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NAME

       snmp_generic - Generic Functions for Implementing SNMP Objects in a Database

DESCRIPTION

       The module snmp_generic contains generic functions for implementing tables (and variables)
       using the SNMP built-in database or  Mnesia.  These  default  functions  are  used  if  no
       instrumentation function is provided for a managed object in a MIB. Sometimes, it might be
       necessary to customize the behaviour of  the  default  functions.  For  example,  in  some
       situations  a  trap should be sent if a row is deleted or modified, or some hardware is to
       be informed, when information is changed.

       The overall structure is shown in the following figure:

                +---------------+
                |   SNMP Agent  |
                +- - - - - - - -+
                |      MIB      |
                +---------------+
                        |
                Association file       (associates a MIB object with
                        |               snmp_generic:table_funct
                        |               snmp_generic:variable_func)
       +--------------------------------------+
       |           snmp_generic               |  Support for get-next,
       |                                      |  RowStatus operations
       +----------------------+---------------+
       |    snmpa_local_db    |    Mnesia     |  Database
       +--------------+-------+---------------+
       |     dets     |  ets  |
       | (persistent) |       |
       +--------------+-------+

       Each function takes the argument NameDb, which is a tuple {Name, Db},  to  identify  which
       database  the  functions  should  use.  Name is the symbolic name of the managed object as
       defined in the MIB, and Db is either volatile, persistent, or mnesia. If it is mnesia, all
       variables  are  stored  in  the Mnesia table snmp_variables which must be a table with two
       attributes (not a Mnesia SNMP table). The SNMP tables are stored in Mnesia tables with the
       same  names  as  the SNMP tables. All functions assume that a Mnesia table exists with the
       correct name and attributes.  It  is  the  programmer's  responsibility  to  ensure  this.
       Specifically,  if variables are stored in Mnesia, the table snmp_variables must be created
       by the  programmer.  The  record  definition  for  this  table  is  defined  in  the  file
       snmp/include/snmp_types.hrl.

       If  an instrumentation function in the association file for a variable myVar does not have
       a name when compiling an MIB, the compiler generates an entry.

       {myVar, {snmp_generic, variable_func, [{myVar, Db]}}.

       And for a table:

       {myTable, {snmp_generic, table_func, [{myTable, Db]}}.

DATA TYPES

       In the functions defined below, the following types are used:

       name_db() = {name(), db()}
       name() = atom()
       db() = volatile | persistent | mnesia
       row_index() = [int()]
       columns() = [column()] | [{column(), value()}]
       column() = int()
       value() = term()

         row_index():
           Denotes the last part of the OID which specifies the index of the  row  in  the  table
           (see RFC1212, 4.1.6 for more information about INDEX).

         columns():
           Is  a  list  of  column  numbers  in the case of a get operation, and a list of column
           numbers and values in the case of a set operation.

EXPORTS

       get_status_col(Name, Cols)
       get_status_col(NameDb, Cols) -> {ok, StatusVal} | false

              Types:

                 Name = name()
                 NameDb = name_db()
                 Cols = columns()
                 StatusVal = term()

              Gets the value of the status column from Cols.

              This function can be used in instrumentation functions for is_set_ok, undo  or  set
              to check if the status column of a table is modified.

       get_index_types(Name)

              Types:

                 Name = name()

              Gets the index types of Name

              This  function can be used in instrumentation functions to retrieve the index types
              part of the table info.

       get_table_info(Name, Item) -> table_info_result()

              Types:

                 Name = name()
                 Item = table_item() | all
                 table_item() = nbr_of_cols | defvals | status_col | not_accessible | index_types
                 | first_accessible | first_own_index
                 table_info_result() = Value | [{table_item(), Value}]
                 Value = term()

              Get  a  specific  table  info  item or, if Item has the value all, a two tuple list
              (property list) is instead returned with all the items and their  respctive  values
              of the given table.

              This  function can be used in instrumentation functions to retrieve a given part of
              the table info.

       table_func(Op1, NameDb)
       table_func(Op2, RowIndex, Cols, NameDb) -> Ret

              Types:

                 Op1 = new | delete
                 Op2 = get | next | is_set_ok | set | undo
                 NameDb = name_db()
                 RowIndex = row_index()
                 Cols = columns()
                 Ret = term()

              This is the default instrumentation function for tables.

                * The new function creates the table if it  does  not  exist,  but  only  if  the
                  database is the SNMP internal db.

                * The delete function does not delete the table from the database since unloading
                  an MIB does not necessarily mean that the table should be destroyed.

                * The is_set_ok function checks that a row which is to  be  modified  or  deleted
                  exists, and that a row which is to be created does not exist.

                * The undo function does nothing.

                * The set function checks if it has enough information to make the row change its
                  status from notReady  to  notInService  (when  a  row  has  been  been  set  to
                  createAndWait).  If  a row is set to createAndWait, columns without a value are
                  set to noinit. If Mnesia is used, the set functionality  is  handled  within  a
                  transaction.

              If  it  is possible for a manager to create or delete rows in the table, there must
              be a RowStatus column for is_set_ok, set and undo to work properly.

              The function returns according to the specification of an instrumentation function.

       table_get_elements(NameDb, RowIndex, Cols) -> Values

              Types:

                 NameDb = name_db()
                 RowIndex = row_index()
                 Cols = columns()
                 Values = [value() | noinit]

              Returns a list with values for all columns in Cols. If a column is  undefined,  its
              value is noinit.

       table_next(NameDb, RestOid) -> RowIndex | endOfTable

              Types:

                 NameDb = name_db()
                 RestOid = [int()]
                 RowIndex = row_index()

              Finds the indices of the next row in the table. RestOid does not have to specify an
              existing row.

       table_row_exists(NameDb, RowIndex) -> bool()

              Types:

                 NameDb = name_db()
                 RowIndex = row_index()

              Checks if a row in a table exists.

       table_set_elements(NameDb, RowIndex, Cols) -> bool()

              Types:

                 NameDb = name_db()
                 RowIndex = row_index()
                 Cols = columns()

              Sets the elements in Cols to the row specified by RowIndex. No checks are performed
              on the new values.

              If  the  Mnesia  database  is  used,  this function calls mnesia:write to store the
              values. This means that this function must be  called  from  within  a  transaction
              (mnesia:transaction/1 or mnesia:dirty/1).

       variable_func(Op1, NameDb)
       variable_func(Op2, Val, NameDb) -> Ret

              Types:

                 Op1 = new | delete | get
                 Op2 = is_set_ok | set | undo
                 NameDb = name_db()
                 Val = value()
                 Ret = term()

              This is the default instrumentation function for variables.

              The  new  function  creates  a new variable in the database with a default value as
              defined in the MIB, or a zero value (depending on the type).

              The delete function does not delete the variable from the database.

              The function returns according to the specification of an instrumentation function.

       variable_get(NameDb) -> {value, Value} | undefined

              Types:

                 NameDb = name_db()
                 Value = value()

              Gets the value of a variable.

       variable_set(NameDb, NewVal) -> true | false

              Types:

                 NameDb = name_db()
                 NewVal = value()

              Sets a new value to a variable. The variable is created if it does  not  exist.  No
              checks are made on the type of the new value.

              Returns false if the NameDb argument is incorrectly specified, otherwise true.

EXAMPLE

       The  following  example  shows an implementation of a table which is stored in Mnesia, but
       with some checks performed at set-request operations.

       myTable_func(new, NameDb) ->   % pass unchanged
         snmp_generic:table_func(new, NameDb).

       myTable_func(delete, NameDb) ->   % pass unchanged
         snmp_generic:table_func(delete, NameDb).

       %% change row
       myTable_func(is_set_ok, RowIndex, Cols, NameDb) ->
         case snmp_generic:table_func(is_set_ok, RowIndex,
                                      Cols, NameDb) of
           {noError, 0} ->
             myApplication:is_set_ok(RowIndex, Cols);
           Err ->
             Err
         end;

       myTable_func(set, RowIndex, Cols, NameDb) ->
         case snmp_generic:table_func(set, RowIndex, Cols,
                                      NameDb),
           {noError, 0} ->
             % Now the row is updated, tell the application
             myApplication:update(RowIndex, Cols);
           Err ->
             Err
         end;

       myTable_func(Op, RowIndex, Cols, NameDb) ->   % pass unchanged
         snmp_generic:table_func(Op, RowIndex, Cols, NameDb).

       The .funcs file would look like:

       {myTable, {myModule, myTable_func, [{myTable, mnesia}]}}.