Whats the difference between SNMPv2 and SNMPv2c?
A full description is probably beyond the scope of this FAQ. Very briefly, the original protocol and admin framework was described in RFCs 1155-1157, and is now known as SNMPv1. Practical experience showed up various problems and deficiencies with this, and a number of revised frameworks were developed to try and address these problems. Unfortunately, it proved difficult to achieve any sort of agreement – particularly over the details of the administrative framework to use. There was less disagreement over the proposed changes to the protocol operations. These included: • increasing the range of errors that could be reported • introducing “exception values” so a single missing value didn’t affect the other varbinds in the same request) • a new GETBULK operation (a supercharged GETNEXT) • new notification PDUs (closer in structure to the other request PDUs) Strictly speaking, it’s this revised protocol (originally defined in RFC 1905, and most recently in RFC 3416) that is “SNMPv2”. The
