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SNMP & Device Discovery

NFO uses SNMP to transform raw network telemetry into a context-aware inventory. By decoupling security standards and polling logic from the actual device onboarding, NFO enables a Zero-Touch administrative experience where hardware is automatically identified, classified, and monitored.

The NFO Infrastructure Framework​

The system is built on a hierarchy designed to automate the lifecycle of a network device from the moment it is discovered.

  • Security & Policy: You define the SNMP Credentials required to access your environment. These form the security foundation for all automated discovery and polling operations.
  • Logic & Artifacts: You define OID Sets and manage MIBs to standardize exactly which metrics are queried (e.g., standard interface stats or vendor-specific telemetry).
  • Intelligence & Classification: NFO uses built-in rules to perform Zero-Touch Classification. As devices are discovered, NFO automatically assigns them to the correct Device Type and Device Group, ensuring they are immediately queried with the appropriate logic and credentials without manual intervention.

SNMP Management​

This section is the central repository for your "Rules of Engagement" and includes:

  • Credential Management: Defining v1, v2c, and v3 (Auth/Priv) security sets.
  • OID Set Construction: Building collections of MIB objects to be polled across your infrastructure.
  • MIB Management: Uploading and indexing vendor-specific MIB files to support custom telemetry.
  • Polling Optimization: Using Environment Variables to tune the SNMP engine for high-scale or high-latency environments.
  • Reporting Modules: Configuring the logic that transforms raw SNMP data into actionable performance and inventory reports.

Auto-discovery​

This section details the dynamic process of populating the NFO inventory and the operational feedback loop:

  • Discovery Engine Setup: Managing Cron-based schedules and general system parameters.
  • Scan Ranges: Defining the subnets and IP ranges for the scanner to sweep, including the assignment of specific Credentials to each range.
  • Classification Operations:
  • Dry Run & Preview: Testing scan logic to review results before they are committed to the production inventory.
  • Classification Overrides: Defining custom rules for instances where specific devices require non-standard Group or Type assignments.
  • Inventory Preview: Viewing and managing discovered devices before they enter the polling rotation.
  • Discovery Reporting: Using specialized modules to report device inventory, topology, and SNMP metrics.

Next Steps​