Managing NerveCenter - Managing SNMP Settings - SNMP v3 Security Settings - Changing the SNMP v3 Key Passwords -
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Changing the SNMP v3 Key Passwords

The authentication and privacy protocols require specialized keys, called authentication and privacy keys. These keys are generated from corresponding passwords. Before NerveCenter can poll SNMP v3 nodes, NerveCenter requires passwords for the NerveCenter user (NCUser) configured on your v3 agents.

By default, these passwords are as follows when you install NerveCenter.

• The default authentication password is NCUserAuthPwd. This password is required for AuthNoPriv and AuthPriv security.
• The default privacy password is NCUserPrivPwd. This password is required for AuthPriv security.

After installation, you can change the passwords as appropriate for your network management strategy. Optionally, you can command NerveCenter to update the new passwords on all managed nodes.

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Note    Each password must have at least eight characters, with a maximum length of 32 characters. The passwords are case sensitive.

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  To provide or change SNMP v3 passwords:

1. Open NerveCenter Administrator and connect to the appropriate NerveCenter Server. See Connecting Administrator to a NerveCenter Server.
2. Select the SNMPv3 tab.

   The SNMPv3 page is displayed.

   The SNMPv3 Page in NerveCenter Administrator

   

3. Enter your authentication password in the Authentication field.
4. Retype this password in the Reconfirm Authentication field.
5. Enter your privacy password in the Privacy field.
6. Retype this password in the Reconfirm Privacy field.
7. To update the passwords on all managed agents, select Update Keys At Nodes.

   You would normally want NerveCenter to update the passwords on your agents. If you prefer to do this manually or if you have already set the passwords on each agent, then do not select the checkbox.

8. Select Save.

   A message box displays a warning that NerveCenter must stop polling SNMP v3 nodes while performing this operation.

9. Select Yes to save the new passwords or No to cancel the change.

When NerveCenter updates passwords on managed agents, all polling of SNMP v3 nodes is paused until the operation is complete. In addition, various v3 operations (e.g., change of authentication protocol or security level) are not available in NerveCenter Client during this operation.

After the key change, NerveCenter is configured with the new passwords even if the key change operation fails on an agent. Key change failure is indicated in the node's properties in NerveCenter Client.

If NerveCenter Server is stopped during a remote key change operation, the operation resumes automatically when the Server is restarted.