SNMP MIB Streaming via Differential Sub-tree Compression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing network management protocols, such as SNMP, face inefficiencies due to tedious polling processes, latency, and wasteful use of bandwidth and CPU cycles, especially when managing large numbers of devices over long distances, leading to inordinate operations and overlapping polling intervals.
Innovation Solution
The method and system for streaming Management Information Base (MIB) data using SNMP involve creating MIB views and storing them on endpoint devices, compressing full and differential MIB sub-trees, and sending only the differential data in response to requests, reducing the need for frequent polling and optimizing bandwidth usage through asynchronous data streaming.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If SNMP polling is used to monitor network devices, then network management functions can be performed, but network bandwidth is wasted and polling intervals may overlap
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the changed MIB data from the complete MIB dataset and transmits only these differential portions over the network. This eliminates the waste of bandwidth by sending entire MIB trees when only small portions have changed, directly resolving the contradiction between reliable monitoring and bandwidth conservation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary actions by maintaining complete MIB datasets locally at both the agent and manager sides, and by pre-computing differential changes before transmission. This allows the system to achieve reliable network management with minimal network traffic, as the heavy data processing occurs locally rather than over the network.
2Loss of time
If frequent polling is performed to reduce latency, then data freshness is improved, but CPU cycles on manager end-station are wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by enabling the agent side to autonomously detect MIB changes and push differential data to the manager without requiring frequent polling requests. The agent independently determines what has changed and initiates transmission only when necessary, eliminating wasted CPU cycles on the manager side while maintaining data freshness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces continuous or frequent periodic polling with event-driven periodic action, where data transmission occurs only when changes are detected. This maintains data freshness by responding promptly to changes while avoiding the CPU waste associated with frequent polling of unchanged data.
3Loss of information
If complete MIB data is transmitted to ensure data completeness, then information accuracy is maintained, but network bandwidth is inefficiently used
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the differential portions of MIB data that have changed since the last transmission. By separating changed data from unchanged data and transmitting only the former, the system maintains information accuracy for all MIB variables while dramatically improving bandwidth efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by maintaining complete MIB datasets locally at both agent and manager sides, while only transmitting differential changes over the network. This ensures that data completeness is preserved locally for accurate management, while network bandwidth is used efficiently by transmitting only the necessary differential portions.
4Speed
If polling intervals are reduced to manage multiple devices, then monitoring responsiveness is improved, but polling intervals overlap and bandwidth is wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables each agent to autonomously monitor its own MIB data and independently determine when changes occur. This self-service approach allows multiple devices to be monitored without coordinated polling intervals, as each device pushes updates only when changed, eliminating overlap while maintaining responsiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces synchronized periodic polling with asynchronous event-driven updates. Each device independently triggers transmissions based on its own change events rather than following a global polling schedule, which eliminates interval overlap while maintaining monitoring responsiveness across multiple devices.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for streaming management information base data using simple network management protocol is disclosed. The system includes a manager device and an endpoint device, which runs a SNMP agent and SNMP proxy. The SNMP proxy retrieves MIB data from the SNMP Agent associated with the endpoint device, wherein the MIB data comprises a full MIB sub-tree and differential MIB sub-trees. MIB views comprising MIB variables of interest associated with a full MIB sub-tree and differential MIB sub-trees are created based on a predetermined configuration. The SNMP proxy stores the MIB views and corresponding MIB data in a data store and compresses the MIB views and MIB data into files. Compressed file of the MIB view with MIB data associated with full MIB sub-tree are sent to the manager device in an initial stream. Further, the endpoint device streams compressed file of the MIB views with MIB data associated with the differential MIB sub-tree to the manager device on receiving a request.