PMCAPS-MIB

All MIBs › PMCAPS-MIB

Organization: IETF RMONMIB WG

Last Updated: 2000-07-14

Category: Network Management

Description: Defines IETF RMON performance monitoring capability objects, describing which monitoring functions a device supports.

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What Is PMCAPS-MIB?

PMCAPS-MIB is a vendor-neutral IETF module (related to the RMON Performance Monitoring framework) that describes a device's Performance Measurement Capabilities -- essentially a self-describing catalog of which performance metrics and measurement study classes an agent is able to collect, rather than the metrics' live values. It exposes metric definitions (ID, type, direction, name, reference) and study-class definitions (measurement location and type), forming a capability/configuration schema layer used by performance-monitoring managers. Its relevance to hardware/software status monitoring is indirect: it doesn't report live performance counters itself, but tells a management station which performance metrics (e.g., traffic, latency, error-rate style measurements) are available to be collected elsewhere on the device, essentially a discovery mechanism for monitoring capability rather than a status feed. It is designed to work alongside the broader IETF RMON performance-monitoring MIB family that actually reports the measured data. It's deployed in service-provider and enterprise networks using standards-based performance-monitoring/QoS-reporting systems that need to auto-discover what a given device can measure. Engineers implementing or auditing this functionality typically reference the PMCAPS-MIB RFC/standard documentation for the authoritative specification.

IPNetwork Monitor allows you to monitor SNMP objects defined in PMCAPS-MIB. Use the built-in SNMP Monitoring Browser to explore available variables, view their current values and descriptions, and select the objects you want to monitor. You can then create SNMP monitors, configure thresholds, and receive alerts when monitored values change.

Supported Devices

vendor-neutral, standards-based MIB, not tied to a specific manufacturer
network devices supporting IETF RMON performance monitoring

Monitoring Examples

A performance-monitoring manager would query pmMetricTable/pmMetricEntry, keyed by pmMetricID, to read pmMetricType, pmMetricDirType, and pmMetricName and learn that a device supports, say, a particular delay or throughput metric in a given direction. It would similarly query pmStudyClassTable/pmStudyClassEntry for pmStudyClassMeasLoc and pmStudyClassMeasType to discover which measurement study classes (e.g., point-to-point vs. aggregate) are available, then use that information to configure actual data collection through the corresponding RMON performance-monitoring MIB.

What Can Be Monitored

available performance metric definitions
metric measurement direction/type
supported measurement study classes
measurement location per study class

Imported Objects

From RMON-MIB

rmon	OBJECT-IDENTITY

From RMON2-MIB

protocolDirLocalIndex	OBJECT-TYPE
protocolDirectoryGroup	OBJECT-GROUP

From SNMP-FRAMEWORK-MIB

SnmpAdminString

From SNMPv2-CONF

MODULE-COMPLIANCE
OBJECT-GROUP

From SNMPv2-SMI

Integer32
MODULE-IDENTITY
OBJECT-IDENTITY
OBJECT-TYPE

From SNMPv2-TC

RowPointer
TruthValue

OIDs

OID symbolic	OID numeric	Type	Access	Description
pmCapsMIB	1.3.6.1.2.1.16.25			The MIB module for representing Performance Measurement Capabilities.
pmCapsMIBObjects	1.3.6.1.2.1.16.25.1
pmCaps	1.3.6.1.2.1.16.25.1.1
pmMetricTable	1.3.6.1.2.1.16.25.1.1.1		not-accessible	This table contains one row per PM Metric supported by this agent, and should be populated during system initialization.
pmMetricEntry	1.3.6.1.2.1.16.25.1.1.1.1		not-accessible	Information about a particular PM Metric.
OID pmMetricID	1.3.6.1.2.1.16.25.1.1.1.1.1	OBJECT IDENTIFIER	not-accessible	The index for this entry. This object identifies the standard or vendor-specific registration OBJECT IDENTIFER defined for a particular PM metric.
INT pmMetricType	1.3.6.1.2.1.16.25.1.1.1.1.2	INTEGER	read-only	The basic type of metric indicated by this entry. The value 'other(1)' indicates that this metric cannot be characterized by any of the remaining enumerations specified for this object. The value 'connectMetric(2)' indicates that this metric measures connectivity characteristics. The value 'delayMetric(3)' indicates that this metric measures delay characteristics. The value 'lossMetric(4)' indicates that this metric measures loss characteristics.
INT pmMetricDirType	1.3.6.1.2.1.16.25.1.1.1.1.3	INTEGER	read-only	The directional characteristics of the this metric. The value 'oneWay(1)' indicates that this metric is measured with some sort of uni-directional test. The value 'twoWay(2)' indicates that this metric is measured with some sort of bi-directional test. The value 'multiWay(3)' indicates that this metric is measured with some combination of uni-directional and/or bi- directional tests.
STR pmMetricName	1.3.6.1.2.1.16.25.1.1.1.1.4	SnmpAdminString	read-only	The textual name of this metric.
STR pmMetricReference	1.3.6.1.2.1.16.25.1.1.1.1.5	SnmpAdminString	read-only	This object contains a reference to the document which defines this metric. If this document is available online via electronic download, then a URL should be specified in this object. For example, if this pmMetricEntry identified the IPPM metric 'Type-P-Round-Trip-Delay', then this object should contain the value 'http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2681.txt'.
pmStudyClassTable	1.3.6.1.2.1.16.25.1.1.2		not-accessible	This table contains one row per PM Study Class supported by this APM/TPM Device, and should be populated during system initialization.
pmStudyClassEntry	1.3.6.1.2.1.16.25.1.1.2.1		not-accessible	Information about a particular PM Study Class.
OID pmStudyClassID	1.3.6.1.2.1.16.25.1.1.2.1.1	OBJECT IDENTIFIER	not-accessible	The index for this entry. This object identifier should specify the standard or vendor-specific registration OID for this PM Study Class.
BIT pmStudyClassMeasLoc	1.3.6.1.2.1.16.25.1.1.2.1.2	Bits	read-only	The measurement location characteristics of the PM Data collection methodologies employed by this PM Study Class. If this PM Study class utilizes some sort of measurement technology located on the host machine being monitored, then the 'pmClient' BIT will be set. Note that this bit should only be set if any PM technology is installed on the client, in addition to the 'normal' protocol operations supported by that machine. If this PM Study class utilizes some sort of measurement technology located on one or more networking devices (e.g., routers, switches, RMON probes), then the 'pmNetwork' BIT will be set. If this PM Study class utilizes some sort of measurement technology located on the application server being monitored, then the 'pmServer' BIT will be set. Note that this bit should only be set if any PM technology is installed on the server, in addition to the 'normal' protocol operations supported by that machine.
BIT pmStudyClassMeasType	1.3.6.1.2.1.16.25.1.1.2.1.3	Bits	read-only	The type(s) of collection methodologies employed by this PM Study Class. If this PM Study class utilizes some sort of passive monitoring technology, (i.e., UI operations and/or protocol transactions of real users are measured) the 'pmPassive' BIT will be set. If this PM Study class utilizes some sort of active monitoring technology, (i.e., protocol transactions generated for the purpose of obtaining PM Data) the 'pmPassive' BIT will be set. If this PM Study class utilizes some sort of built-in monitoring technology, (i.e., UI operations and/or protocol transactions of real users are somehow altered to provide PM Data) the 'pmBuiltin' BIT will be set.
I32 pmStudyClassCollectPts	1.3.6.1.2.1.16.25.1.1.2.1.4	Integer32	read-only	The number of PM Collection Points utilized in this PM Study Class. If this is a variable quantity, then this object should contain the minimum number needed for this PM Study Class to function.
BIT pmStudyClassCollectCaps	1.3.6.1.2.1.16.25.1.1.2.1.5	Bits	read-only	This object identifies some generic characteristics of the collection methodologies employed by this PM Study Class. If this PM Study class utilizes some sort of transport layer PM Data collection technology, then the 'pmCollectTrans' BIT will be set. If this PM Study class utilizes some sort of application layer PM Data collection technology, then the 'pmCollectApp' BIT will be set. If this PM Study class utilizes PM Data collection technology based on monitoring of some sort of network flow summary information, then the 'pmCollectFlow' BIT will be set. If this PM Study class utilizes some sort of PM Data collection technology based on monitoring of non-network events, such as UI monitoring of window events, then the 'pmCollectNonNet' BIT will be set.
BIT pmStudyClassOutputCaps	1.3.6.1.2.1.16.25.1.1.2.1.6	Bits	read-only	The type(s) of APM and/or TPM Reports that this PM Study Class can provide. [ed. - this list will change as the APM and TPM MIBs are finalized.] If this PM Study class can generate standard reports not described by any of the provided BITS here, then the 'pmOutputOther' BIT will be set. If this PM Study class can generate distribution-oriented reports for application layer protocols, then the 'pmOutputApmDist' BIT will be set. If this PM Study class can generate statistics-oriented reports for application layer protocols, then the 'pmOutputApmStat' BIT will be set. If this PM Study class can generate historical analysis oriented reports for application layer protocols, then the 'pmOutputApmHist' BIT will be set. If this PM Study class can generate flow decomposition analysis oriented reports for application layer protocols, then the 'pmOutputApmFlow' BIT will be set. If this PM Study class can generate profile exception oriented reports for application layer protocols, then the 'pmOutputApmExcept' BIT will be set. If this PM Study class can generate vendor-specific proprietary reports for application layer protocols, in addition to standard reports, then the 'pmOutputApmProp' BIT will be set. If this PM Study class can generate distribution-oriented reports for transport layer protocols, then the 'pmOutputTpmDist' BIT will be set. If this PM Study class can generate statistics-oriented reports for transport layer protocols, then the 'pmOutputTpmStat' BIT will be set. If this PM Study class can generate historical analysis oriented reports for transport layer protocols, then the 'pmOutputTpmHist' BIT will be set. If this PM Study class can generate flow decomposition analysis oriented reports for transport layer protocols, then the 'pmOutputTpmFlow' BIT will be set. If this PM Study class can generate profile exception oriented reports for transport layer protocols, then the 'pmOutputTpmExcept' BIT will be set. If this PM Study class can generate vendor-specific proprietary reports for transport layer protocols, in addition to standard reports, then the 'pmOutputTpmProp' BIT will be set.
NUM pmStudyClassCtlTablePtr	1.3.6.1.2.1.16.25.1.1.2.1.7	RowPointer	read-only	This object identifies a specific MIB table that can be used to configure detailed aspects of the collection or report processing functions for this PM Study Class. This object just identifies a particular row in the MIB table to use, not any particular agent which implements this MIB table. This agent may or may not contain an implementation of the specified MIB, and/or the specified MIB may not be accessible in the same views as the this MIB. If no appropriate row in a MIB table can be identified, then the value { 0 0 } is returned.
pmStudyMetricTable	1.3.6.1.2.1.16.25.1.1.3		not-accessible	This table contains one row for each metric supported by the specified PM Study Class, and should be populated during system initialization.
pmStudyMetricEntry	1.3.6.1.2.1.16.25.1.1.3.1		not-accessible	Metrics information related to a particular PM Study Class. The pmStudyClassID value in the index identifies the pmStudyClassEntry with the same index value.
OID pmStudyMetricID	1.3.6.1.2.1.16.25.1.1.3.1.1	OBJECT IDENTIFIER	read-only	This object identifies the PM Metric associated with this PM Study, and contains the same value as the pmMetricID index for that pmMetricEntry.
pmStudyProtocolTable	1.3.6.1.2.1.16.25.1.1.4		not-accessible	This table contains one row for each protocol supported by the specified PM Study Class, and should be populated during system initialization. This is an indication of the protocols the indicated PM Study Class is capable of measuring. The actual protocols present in a given APM or TPM Report may be a subset of the protocols identified in this table. This table contain entries which reference any protocol in the protocolDirTable. If the index of this entry identifies an internal node in the protocolDirTable, then the pmStudyProtocolIsSubtree object is relevant.
pmStudyProtocolEntry	1.3.6.1.2.1.16.25.1.1.4.1		not-accessible	Protocol information about a particular PM Study Class. The pmStudyClassID value in the index identifies the pmStudyClassEntry with the same index value, associated with the list of protocols in this table. The protocolDirLocalIndex value identifies the protocolDirEntry which contains the same value in the protocolDirLocalIndex object.
T/F pmStudyProtocolIsSubtree	1.3.6.1.2.1.16.25.1.1.4.1.1	TruthValue	read-only	This object indicates whether or not this entry identifies one node or an entire subtree of the protocolDirTable. If set to 'true(1)' then the specified protocolDirEntry, and all its children, are supported by the specified PM Study Class. If set to 'false(2)', then the specified protocolDirEntry identified by this entry is supported by the PM Study Class.
pmMetrics	1.3.6.1.2.1.16.25.1.2
pmAppAvailMetric	1.3.6.1.2.1.16.25.1.2.1			Metric Name: Type-P-APM-Availability Metric Definition: This metric characterizes the availability of a network service by measuring the percentage of successful transactions the network service delivers over a given time interval. This metric is calculated by first measuring the IPPM metric 'Type-P-Interval-Bidirectional-Connectivity' for the interval starting at the instant 'Src' initiates a transaction of Type-P with the 'Dst' host, and ending at the instant the last packet of the transaction has been received. In addition to successful connectivity over this interval, the particular application request must also succeed, for a transaction to be considered successful. If either condition is false, then that transaction is considered to be unsuccessful. The derived metric is defined as the total number of successful transactions between Src and Dst, divided by the total number of transaction attempts between Src and Dst, during the time interval dT. Metric Parameters: Src, the network address of a host Dst, the network address of a host dT, a time interval Metric Units: Percentage Mapping of Type P: Type P refers to an application protocol encapsulation, identified by a specific protocolDirEntry. Metric Type: connectMetric(1) Metric Dir Type: twoWay(2)
pmAppTransRespMetric	1.3.6.1.2.1.16.25.1.2.2			Metric Name: Type-P-APM-Transaction-Responsiveness Metric Definition: This metric characterizes the speed at which a transaction-oriented network application delivers a requested service, by measuring the speed of individual application transactions. This metric is calculated by utilizing a variation of the IPPM metric 'Type-P-Round-trip-Delay'. The total transaction time (dT) is determined by summing all the packet transactions of Type-P between the Src and Dst hosts. The bi-directional flight times are measured (as specified by the IPPM metric definition), but the server response time for each request is included in the measurement. The derived metric is defined as the total number of tenths of seconds for the transaction between Src and Dst to complete. Metric Parameters: Src, the network address of a host Dst, the network address of a host dT, a time interval Metric Units: Tenths of seconds Mapping of Type P: Type P refers to an application protocol encapsulation, identified by a specific protocolDirEntry, which is characterized as a transaction-oriented protocol. Metric Type: delayMetric(2) Metric Dir Type: twoWay(2)
pmAppTputRespMetric	1.3.6.1.2.1.16.25.1.2.3			Metric Name: Type-P-APM-Throughput-Responsiveness Metric Definition: This metric characterizes the speed at which a throughput-oriented network application delivers a requested service, by measuring the transfer rate of individual application transactions. This metric is calculated by ... [rest of para is TBD] The derived metric is normalized and inverted, into units of 'seconds per terabit'. For transactions up to one terabit in size, it is defined as the total number of seconds it would take for the transaction between Src and Dst to complete, if the transaction size included one terabit of data. For transactions over one terabit in size, it is defined as the average number of seconds for the transaction between Src and Dst to complete, for each terabit of data. E.g., a transfer rate of 2Kbps equals 500,000,000 and a transfer rate of 1Gbps = 1000. Metric Parameters: Src, the network address of a host Dst, the network address of a host dT, a time interval B, a number of terabits Metric Units: Seconds Per Terabit Mapping of Type P: Type P refers to an application protocol encapsulation, identified by a specific protocolDirEntry, which is characterized as a throughput-oriented protocol. Metric Type: delayMetric(2) Metric Dir Type: twoWay(2)
pmAppStreamRespMetric	1.3.6.1.2.1.16.25.1.2.4			Metric Name: Type-P-APM-Stream-Responsiveness Metric Definition: This metric characterizes the 'quality' at which a streaming-oriented network application delivers a requested service, by measuring the percentage of time that the service is degraded or interrupted to the total time to deliver the service. [Rest of definition TBD] Metric Parameters: Src, the network address of a host Dst, the network address of a host Metric Units: [TBD] Mapping of Type P: Type P refers to an application protocol encapsulation, identified by a specific protocolDirEntry, which is characterized as a streaming-oriented protocol. Metric Type: delayMetric(2) Metric Dir Type: twoWay(2)
pmCapsNotifications	1.3.6.1.2.1.16.25.2
pmCapsConformance	1.3.6.1.2.1.16.25.3
pmCapsCompliances	1.3.6.1.2.1.16.25.3.1
pmCapsCompliance	1.3.6.1.2.1.16.25.3.1.1			The compliance statement for SNMP entities which implement version 1 of the APM Capabilities MIB.
pmCapsGroups	1.3.6.1.2.1.16.25.3.2
pmCapsGroup	1.3.6.1.2.1.16.25.3.2.1			The collection of objects which are used to represent application performance measurement capabilities, for which a single agent provides management information.

RFC description

Performance measurement capabilities and metrics reporting for network monitoring and RMON agents.

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Download PMCAPS-MIB

What Is PMCAPS-MIB?

Supported Devices

Monitoring Examples

What Can Be Monitored

This MIB depends on

Related MIBs

RFC description