in network management. Here are a few particular use cases of MIB:

  • Device monitoring: Network administrators can keep an eye on the functionality and state of their network devices thanks to MIB.
  • Troubleshooting: MIB assists in the diagnosis and resolution of network issues by offering comprehensive information about every device.
  • Planning for capacity upgrades: Trends in network consumption may be examined using MIB data to help in capacity planning.

What is the Importance of MIB?​

In the modern hybrid workplace, firms must overcome a number of unique obstacles. Among these are the challenges of overseeing a staff that is both widely distributed and mobile, dealing with differing levels of connection, and the pressing requirement to implement solutions that facilitate remote onboarding, collaboration, monitoring, and business continuity.

In order to keep a network functional and healthy, MIB is essential. MIB is vital due to the following reasons:

  • Effective network management: MIB simplifies and streamlines network administration by standardizing and arranging data about network devices. It saves time and eliminates the need for human intervention by enabling administrators to remotely view and modify network device settings. This can greatly improve the effectiveness of operations, particularly in large networks with many devices.
  • Proactive problem solving: MIB data monitoring on a regular basis can assist in spotting any problems before they have an influence on network performance. For example, if MIB is used to monitor a printer's ink levels, an alarm may be set to go off when the ink reaches a predetermined level, allowing for prompt ink replacement and preventing printer downtime. Likewise, MIB assists in identifying anomalous traffic patterns that can point to a security breach or network issue, allowing for quick intervention to stop more issues.
  • Enhanced network visibility: MIB offers a thorough overview of every device connected to a network, simplifying management and control. It provides comprehensive information about every device's condition, including traffic information, error rates, operational state, and more. In order to preserve network speed and guarantee service quality, improved network visibility and network discovery are essential. Additionally, it aids in strategic decision-making, such as capacity planning and infrastructure upgrades, by providing valuable data about network usage patterns and growth trends.

As a result, network management systems must be agile, with built-in intelligence and automation platforms to simplify decision-making and reduce mistakes. Security must be incorporated and prioritized to guarantee that network management platforms and the devices that connect to them maintain strong security from the core to the periphery.

How Do MIBs Facilitate the Management of Network Devices?​

Data is gathered by network management systems from client devices, switches, routers, access points, and other network-connected equipment. Additionally, they provide network administrators with granular control over the functionality and communication between those devices.

These devices provide data that is used to monitor security and segmentation, proactively detect performance concerns, and expedite troubleshooting.

Ensuring seamless communication between controlled network devices is the MIB's main responsibility. To decode the messages of a specific managed device, the controlling entity needs the device's MIB file. Each data item in the message is uniquely identified by this file's object identifier (OID), a numerical string that is then assigned a pertinent text label. The management system then displays those OID numbers in a text format that is understandable by humans by using this file as a reference. The communications that the controlling entity receives without these files are merely a meaningless stream of numbers. Furthermore, for smooth message translation and transmission, the management system must load both standard and device-specific data.

There are several OIDs, or data objects, on each SNMP device. For IT professionals, manually maintaining various OIDs of many network devices might be laborious or even impossible in most circumstances. IT experts can rapidly find and handle all of the objects of a particular device by gathering them in one place using an MIB file. To manage these files and associated devices, they make use of an SNMP network management tool called a MIB browser.

Taking into mind that every network device has several OIDs and its own MIB table, you have more than a million OIDs covered. Physically, controlling your network while knowing all those MIBs and OIDs is not possible. Typically, network management solutions offer both fundamental and comprehensive performance data about your network's components. However, administrators need to employ MIB browsers that will assist in locating OIDs in order to go above and beyond and poll bespoke MIB objects. Administrators can monitor devices with many statistical data points by using custom pollers to poll those OIDs and obtain any information.

What is the Structure of a Typical MIB?​

An Extreme device's monitored and managed data is stored in a database called the management information base (MIB). A tree hierarchy is used to depict the MIB structure. The Consultative Committee for International Telegraph and Telephone (CCITT), the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and the combined ISO/CCITT are the three primary branches that branched out from the root. To identify these branches, they contain numbers (OIDs) and brief text strings. Object names are described by text strings, and their compact, encoded versions can be created by software using numbers.

The data that may be acquired from SNMP agents is specified by the MIB. The MIB defines items that are pertinent to a TCP/IP environment, like packet counts and routing tables. Groups are created from the objects described by the MIB, and each group represents a collection of management data.

The following groupings are defined for MIB as of right now:

  • Framework: MIB framework includes details on the entity, including the version number, software, and hardware of the system.
  • Interfaces: Interfaces include every interface that a node can use to send and receive IP datagrams. In addition, it has error and packet send/receive counters.
  • Addresses Translation: It includes instructions for translating a network address into a particular physical address or subnetwork. Although it is still active, this group is deprecated and will eventually be removed.
  • IP: Includes details about the IP layer, including the quantity of datagrams that are delivered, received, and routed. It consists of two tables: the IP address table holds the entity's IP address details, and the IP routing table has one entry for each route that the entity is currently aware of.
  • ICMP: Includes the input and output statistics for the ICMP.
  • TCP: Includes details on TCP connections, including the maximum number of connections that the entity is capable of supporting, the total number of segments that have been retransmitted, the minimum and maximum time-out values, and more.
  • UDP: Includes details on the UDP layer, including transmitted and received datagram counters.
  • EGP: Includes details about EGP peers, including error counts, the quantity of messages transmitted and received, and other data.
  • Transfer: Includes information particular to the media. At present, this group is not being utilized.
  • SNMP: Includes details about the SNMP agent, like the quantity of received SNMP packets, the quantity of SNMP queries with erroneous community names, and so forth.
  • Bridge: Includes details on the bridges and other hardware that connects Local Area Network segments that are not connected to the network layer. The virtual bridge implemented by z/VM is called VSWITCH.

The MIB's initial group is the system group. Consequently, it is recognized as:

  • 1.3.6.1.2.1.1 or { mib 1 }

Every group has a subtree of its own. For instance, the system description (sysDescr), the first variable in the system group, can be expressed as follows:

  • { system 1 } or 1.3.6.2.1.1.1

In summary, the following explains how the ASN.1 object identification for sysDescr is put together.

System SysDescr iso org dod internet mgmt mib system sysDescr 1 3 6 1 2 1 1 1 1

Additionally, the groups and tables listed below are included in the MIB module:

  • System collective (srSystem): A collection of items characterizing the host's system performance is provided by the system group (srSystem).
  • Table of processors: A conceptual table of the host's processors is called the srProcessorTable. The hrProcessorTable in the Host Resources (RFC-1514) MIB is extended by this table. The relative processor index in the hrProcessorTable and the indices used in this table match.
  • Table of disks: A conceptual table representing the host's actual disk storage devices is called the srDiskTable. The hrDiskStorageTable in the Host Resources (RFC-1514) MIB is extended by this table. The relative device index in the hrDiskStorageTable and the indices utilized in this table match.
  • Monitoring of log files: The group responsible for log file monitoring (srLogMon) offers tools for keeping an eye on what's happening in system and application log files and for setting off events when matches are found against filter expressions.
  • Table of users: The list of users who are presently logged into the host system is available in the users table (srUserLoginTable).

In addition to all of the above, an MIB entry contains the following properties:

  • Syntax: The abstract data MIB structure that corresponds to the object type is defined by syntax. For discrete inputs (ON/OFF applications), it can take the form of binary numbers; for analog inputs, which are more detailed than discrete inputs, it can take the form of integers.
  • Access: Access determines if an object's value may be read-write (read-write) or read-only (read-only). An alarm is read-only when an RTU alerts the management to it. Values that are changeable, like an RTU relay output that allows for remote door unlocking, are described as read-write.
  • Description: The object type is defined textually in the description. All semantic definitions required for interpretation are included in the definition; it usually includes information that would be sent in any remark descriptions linked to the object. This is comparable to how domain names are created from IP addresses, which are unintelligible numbers, using the DNS.

Each manufacturer generates a unique MIB containing just the OIDs uniquely linked to their device. "RFC MIBs" are additional industry-standard MIBs that they frequently refer to. An SNMP MIB is object-oriented, meaning that it may store information as efficiently as possible thanks to its data structure.

What are Vendor-Specific MIBs?​

The whole spectrum of statistical, status, configuration, and control information that might be included in a network device is not covered by the Internet Standard and Experimental MIBs. Nevertheless, this knowledge is quite helpful. Router (and other network device) vendors have often created MIB extensions that provide this data. Vendor-specific MIBs are the name given to these MIB extensions.

All statistics, status, configuration, and control information not made available by the standard and experimental MIBs that have been put into place must be accessible through the vendor-specific MIB for the router. For the purposes of control and monitoring, this data must be accessible.

This requirement is to enable any action on the router that can be taken through a console to be taken using SNMP, and vice versa. Before SNMP can function, a basic amount of configuration is required (e.g., the router must have an IP address). With SNMP, this initial setting is not possible. Nevertheless, network administration should provide access to all capabilities when the first setup is complete.

All vendor-specific MIB variables should have their specifications available from the vendor. These requirements must follow the SMI [MGT:1], and the format of the descriptions must follow [MGT:4].

The user must have access to the vendor-specific MIB. Users wouldn't be able to set up their network management systems to access vendor-specific settings without this knowledge. Then, these criteria would serve no use. There are parsers available that can read MIB requirements and produce the tables required for the network management station. Typically, these parsers are limited to comprehending the standard MIB specification format.

What Distinguishes Standard MIBs from Vendor-Specific MIBs?​

All statistics, status, configuration, and control information that is not made available by the standard and experimental MIBs in place must be accessed via the vendor-specific MIB. This data must be made available for control and monitoring.

This requirement enables any network device activity that can be performed through a console to be performed using SNMP, and vice versa. Before SNMP can work, some fundamental configuration is necessary (for example, the router must have an IP address). With SNMP, this initial configuration is not feasible. Nonetheless, network management should grant access to all capabilities after the first configuration is complete.

Another aspect that separates standard MIBs from vendor-specific MIBs is that all vendor-specific MIB variables must be specified by the vendor. These criteria must adhere to the SMI [MGT:1], as well as the description format [MGT:4].

The second distinguishing aspect is that the user must have access to the vendor-specific MIB. Users would be unable to configure their network management systems to access vendor-specific settings without this information. Then these criteria would be ineffective. There are parsers available that can read MIB requirements and generate the necessary tables for the network management station. Typically, these parsers are confined to understanding the standard MIB specification structure.

What is the Role of MIBs in the SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) Framework?​

A data structure is a text file (with a.mib file extension) that contains a description of every data object, including access control, that a specific device uses and that can be accessed or managed via SNMP. Object IDs allow a wide variety of controlled objects inside the MIB to be recognized. A MIB identification called an object identifier (OID) is used to distinguish between different devices inside the MIB. In order to gain access to MIB objects, OIDs are numerical identifiers that are produced uniquely.

Actually, management information on the monitored systems is exposed as variables by the SNMP agents. By remotely changing these variables, the protocol enables active management activities like configuration modifications. There are hierarchies among the variables that may be accessed by SNMP. It is not specified by SNMP itself which variables a monitored system should provide. Instead, SNMP takes advantage of an extensible architecture that lets programs create custom hierarchies. An acronym for these hierarchies is a management information base (MIB). A device subsystem's management data structure is described by MIBs, which employ a hierarchical namespace with object identifiers (OIDs) in it. Every OID designates a variable that SNMP may be used to read or set. MIBs employ the notation specified by ASN.1 subset Structure of Management Information Version 2.0 (SMIv2, RFC 2578).

How Do Different Versions of SNMP (e.g., SNMPv1, SNMPv2, SNMPv3) Interact with MIBs?​

Three versions of SNMP have been developed: SNMPv1, SNMPv2c, and SNMPv3. User Datagram Protocol (UDP) is used to carry all SNMP messages, and it supports the GET, GetNext, and Set SNMP actions in all versions. This is how MIBs are interacted with by SNMPv1, SNMPv2, and SNMPv3.

  • SNMPv1: The list of protocol transactions for SNMPv1 protocol performance is restricted to the Gets, Sets, and Traps of certain objects inside the MIB. As a result, retrieving a row of information from enormous collections of data requires many transactions. GETNEXT is one of the SNMPv1 fundamental instructions. The "getnext" command gets a value from the MIB's subsequent OID, much like the "get" command does.
  • SNMPv2c: Unfortunately, the introduction of SNMPv2's new security scheme hindered the protocol's widespread adoption. The answer is that SNMPv2c was created to eliminate the new security scheme and revert to the well-known community-based methodology. As a result, while SNMPv2c continues to improve upon its predecessor in areas such as protocol packet types, MIB structure components, and transport mappings, security concerns remain. The original SNMPv1 is actually a sequel to SNMPv2c. In SNMPv1 the usual MIB2 integer is 32 bits long, but SNMPv2 provides a new integer type that is 64 bits long. 64-bit counters are better suited to high-speed connections, but 32-bit counters have limited capacity and need to be wrapped quickly. This results in more network traffic and lower CPU usage for the NMS management and the agent. 64-bit counters, enhanced security, more adaptability in creating hierarchical management systems, and easier Management Information Base (MIB) discovery are all features of SNMPv2.
  • SNMPv3: What a certain SNMpv3 user can observe is determined by SNMP View. One method to configure this is so that a user can only view the interface index, OID 1.3.6.1.2.1.2, and anything below it. It is necessary to specify the ISO name in order to establish an all-access view. Because of the tree structure of the MIB, anything below the iso is accessible.

What are MIB Objects?​

A managed object is one of many distinct features of a managed device, sometimes referred to as an MIB object or object. Managed objects are made up of one or more object instances, which function as variables. Within the MIB hierarchy, a managed object is uniquely identified by its OID.

There are two kinds of managed objects: 1- A single object instance is defined by scalar objects. 2- Multiple linked object instances that are aggregated in MIB tables are defined by tabular objects. The file format of the SNMP MIB is tree-structured, akin to a disk directory structure in many aspects. Starting with the ISO internet directory, the top-level SNMP branch has four primary branches:

  1. The common SNMP objects that are often supported (at least partially) by all network devices are found in the mgmt SNMP branch.
  2. The enhanced SNMP objects specified by network equipment suppliers are contained in the private SNMP branch.
  3. Typically, there are no significant objects or data in the experimental and directory SNMP branches, which are defined under the internet root directory.
  4. An essential component of the SNMP standard is the tree structure. On the other hand, the leaf items of the tree, which offer real management information about the device, are the most important components. Generally speaking, SNMP leaf objects may be divided into two kinds that represent the arrangement of the tree structure and are comparable but significantly different:
    • Separate MIB Items: One piece of management data is included in discrete SNMP objects. All that the operator needs to know is the object's name; no further information is required. Discrete objects are frequently used to represent a device's summary values. They are especially helpful for gathering data from the network to compare the performance of different network devices. The '.0' (dot-zero) extension is frequently used to identify these items from Table objects. (The '.0' extension is usually assumed if it is absent from a leaf SNMP object name.)
    • MIB Objects Table: Multiple pieces of management data are included in Table SNMP objects, which enable the handling of simultaneous arrays of information. These objects are identified from discrete objects by the '.' (dot) extension that is necessary to separate the specific value being referred to in their names.

How are Objects Organized Within a Management Information Base?​

A database for managing network components is called the Management Information Base (MIB). The managed objects that make up the MIBs are called object identifiers, or OIDs for short.

Every identifier is distinct and indicates certain attributes of a device under management. In MIB, each item ID is arranged in a hierarchical manner. The MIB hierarchy can be shown as a tree structure, with each variable having its own unique identifier.

A mechanism for connecting managed items to one another is offered by the MIB. The real database stored within the node can be seen or altered by manipulating the virtual object included within the MIB.

SNMP outlines a method for uniquely identifying every object and instance of that object that is present in a system. These things are known as object identifiers or OIDs for short. An ordered series of nonnegative integers written from left to right and separated by a period (i.e., dot) is how OIDs are defined. The dot notation is the name given to this. An OID, for instance, is represented as "1.1". There is no restriction on the number of branches (subIDs) that can exist in the OID space itself. However, a limit of 128 subIDs has been established for SNMP. A period divides each succeeding integer from the integers around it. There is no maximum number for the series; nevertheless, each implementation will have a maximum and minimum number of two numbers.

OIDs are categorized and set up in a tree structure with levels of organization. The ISO and ITU standards organizations are in charge of the highest rungs of the OID tree. These organizations specify the criteria for assigning new tasks. Standard organizations or businesses oversee and maintain a piece of this OID tree. Normal MIBs usually have OIDs with the prefix 1.3.6.1.2.1.

How are MIB Objects Identified Using Object Identifiers (OIDs)?​

Individual entries, or objects, within the MIB are identified by OIDs. OIDs are defined according to Abstract Syntax Notation One's ("x,y") name standard (ASN.1). This naming standard uses "x" to represent a numeric number that indicates where an OID is located in the MIB tree and "y" to represent an OID name that can be read by humans, also known as a variable name. It is simpler to search the MIB and report information that is legible by humans thanks to the numerical OIDs.

OIDs refer to network monitoring objects that are kept in the Management Information Base (MIB), a database. The structure of the network alerts under observation is stored in an MIB object (such as a "city" map), and the OIDs are used to track the individual components (such as a house's address or other location).

An SNMP OID is analogous to the address that a fire truck would travel to in this scenario if the fire alarm went off. What would happen if you called the fire department with your home's GPS coordinates, which would reflect the object ID or OID, in the event that a fire broke out? For the fire department to find the right street address, they would need to check that in their MIB.

SNMP OIDs in telecom identify certain areas inside the monitored network. With the help of the OID, the MIB can provide your network managers with a status description based on the event's location.

How are OIDs Structured?​

Network managers must comprehend OID structure in order to properly administer and keep an eye on their networks. The most important part of the OID syntax is the object identifier (OID). It is a special number that is given to every network management system item. Every number in the OID is a node in the OID tree, and they are separated by dots. The root node of the OID tree is the base of a hierarchical structure that branches out to sub-nodes. The object's position in the OID tree is determined by the OID, which offers a special path for access.

One crucial component of network administration that calls for a thorough understanding is the structure of Object Identifiers (OIDs). SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) frequently uses OIDs to identify managed items in a network in a unique way. They are made up of a string of integers separated by dots, each of which stands for a node in a tree structure.

  1. Hierarchical Structure: OIDs resemble trees in their hierarchical structure. A single dot represents the tree's root, and a number represents each level that follows. A dot separates each node in the tree, with the item itself represented by the last node. In a network, the hierarchical structure facilitates simple object management and navigation.
  2. UUIDs, or universal unique identifiers: An alternative to OIDs that gives items a globally unique identification is a UUID. UUIDs are produced randomly and have a far lower collision rate than OIDs, which are hierarchical and may be issued by several organizations. Although UUIDs have several advantages over OIDs, not all management systems may be compatible with them, and they are not as commonly utilized in network administration.
  3. Object Syntax: The kind of object an OID represents dictates its syntax. An OID representing an integer value will be formatted differently from an OID representing a string value, for instance. Comprehending the syntax of object identifiers (OIDs) is crucial for analyzing and modifying the values of managed objects inside a network.
  4. Object Naming: One crucial component of network administration is the naming of controlled objects. Each object has a unique identification thanks to OIDs, however, the naming scheme employed could differ based on the company or supplier. For managed items to be simply recognized and arranged, it is crucial to have a standard naming convention.
  5. OID Registration: The Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) allows OIDs to be registered in order to guarantee their interoperability with other management systems and their uniqueness. Although it is not required, OID registration can help avoid disputes and guarantee compatibility across various management systems.

Depending on the company or vendor, different name standards, object syntax, and hierarchical structures may be employed; nonetheless, a standardized method should be set up to provide simple managed object organization and identification. Furthermore, even if UUIDs have certain advantages over OIDs, not all management systems may support them, and therefore are not as commonly utilized in network administration. Although it is not required, OID registration with IANA can assist avoid conflicts and guarantee compatibility across various management systems.

What Information Do OIDs Convey About MIB Objects?​

The management station utilizes the object identifier (OID) assigned to each object in the MIB to ask the agent for the object's value. An OID, also known as a registration tree or OID tree, is a series of numbers that, by specifying a path to a managed item via a structure resembling a tree, uniquely identifies that object. An SNMP agent searches the OID tree for a managed object when it wants to access a particular one.

These variables are used in SNMP messages to transmit data like alarm descriptions or point status. The OID is used by the SNMP manager to put together a message that is sent to the MIB for decoding whenever it asks for the value of any object. Each object identification is given readable labels by the MIB, along with additional pertinent information specific to that particular item. As a result, the MIB can decipher and compile SNMP packets.

SNMP Object Identifiers (OIDs) are unique identifiers for network objects that are kept in a database known as the Management Information Base, or "MIB." The structure of the network alerts under observation is stored in an MIB and the OIDs are utilized to monitor the specific components.

In the telecom industry, SNMP OIDs identify certain network locations. Your network technicians can receive a status description for the event location from the MIB by using the OID.

What is an MIB Browser?​

An SNMP network management tool is an MIB browser. Put another way, it's a network management analysis technique that can communicate with different agents and devices on a computer network using the SNMP protocol.

One tool that lets you collect data from network devices and present it in a comprehensible fashion is an MIB browser. It allows you to create and manage SNMP traps, loads MIB files and query data, and filters out information from an MIB tree. Each device vendor offers a unique collection of MIB files, and various MIB files from various suppliers may be loaded by an MIB browser. The object hierarchy on the controlled device, the syntax, and the access rights for each variable in the MIB are all described in an MIB file.

An MIB browser can be installed on a computer and run in the cloud or on-premises. Both the cloud-based Site24x7 web client and the on-premises Network Module come with access to Site24x7's proprietary MIB browser.

On the internet, there are a lot of MIB browsers accessible. These MIB browsers make it simple for users to retrieve, examine, query, and perform basic actions on MIB files. While all MIB browsers let you comprehend and manipulate your device's data, there are differences in their features and functionalities. While some MIB SNMP browsers are text-based, others offer a basic GUI that displays MIB data as a list, while still others are modeled after spreadsheets. Consider how much data you require from a browser while making your selection.

In this post, we've put together a list of the top MIB browsers.

1. Paessler PRTG Network Monitor​

For Windows, Paessler MIB Importer is a simple and easy-to-use MIB reader. It is a freeware MIB browser program that monitors, loads, imports, and transforms MIB files to object identification libraries in conjunction with the PRTG-Network Monitor. Using MIB data sets supplied by the device vendor, it tracks SNMP-capable devices and converts the MIB data into an object identification library, which the PRTG monitor utilizes to show particular device performance.

Advantages of PRTG-Network Monitor are as follows:

  • Easy to use and very customized
  • provides graph-formatted network and device configuration metrics.
  • It transforms abstract specification language MIB data files into a comprehensible format.

2. SolarWinds SNMP Walk​

Professionals in IT and networking are familiar with the SolarWinds brand. The SolarWinds Engineer's Toolset (ETS) includes its MIB Browser along with a host of other networking apps and useful tools to help customers make sure their whole IT infrastructure is operating properly. With the help of this powerful MIB browser, users can effectively manage and update MIBs and query and configure any SNMP-capable device with ease.

It is possible to swiftly go through an MIB tree to determine which MIBs are enabled by a particular networking device, which facilitates tracking and information gathering for object IDs. This MIB Browser software pre-installs a library of over a million discrete item IDs from hundreds of standard and manufacturer MIBs.

A particular networking device's built-in MIB scanner helps the user identify a certain MIB or set of related MIBs. In addition, the user may supply a network range that will be examined to see whether or not it supports the particular MIB.

The advantages of SolarWinds SNMP Walk are as follows:

  • view metrics related to bandwidth utilization and network performance in real-time.
  • Integrated, efficient MIB scanner for finding particular MIB files and object IDs fast.
  • Easily access over fifty key networking tools, such as an MIB browser.

3. MG-SOFT MIB Browser​

SNMPv3 USM (User-based Security Module) users on virtual SNMP devices may be managed using MG-Soft MIB Browser. With the new MIB Browser, the GUI for loading and integrating MIB pieces is more user-friendly and responsive.

Additionally, it offers features like a better SNMP Table listener, log analysis capabilities, device scanning for applicable MIBs, SNMP agent snippet comparison, and simultaneous monitoring of several SNMP-enabled devices.

Features of MG-Soft MIB Browser are as follows:

  • MIB Viewer automatically synthesizes, stores, and displays specified MIB files.
  • In the default monitor panel, MIB Browser and SNMP-capable devices can send and receive data packets.
  • There are several operating systems that this utility is compatible with, including Windows, Linux, macOS, and Solaris.

4. ManageEngine SNMP MIB Browser​

For viewing MIB files, ManageEngine provides both users and IT professionals with a free and robust SNMP MIB browser. You may use it to go through any MIB tree and find out whether MIBs are supported by a particular network component. It instantly retrieves a large variety of data from SNMP network devices. Additionally, the user may perform a variety of SNMP activities, including GET/SET requests and answers, as well as load and analyze several MIB data files.

The advantages of ManageEngine are as follows:

  • Notifies the network administrator via email and pushes alerts on the health and performance of the device.
  • The data from the SNMP table may be shown in real-time.
  • SNMP versions 1, 2, and 3 are supported
  • Supports the privacy protocols CFB-AES-128 (cipher feedback) and CBC-DES (data encryption standard).
  • Run SNMP queries directly from Linux and Windows computers.
  • A list of all the OIDs that your network equipment is using is displayed.

5. iReasoning MIB Browser​

An example of a program that is both flexible and easy to use is the iReasoning MIB browser. With the help of this program, one may monitor device performance by plotting numerical OID data as graphs and charts. With this tool, network experts may send SNMP queries, load MIBs, and get alarms. It provides basic ping, traceroute, and network surfing applications for network troubleshooting.

The log panel shows application logs and SNMP transactions that are sent back and forth between the devices and the network management system. Additionally, you may record network transactions and analyze them later, as well as manage SNMP alarms using the built-in trap listener. Additionally, it features an integrated switch port mapper that enables users to viewport information like bandwidth use.

The advantages of the iReasoning MIB browser are as follows:

  • Cross-platform combability is compatible with a number of OSs, such as Mac OS, Linux, and Windows.
  • Tables are used to present MIB data sets.
  • Low memory and backlog notifications
  • Trap transmitter and receiver for handling alerts and initiating actions when specific conditions are satisfied.
  • Consolidated Tools for network explorer and port mapping
  • Device comparison and configuration information enabled by SNMP

6. ServersCheck​

ServersCheck For Windows, MIB Browser is a simple and free MIB browser. Users may query an SNMP-supported networking device with this freeware utility by using the SNMPv1, SNMPv2, or secure SNMPv3 protocols.

It is capable of carrying out a number of SNMP activities, such as WALK, GET/SET requests, and answers. This package includes the RFC (Request for Comments) mibs, the ServersCheck mibs, and the standard protocol mibs. In addition, you may use the relevant IP address, serial number, SNMP version, etc. to query networking equipment that supports SNMP.

The advantages of the ServersCheck MIB browser are as follows:

  • Tables are used to present MIB data sets.
  • accommodates all SNMP versions
  • Users have access to MIB files and may perform a variety of SNMP activities.
  • Because it is Java software, any machine with Java run-time enabled may run it.

7. OidView SNMP MIB Browser​

A specialized tool for network management and analysis is the OiDViEW SNMP MIB browser. With this program, MIBs may be built, analyzed, and exported. The OiDViEW MIB browser can examine SNMP mib walk files and get the value of each object identifier from several manufacturers, in contrast to many other MIB browsers.

While values are interpreted and shown in the charting display depending on the MIB specification, MIB parameters are automatically processed and presented in the Info window. MIB data, including object identification, label, class, status, description, and so forth, are shown in the MIB statistics panel. All Windows operating system versions are compatible with it.

The advantages of the OiDViEW MIB browser are as follows:

  • Engaging and Adaptable LiveGrid for instantaneous data examination
  • The charting display's output data may be combined and modified in a number of ways.
  • This program makes it simple to trace the protocol data units for session analysis and see the MIB values.

8. SNMPSoft Tools​

This graphical user interface is included with this open-source SNMP browser. SNMPv1, SNMPv2c, and SNMPv3 are supported. It has functions such as trend graphs and traps.

9. Simple Soft​

Another well-known tool for network analysis and monitoring is Simplesoft's MIB browser. Any SNMP-capable device on the network may be configured and data queried using this user-friendly graphical interface.

The advantages of the Simplesoft MIB browser are as follows::

  • Utilize Ping and Traceroute to examine network connectivity.
  • Provide graph types for network performance metrics to display.
  • Display MIB information in the MIB hierarchy for the selected management entity.
  • Debugging every data transaction, also assists in identifying and resolving communication problems.
  • Displays management information in the form of a visual structure for easy navigation and has the ability to input particular network hardware MIB records. Additionally, it sends various SNMP queries to the SNMP-capable network equipment to get and configure the necessary management data.
  • Information on performance management may be gathered and shown using the frequent sampling approach. It is possible to preserve and spread configuration data that has been created independently or acquired from other devices to other networking hardware that needs a comparable system configuration.

How Do MIB Browsers Facilitate Troubleshooting and Configuration Tasks?​

To facilitate IT managers' tracking of the hardware performance and availability status of linked devices, such as switches and routers, the majority of networking equipment manufacturers include MIB files with their products. Additionally, MIBs are essential to the following network monitoring procedures, such as:

  • Network communication: Managed network devices may communicate with one another more easily thanks to MIBs. To decode communications, managing entities will utilize the MIB file of a particular managed device. Each data item in the message is uniquely identified by this file's OID, a number string, to which a pertinent text label is assigned. The management system then displays those OID numbers in a text format that is understandable by humans by using this file as a reference. The communications that the controlling entity receives without these files are merely a meaningless stream of numbers. Furthermore, for smooth message translation and transmission, the management system must load both standard and device-specific data.
  • Capability assessment: MIB files let network and IT managers look at the capabilities of a controlled device as well as any possible problems that can arise. IT experts are unable to determine from a device's component level what kinds of traps (messages a device sends to a management system upon the occurrence of specific events) it may send. The MIB file cannot deliver component-specific warnings to the controlling entity if it does not include information about one discrete component of a managed device. For instance, a switch cannot issue traps relating to port traffic overload if port information is missing from its MIB file.
  • Device management: There are several OIDs, or data objects, on each SNMP device. For the IT staff, managing various OIDs on many network devices is typically difficult, if not impossible. IT experts may rapidly find and manage things on a particular device by gathering them in one place using a MIB file. To deal with these files and associated devices, they may make use of an SNMP network administration tool called a MIB browser.

Can Organizations Customize or Extend MIBs to Suit Their Specific Network Requirements?​

Yes. Manufacturers frequently generate bespoke MIBs when they have created a new device type or incorporated a special functionality that is not standard. The structure supporting the functions of the device will be formed by a bespoke MIB, which precisely address the object. These MIBs frequently have features that make a device stand apart from its competitors or are newly created features that can't be controlled by a conventional MIB.

In contrast, a bespoke MIB would enable an organization to precisely define the functional requirements if they wanted to buy a device that had to have a certain non-standard feature. Instead of letting each manufacturer make their own bespoke MIB, the corporation may convey to them the precise, unique functionality that is required by giving them a custom object.

To enhance the capabilities offered by an already-existing standard MIB, a custom MIB can be created. In this instance, the new custom MIB is built using objects that incorporate both the enhanced and current capabilities; the standard objects are left intact. It is possible to construct a bespoke MIB without consulting an existing NTCIP standard. When a device is not currently supported by NTCIP, this is usually the case.

Last updated on by Zenarmor