Cisco Nexus SNMP Configuration Step-by-Step

Configuring SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) on Cisco Nexus switches is essential for effective network monitoring and management. SNMP allows network administrators to gather performance data, monitor device health, and receive real-time alerts about potential issues.

This article covers the steps of Cisco Nexus SNMP configuration, ensuring that you can efficiently manage your network infrastructure and maintain optimal performance. The Cisco Data Center Training courses will provide you with a better understanding of the configuration process and allow you to leverage SNMP to enhance visibility and control over your network resources.

Steps to Configure SNMP on Cisco Nexus Switches

Follow the steps below to configure SNMP on Cisco Nexus switches. You can try these steps on our Cisco Nexus virtual lab.

Step1. Create an object group for the interface used by the SNMP server to poll the device. In this example, we use the IP address of the management interface. We have given the name snmp-Interface to the management interface. It is an IP to name mapping.

Nexus-switch (config) # object-group ip address snmp-Interface

Nexus-switch (config-ipaddr-ogroup) # host 192.168.1.1

Step2. Configure an access list to allow snmp communication between server and device. The source will be the SNMP server IP address and the destination is the management interface address.

For simplicity, I have used the IP in the access list; you can specifically allow the snmp ports between the server and device. If you allow specific ports, please make sure that the trap port (UDP 162) must also be opened.

Access list for read only servers:

Nexus-switch (config) # ip access-list Readonly-snmp-traffic

Nexus-switch (config-acl) # permits ip 10.1.1.20/32 addrgroup snmp-Interface

Access list for write servers:

Nexus-switch (config) # ip access-list Readwrite-snmp-traffic

Nexus-switch (config-acl) # permit ip 10.1.1.20/32 addrgroup snmp-Interface

Step3. Configure Read only community

Nexus-switch (config) # snmp-server community CISCORO group network-operator

Step4. Configure Read write community

Nexus-switch (config) #snmp-server community CISCORW group network-admin

Step5. Configure access list for snmp communities.

Nexus-switch (config) #snmp-server community CISCORO use-acl Readonly-snmp-traffic

Nexus-switch (config) #snmp-server community CISCORW use-acl Readwrite-snmp-traffic

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Step6. Configure the SNMP trap source address. SNMP server will receive traps with source interface mgm0. SNMP server will convert the traps to alert only if it has the correct MIB in its database.

Nexus-switch (config) # snmp-server source-interface traps mgmt. 0

Step7. Enables the EIGRP traps (Authentication and SIA).

Nexus-switch (config) # snmp-server enable traps eigrp

Step8. Enable Link down traps.

Nexus-switch (config) # snmp-server enable traps link linkdown

Step9. Enable traps when HSRP state changes.

Nexus-switch (config) # snmp-server enable traps hsrp state-change

Step10. Enables traps for FAN status change.

Nexus-switch (config) # snmp-server enable traps entity entity_fan_status_change

Step11. Enable traps for module status change.

Nexus-switch (config) # snmp-server enable traps entity entity_module_status_change

Step12. Enable traps for unrecognised module

Nexus-switch (config) # snmp-server enable traps entity entity_unrecognised_module

Step13. Device will send the traps to server 10.1.1.20.

Nexus-switch (config) # snmp-server host 10.1.1.20 traps CISCOTRAPS

After completing these steps, you will successfully configure SNMP on Cisco Nexus switches.

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