700 Series Managed Switch User’s Guide for Software v2.1
Switch Management Overview 2-3
SM-10004-02
Virtual Terminal Protocols
A virtual terminal protocol is a software program, such as Telnet, that allows you to establish a
management session from a Macintosh, a PC, or a UNIX workstation. Because Telnet runs over
TCP/IP, you must have at least one IP address configured on a NETGEAR 700 Series Managed
Switch before you can establish access to it with a virtual terminal protocol.
Terminal emulation differs from a virtual terminal protocol in that you must connect a terminal or
PC directly to the console port.
Figure 2-1 shows a UNIX workstation connected to the system
through a virtual terminal protocol (Telnet), and a terminal connecting directly to the console port
through a null-modem cable.
Figure 2-1: Administration Console Access
SNMP Protocol
SNMP is the standard management protocol for multi-vendor IP networks. SNMP supports
transaction-based queries that allow the protocol to format messages and to transmit information
between reporting devices and data-collection programs. SNMP runs on top of the User Datagram
Protocol (UDP), offering a connectionless-mode service.
SNMP Access
With this access method, you can use an external SNMP-based application to manage your
NETGEAR 700 Series Managed Switch.
Figure 2-2 shows an example of this management
method.