Template:FAQ:Applications 22

The protocol definition specifies a "minimum maximum" packet size (484 bytes for UDP), which all systems must support, but does not attempt to define an upper bound for this maximum size. This is left to each individual implementation.

The UCD software uses a fixed size buffer of 1472 bytes to hold the encoded packet, so all requests and responses must fit within this. Unfortunately, it's not possible to predict how many varbinds this corresponds to, since it depends on the type and actual values being sent, as well as the corresponding OIDs.

As a rule of thumb, sending 400 integer-valued varbinds seems to work OK, while 300 string-valued varbinds triggers an overrun.

The Net-SNMP releases handle packet buffers rather differently, and are not subject to the same fixed restrictions.