Help for MIB Browser

The MIB Browser enables you to view information for MIB objects within a selected host. The MIB Browser is compliant with Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) Version 1 and Version 2; therefore you can view any MIB objects within a selected host that meet that criteria.

This window consists of the following interactive areas:

Host information
Provides drop down boxes to specify the following:
Name or IP Address
Enter the host name or IP address in this field. Once you have entered a name or address, it is available for selection from the drop-down list.
SNMP Version
The MIB Browser SNMP Version menu provides two options: Version 1 and Version 2. For all features except walk, if a table or an object contains any objects that are SNMP Version 2 only, (counter 64), then the MIB Browser automatically uses SNMP Version 2. Note that SNMP Version 2 is not automatically selected for the walk function. To perform walks on SNMP Version 2 tables or objects, select Version 2 from the SNMP Version menu.
Read Community Name
By default, the MIB Browser uses the public community name. To use a community name other than the default, public, clear the Use Default check box and enter the read community name to be used.
Write Community Name
By default, the MIB Browser uses the public community name. To use a community name other than the default, public, clear the Use Default check box and enter the write community name to be used.
Walk button
Use the Walk function to walk a MIB tree. This button is only enabled when a valid IP address or name is entered or selected and a MIB object is selected. To use the Walk function, do the following:
  1. Select or type a name or IP address in the Name or IP Address drop-down list.
  2. Select the MIB object. This enables the Walk button.
  3. Select Version 2 in the SNMP Version drop-down list to walk an SNMP Version 2 MIB.
  4. To use a read community name other than the default, clear the Use Default check box located under the Read and Write Community Name drop-down list and enter the read community name in the Read and Write Community Name drop-down list.
  5. Click the Walk button.
  6. To end the Walk at any time, click Stop.

Graph button
The graph function provides a real-time graph of a MIB variable. This button is only enabled when a valid IP address or name is entered or selected and a MIB object is selected. To graph a MIB variable, do the following:
  1. Select or enter a name or IP address in the Name or IP Address drop-down list.
  2. Select a MIB object. This enables the Graph button.
  3. To use a read community name other than the default, clear the Use Default check box located under the Read and Write Community Name drop-down list and enter the read community name in the Read and Write Community Name drop-down list.
  4. Click the Graph button to begin graphing.
  5. To end the graphing at any time, click Stop.

Apply button
Use this function to change the the value of a MIB object. To set a MIB variable value, do the following:
  1. Select or enter a name or IP address in the Name or IP Address drop-down list.
  2. Select a MIB object to change. This enables the Apply button.
  3. To use a read community name other than the default, clear the Use Default check box located under the Read and Write Community Name drop-down list and enter the read community name in the Read and Write Community Name drop-down list.
  4. Change the MIB variable value in the Value text box.
  5. Click the Apply button to set the MIB variable.
Refresh button
Click this button if you have made any changes to any of the fields in the Host Information section of the MIB Browser to enable those changes. Changes made to any of these fields are not automatically enabled until the Refresh button is clicked.

Navigation tree
Provides a hierarchical listing of all of the MIB objects and groups belonging to the selected host. All MIB objects that are compliant with SNMP Version 1 or 2 display in the Navigation tree if they are loaded in MIBSRVC, and MIB and SNMP services are running.

MIB objects can be any of the following types of resources:

Any leaf objects in the Navigation tree can be viewed in the Information Display area of the MIB Browser. Leaf objects are accompanied by an icon that looks like a white sheet of paper. If the object is not a leaf object in the Navigation tree, it cannot be viewed in the Information Display area. Depending on the the host, the MIB objects of which you are viewing, the Navigation tree will likely also contain layers of folder objects to be opened so that the leaf objects are accessible. The folder objects cannot be viewed.

Information Display area
Displays information about the MIB object or group selected in the Navigation tree. The fields that display are different for groups than for other MIB objects.

For MIB objects that are not groups, this area contains some or all of the following fields, depending on the type of MIB object being viewed:

Object identifier
The numeric string that identifies the object.
Description
Displays a description of the object.
Base syntax
Displays the contents of the Syntax field in the MIB file. The base syntax could be a string, gauge, or count, for example.
Access
Specifies read access, write access, or both.
Value
Displays a value for the object that can be changed if:
  • the access is not read only.
  • you have the proper authorization.
  • the object has a proper community.

For MIB objects that are groups, this area contains some or all of the following fields, depending on the group being viewed:

Object ID
The numeric string that identifies the object.
Abstract
Displays a description of the object.
Type
Equivalent to the base syntax for other MIB objects, this could be a walk, list, list+ or table.
Index
This field appears if the group object is a list+. This is the last digit in the Object ID string that identifies the object. This value can be changed. The Apply button, available for list+ objects, retrieves data with the specified index.
Value
This field appears if the group object is a table. It is a listing for the value field that contains the latest value (variable). You can scroll through this listing. The Refresh button is available for a table object.
Variable Bindings
This field appears for all group types except table and displays the relationship between the object ID (OID) and the SNMP current value.

Graphing area
Displays a graph of the MIB leaf object or table object (which can contain up to three MIB objects) selected in the Navigation tree.
  1. For information about installing the MIB Browser, refer to the NetView for z/OS: Installation: Configuring Graphical Components book.
  2. For information about setting up security for the MIB Browser, refer to the NetView for z/OS: Security Reference book.