DPS Telecom

Your Partners in Network Alarm Monitoring

5 Essential Features to
Look for When Evaluating
SNMP Proxy Devices
SNMP is great for integrating classic telecom telemetry with
modern IP-based network management, because its an
open-standard protocol thats flexible enough to describe
almost anything.
The one hitch is, some of your most crucial network
infrastructure is not built for SNMP ...

Version 1.0
Released November 15, 2004

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1-800-622-3314

We protect your network like your business depends on itTM

Proxy Devices DPS Telecom 4955 East Yale Avenue, Fresno, CA 93727 (800) 622-3314 Fax (559) 454-1688 www.dpstelecom.com

Copyright 2004 DPS Telecom

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this white paper or portions thereof in any form without written permission from DPS Telecom. For information, please write to DPS Telecom 4955 E. Yale Ave., Fresno, CA 93727-1523 Call:
1-800-622-3314 Email: info@dpstele.com
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Proxy Devices DPS Telecom 4955 East Yale Avenue, Fresno, CA 93727 (800) 622-3314 Fax (559) 454-1688 www.dpstelecom.com

5 Essential Features to Look for When Evaluating

SNMP Proxy Devices
SNMP is great for integrating classic telecom telemetry with modern IP-based network management,
because its an open-standard protocol thats flexible enough to describe almost anything.
The one hitch is, some of your most crucial network infrastructure is not built for SNMP. The reliability
of a telecom network ultimately rests on some pretty humble low-tech equipment: battery plants, diesel
generators, and high temperature, intrusion, and humidity alarms.
It is absolutely essential to have visibility of these critical network elements. If any one of them fails, it
can bring your whole network down.
To integrate your infrastructure elements into your SNMP alarm management, you need to install SNMP
proxy devices at your remote sites. A proxy device is a smart RTU that combines the functions of alarm
collection and protocol mediation. It accepts standard telemetry alarm inputs like contact closures and
analog signals and encodes the data in an SNMP trap.
How do you select the right proxy device for your network? There are a few essential features you must
keep in mind when evaluating SNMP proxy equipment:
Environmental Alarms
(Temperature, Humidity,
Site Security, etc.)

Proxy Device

Transport Equipment
(Microwave Radios, OC3,
Cellular Switches, etc.)
LAN / WAN

Power Supply Systems

(Generators, Rectifiers,
Battery-plants, etc.)

SNMP Manager
Revenue-Generating
Equipment

A proxy agent can mediate standard alarm outputs from various types of equipment to SNMP.

1. Capacity
This is a basic question you should ask about all alarm collection equipment: can the device provide adequate coverage for your remote site?
Before you select equipment, develop a capacity profile for each of your remote sites. Think in terms of
alarm inputs, not devices. How many contact closure inputs are at each site? How many analog inputs?
Your capacity profile will tell you whether you need a large, medium, or light-capacity proxy device.
Proxy devices are available in different capacities, so dont feel like youre locked in with a one-size-fitsall solution.
3

Proxy Devices DPS Telecom 4955 East Yale Avenue, Fresno, CA 93727 (800) 622-3314 Fax (559) 454-1688 www.dpstelecom.com

Get the capacity you need, but dont overspend. Adequate coverage of your remote sites is a must
unmonitored equipment is a breeding ground for disastersbut theres no point in breaking your budget for capacity you wont use.
If you have sites that have a small number of alarms now, but are likely to grow in the future, be sure to
ask equipment vendors if their proxy devices have expansion capabilities.

2. Dial-Up Backup
SNMP
Element

Dial-up
Connection

LAN transport is highly reliable, but that doesnt mean its 100% reliable. For mission-critical telemetry data, you always need a backup data
path.
Look for a proxy device that includes dial-up modem capability, to give
you continued visibility of your remote site even during a LAN failure.

A proxy device with dial-up capability is also the ideal way to integrate
remote sites without LAN access into your SNMP monitoring. This eliminates the extra costs and inefficiencies of maintaining two separate monitoring systems, and you can add LAN to your sites later without replacing any monitoring equipment.

3. Redundant Power Supplies

With all monitoring applications, redundant power is a must. Your monitoring devices have to be the most reliable elements in your network if
they are to protect your revenue-generating equipment.
Look for a proxy device with dual power inputs. If one power supply
fails, youll have another on reserveensuring that you have continued
visibility of mission-critical equipment.

4. Extra Features
The best quality proxy devices will support additional features for managing your remote sites. This saves money, because you dont need to
buy extra equipment, and it gives you a simple, one-platform solution
for managing every part of your remote site.
Some of the extra features you should look for in a top-quality proxy
device include:
Terminal Server Functionality: Your proxy device can host remote Telnet sessions to interface with the
craft ports of on-site telephony equipment like PBXs, switches, and routers. This gives you easy LAN
access for configuring and rebooting equipment, saving a fortune in windshield time.
Ping Alarms: Your proxy device can also make sure that your IP network elements are operational, by
regularly pinging their IP addresses. If a network device fails to respond to a ping, the proxy device will
immediately send an SNMP trap to the SNMP manager.
Protocol Mediation: You may have additional remote site equipment that supports a classic telemetry
protocol such as TBOS or TABS. Alarm output from these devices can be mediated to SNMP traps.

Proxy Devices DPS Telecom 4955 East Yale Avenue, Fresno, CA 93727 (800) 622-3314 Fax (559) 454-1688 www.dpstelecom.com

5. Vendor Support and Expertise

The most important features to look for in a proxy device is the vendor who stands behind the product.
When youre evaluating vendors, be sure to look for two essential commitments.
Full Support for the Lifetime of the Unit: Monitoring equipment stays in the field a long timean
average of 7-8 years, or even longer in some industries. You want to make sure you have continued support during that time.
In the last decade, many monitoring equipment vendors, including some big companies and well-respected names, have dropped support for their older equipmentor in some cases gone out of business entirely.
When choosing your proxy agent, make sure the vendor is committed to you for the long haul.
Expert Consultation: Monitoring is a complex business. Network managers burdened with responsibilities cant make telemetry their full-time job.
As with any complex technology, you need to know telemetry thoroughly to design an optimal system
one that meets your networks needs, wont become obsolete tomorrow, and doesnt break your budget
with unnecessary expense.
Select a vendor with a proven track record of expertise and client support, who is willing to take the time
to listen to your needs, learn about your networkand give you free advice thats in your best interest.
INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE? Theres several other tips you need to know that will
help you evaluate any monitoring equipment from any vendor. For more information, visit
www.dpstelecom.com/white-papers

Alarm Monitoring Solutions from DPS Telecom

Alarm Monitoring Masters

Remote Telemetry Units

NetGuardian 832A: RTU monitors 32 alarm points,

8 analog inputs, 8 control relays, 32 ping targets, 8
terminal server ports; reports to any SNMP
manager, T/Mon NOC or T/Mon LT

T/Mon NOC: Full-featured alarm master for up to 1

million alarm points. Features support for 25 protocols, protocol mediation, alarm forwarding, pager
and e-mail alarm notification, Web Browser access,
multi-user access, standing alarm list, alarm history
logging.

NetGuardian 216: RTU monitors 16 alarm points, 2

analog inputs, 2 control relays, 1 terminal server
port; reports to any SNMP manager, T/Mon NOC or
T/Mon LT.

Remote Alarm Block 176N: Wire-wrap alarm block

monitors 176 alarm points, 4 controls; reports to any
SNMP manager, T/Mon NOC or T/Mon LT
T/Mon LT: Light capacity SNMP-only alarm master.
Supports SNMP Trap Processor software module,
up to 10 SNMP devices, and up to 20 DPS Telecom
remotes. Features pager and e-mail alarm notification, Web Browser access, standing alarm list and
alarm history logging.

NetGuardian 480: RTU monitors 80 alarm points, 4

control relays; reports to any SNMP manager,
TL1 master, T/Mon NOC or T/Mon LT

www.dpstelecom.com
1-800-622-3314
DPS Telecom
Your Partners in Network Alarm Monitoring

We protect your network like your business depends on it