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Wireshark-users: Re: [Wireshark-users] adding MIB files

From: Andrew Hood <ajhood@xxxxxxxxx>
Date: Sat, 11 Apr 2009 21:25:09 +1000
Stuart Kendrick wrote:
> does anyone have the MIB compiler working?
> 
> i'm running WireShark 1.0.7 under Windows ... and am trying to add some portion 
> of my ~2000 MIB file collection

Only add MIBs as you want them. Every extra MIB slows down wireshark
startup a little.

> -i've configured Preferences:Open a console window to 'Always(debugging') ... 
> but i haven't seen an error message in the console window yet
> 
> -i've played with Preferences:Name Resolution:SMI (MIB and PIB) paths, adding 
> directories in which I've installed MIB files (i've tried both relative 
> directory names, aka Broadcom, Dell, Intel, as well as fully-qualified names: 
> C:\Program Files (x86)\Wireshark\snmp\mibs\Broadcom, C:\Program Files 
> (x86)\Wireshark\snmp\mibs\Dell ...

Hmmm. Running on 64 bit Windows. Can you see if using paths which do not
contain "(" and ")" characters makes any difference? libsmi was ported
from Unix and Window's wierd file and path names have cause me issues,
and I've been using libsmi for many years.

> -i've tried copying MIB files into C:\Program Files (x86)\Wireshark\snmp\mibs 
> and then adding them using Preferences:Name Resolution: SMI (MIB and PIB) modules
> 
> -and i've even tried specifying a non-existent MIB files ('foo') using 
> Preferences:Name Resolution: SMI (MIB and PIB) modules ... minimally, i would 
> have expected an error in the console window, something like "unable to find MIB 
> module 'foo'" ... but no, a serenely peaceful and solidly black console window

Before any MIB will load you have to have all the other MIBs on which it
 depends in one of the directories in the MIB path. You can determine
which ones are required by looking for the "IMPORTS" clause. MIB names
follow the "FROM" keyword.

Ensure every MIB file contains exactly one MIB.

Ensure the name of each MIB file is the name which appears in the
"DEFINITIONS" clause, and it is best if the case of letters matches.
Filename extensions ".my", ".smiv1", "smiv2", "mib" or ".txt" are permitted.

Syntax or semantic errors will stop MIBs loading. It is very common for
MIBs to be syntacticly invalid, including those from vendors like Cisco
who should know better.

-- 
There's no point in being grown up if you can't be childish sometimes.
                -- Dr. Who