The following text describes the format of the
variable-name parameter of the snmpget, snmpnext, snmpset, and snmpwalk commands.
SNMP variable names are specified in the format of Abstract
Syntax Notation One (ASN.1) Object Identifiers. Each variable represents
an object specification in the Management Information Base (MIB),
which is organized in a hierarchical tree-like manner.
Variables may be represented in several ways. Each variable
name is given in the format of A.B.C.D..., where A, B, C, and D
are subidentifiers in one of two forms of notation. Each subidentifier
may be encoded as a decimal integer or as a symbolic name matching
those listed in the following section. The symbolic names are not case-sensitive.
Fully specified variables begin with a dot(.).
If there is no leading dot (.) in the variable name, and if
the first subidentifier is the symbolic name hp, then the name is
formed as if it was preceded with iso.org.dod.internet.private.enterprises.
If there is no leading dot (.) in the variable name, and if
the first subidentifier is not the symbolic name hp, the name is formed as if it was preceded with iso.org.dod.internet.mgmt.mib.
Variables contain two portions. The first portion is the standardized specification
of the variable, (that is, system.sysDescr). The second portion is an instance specification
used to distinguish different instances of the object in the same
MIB. If there can only be one instance, this part of the variable
name is the subidentifier zero 0, (that is, system.sysDescr.0). See RFC 1213 for more information on object instances.
Refer to Appendix C “SNMP Command Examples” for command examples.
