The SNMPv2 approach towards describing collections of managed objects is nearly a proper superset of the approach defined in the Internet-standard Network Management Framework. For example, both approaches use ASN.1 [5] as the basis for a formal descriptive notation. Indeed, one might note that the SNMPv2 approach largely codifies the existing practice for defining MIB modules, based on extensive experience with the current framework.
The SNMPv2 documents which deal with information modules are:
Textual Conventions for SNMPv2 [7], which defines a concise notation for describing textual conventions, and also defines some initial conventions; and,
Conformance Statements for SNMPv2 [8], which defines concise notation for describing compliance and capabilities statements.
The following sections consider the three areas: MIB modules, compliance statements, and capabilities statements.
MIB modules defined using the current framework may continue to be used with the SNMPv2 protocol. However, for the MIB modules to conform to the SNMPv2 framework, the following changes are required: