KACE Systems Management Appliance 13.2 Common Documents (2024)

Apply an SNMP Inventory Configuration to a device

Using SNMP Inventory Configurations to identify specific SNMP objects and non-computer devices to add to inventory

You can identify specific SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) objects and non-computer devices to be inventoried so that you can expand or limit the inventory to fit your needs. In addition, the appliance enables you to map SNMP OIDs (Object Identifiers) to particular fields in the appliance inventory table, using Asset Subtypes.

SNMP is one of the possible methods that appliance Agentless Inventory uses to extract data for inventory and integration into the appliance. The appliance uses the RFC1213 MIB (Management Information Base) as the primary data gathering layer, because it contains data that is specific to all SNMP-capable devices. All SNMP-capable devices expose RFC1213 data. For more information, go to http://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc1213.

With the appliance SNMP inventory configuration feature, you can define an additional set of OIDs to be collected during inventory beyond the standard RFC1213 data. This enables instant extensibility and robustness to what would otherwise be limited in terms of the amount of data that could be gathered from each device.

Obtain a list of object identifiers (OIDs) using the Administrator Console

If you do not have a vendor-provided management information base (MIB) or a generally available MIB for an object, you can obtain a list of object identifiers by using the appliance to probe the object.

You can define an additional set of OIDs to be collected during inventory beyond the standard RFC1213 data, which expands the amount of data that can be gathered from each device. To find these OIDs, you can use a MIB browser on MIBs you have obtained elsewhere. With the appliance, you can perform an SNMP full walk either through device discovery or device inventory if you do not have access to a MIB otherwise.

Map the OIDs to fields in the appliance inventory table so that their information can be integrated into inventory. See Map Object Identifiers to fields in the inventory table.

Map Object Identifiers to fields in the inventory table

You can map SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) OIDs (Object Identifiers) to particular fields that you have created as Asset Subtypes. You can use the resulting SNMP Inventory Configurations to expand your inventory information to include data from non-computer devices.

The SNMP Inventory Configurations list page provides you with the tool to create new mappings or manage existing ones.

After you have determined the OID data you want to collect, you select a subtype for the device from categories that are the same as those on the Device Detail page. You then select a property of that category, the result of which maps the OID to a field in the inventory table. The SNMP object appears in the device inventory after the next scan.

For example, if you had a printer in inventory, added manually or through a discovery schedule, you could use an SNMP Inventory Configuration to have the printer report cartridge ink levels to the appliance. In this case, you would use an Asset Subtype of Printer that you have created as a subtype of device, with a field named Toner Level.

Apply the configuration to an object. See Apply an SNMP Inventory Configuration to a device.

Apply an SNMP Inventory Configuration to a device

You can apply an SNMP Inventory Configuration to a device so that the additional data can be collected during the next scan for that device.

You have created the configuration. See Map Object Identifiers to fields in the inventory table.

The Devices list page reappears after the configuration is applied.

The information appears for the device after the next regularly scheduled reporting time or forced inventory update.

About printer templates

The appliance also comes with a set of printer templates for typical SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) printer models. You can apply these SNMP configurations to printer devices, as needed.

The SNMP Inventory Configurations list page displays the available printer templates. When you apply a printer template to a device, the data defined in the template, such as toner levels or descriptions, is collected for the printer in the next inventory cycle.

A default installation includes a set of templates for the following laser printers, with two variation for each brand to accommodate monochrome and color printers: Brother, Canon, HP, Lexmark, and Xerox.

You can edit or create these templates, as needed. To create or edit a printer template, you must have the relevant SNMP OIDs (Object Identifiers) for the fields that exist as the associated Asset Subtypes. The appliance comes with two Asset Subtypes that capture printer-specific fields such as toner levels: Laser Printer: Color and Laser Printer: Monochrome. For more information about mapping OIDs, see Map Object Identifiers to fields in the inventory table. For details about Asset Subtypes and to find out how they relate to SNMP configurations, see About Asset Subtypes, custom fields, and device detail preferences.

About printer templates

Using SNMP Inventory Configurations to identify specific SNMP objects and non-computer devices to add to inventory

You can identify specific SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) objects and non-computer devices to be inventoried so that you can expand or limit the inventory to fit your needs. In addition, the appliance enables you to map SNMP OIDs (Object Identifiers) to particular fields in the appliance inventory table, using Asset Subtypes.

SNMP is one of the possible methods that appliance Agentless Inventory uses to extract data for inventory and integration into the appliance. The appliance uses the RFC1213 MIB (Management Information Base) as the primary data gathering layer, because it contains data that is specific to all SNMP-capable devices. All SNMP-capable devices expose RFC1213 data. For more information, go to http://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc1213.

With the appliance SNMP inventory configuration feature, you can define an additional set of OIDs to be collected during inventory beyond the standard RFC1213 data. This enables instant extensibility and robustness to what would otherwise be limited in terms of the amount of data that could be gathered from each device.

Obtain a list of object identifiers (OIDs) using the Administrator Console

If you do not have a vendor-provided management information base (MIB) or a generally available MIB for an object, you can obtain a list of object identifiers by using the appliance to probe the object.

You can define an additional set of OIDs to be collected during inventory beyond the standard RFC1213 data, which expands the amount of data that can be gathered from each device. To find these OIDs, you can use a MIB browser on MIBs you have obtained elsewhere. With the appliance, you can perform an SNMP full walk either through device discovery or device inventory if you do not have access to a MIB otherwise.

Map the OIDs to fields in the appliance inventory table so that their information can be integrated into inventory. See Map Object Identifiers to fields in the inventory table.

Map Object Identifiers to fields in the inventory table

You can map SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) OIDs (Object Identifiers) to particular fields that you have created as Asset Subtypes. You can use the resulting SNMP Inventory Configurations to expand your inventory information to include data from non-computer devices.

The SNMP Inventory Configurations list page provides you with the tool to create new mappings or manage existing ones.

After you have determined the OID data you want to collect, you select a subtype for the device from categories that are the same as those on the Device Detail page. You then select a property of that category, the result of which maps the OID to a field in the inventory table. The SNMP object appears in the device inventory after the next scan.

For example, if you had a printer in inventory, added manually or through a discovery schedule, you could use an SNMP Inventory Configuration to have the printer report cartridge ink levels to the appliance. In this case, you would use an Asset Subtype of Printer that you have created as a subtype of device, with a field named Toner Level.

Apply the configuration to an object. See Apply an SNMP Inventory Configuration to a device.

Apply an SNMP Inventory Configuration to a device

You can apply an SNMP Inventory Configuration to a device so that the additional data can be collected during the next scan for that device.

You have created the configuration. See Map Object Identifiers to fields in the inventory table.

The Devices list page reappears after the configuration is applied.

The information appears for the device after the next regularly scheduled reporting time or forced inventory update.

About printer templates

The appliance also comes with a set of printer templates for typical SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) printer models. You can apply these SNMP configurations to printer devices, as needed.

The SNMP Inventory Configurations list page displays the available printer templates. When you apply a printer template to a device, the data defined in the template, such as toner levels or descriptions, is collected for the printer in the next inventory cycle.

A default installation includes a set of templates for the following laser printers, with two variation for each brand to accommodate monochrome and color printers: Brother, Canon, HP, Lexmark, and Xerox.

You can edit or create these templates, as needed. To create or edit a printer template, you must have the relevant SNMP OIDs (Object Identifiers) for the fields that exist as the associated Asset Subtypes. The appliance comes with two Asset Subtypes that capture printer-specific fields such as toner levels: Laser Printer: Color and Laser Printer: Monochrome. For more information about mapping OIDs, see Map Object Identifiers to fields in the inventory table. For details about Asset Subtypes and to find out how they relate to SNMP configurations, see About Asset Subtypes, custom fields, and device detail preferences.

Adding devices manually in the Administrator Console or by using the API

Adding devices manually in the Administrator Console or by using the API

You can add devices to inventory manually, either within the Administrator Console or by using the inventory API (application programming interface).

Adding devices manually is useful when you want to track device information, but you do not want to manage devices by installing the KACE Agent or using Agentless management.

Inventory for manual devices must be updated or uploaded manually. The appliance does not receive scheduled inventory updates from manual devices.

About managing devices

About managing devices

Managing devices is the process of using the appliance to collect and maintain information about devices on your network and performing tasks such as monitoring device status, creating reports, and so on.

To add devices to the appliance inventory, you can:

For information about the features available to devices, see Features available for each device management method.