Can managers and agents instantly communicate with each other? Do I need to set something up first?
When you add a new agent to your network, there are a few simple setup steps:
Step 1: Configure the agent with the IP address of your SNMP manager.
This will vary from device to device, but there will always be some way to tell your new agent where to find your master. Some masters are also able to perform auto-discovery and automatically configure new agents.
Step 2: Compile the agent's MIB into your manager.
If you've ever connected a printer or a digital camera to your computer, you know about installing drivers. A "driver" is a file that tells your computer how to communicate with the other device. In SNMP, although the basic protocol is always the same, every agent has different things that it can report. Generators report fuel levels, for example, while printers report toner and paper levels. A "MIB" (Management Information Base) is simply a file that tells your manager what information this particular agent can report and what commands it can accept. You'll receive a MIB from your agent manufacturer, and you load ("compile") it into your manager as part of setting up the new agent.