Template:FAQ:Perl 00

Short, comprehensive (but ultimately unhelpful) anwer - to provide a perl interface for SNMP operations.

Longer, incomplete (but more useful) answer - there are probably two main uses for the Perl SNMP module. The first is for developing client management applications, using perl to send SNMP requests, and manipulating or displaying the results. As such, this is a straight alternative to various other SNMP toolkits currently available (for both perl and other programming languages).

The second is as a means for extending the functionality of the Net-SNMP agent, by implementing new MIB modules. This is an alternative to the other script-based extension mechanisms, but is more tightly bound to the Net-SNMP agent (and hence more efficient), while still avoiding the need to write C code.

It is also possible to use the perl SNMP module in the snmpd.conf file, or to process incoming notifications, but the above are probably the two primary uses.