Network Management

How to Enable More Than 10 Varbinds in SNMP Trap Alerts in the SolarWinds Platform

This article explains how to increase the number of SNMP trap varbinds available for use in SolarWinds alerting macros. By default, due to the trap varbind index shift, only 9 varbinds are usable unless adjusted via the Advanced Configuration.

First published date

7/28/2025 11:00 PM

Last published date

8/14/2025 11:08 PM

Overview

By default, SolarWinds supports up to 10 SNMP trap varbinds for use in alerting macros such as ${N=OLM.AlertingMacros;M=OLMAlertMessage.VbDataX}. However, because the trap OID consumes the first index (VbData1), only 9 user-defined varbinds are effectively available for alerts unless the default setting is adjusted.
 
This configuration can be updated to allow more than 10 varbinds through the Advanced Configuration interface.
 
For example, if a user sends 12 varbinds in a trap but the default limit is 10, only the first 9 user-defined varbinds will be accessible (VbData2 through VbData10). The rest will be ignored unless the configuration is increased.

Product section

Network Performance Monitor

Cause

The default behavior limits the number of trap varbinds used in alerts to 10. Due to the one-index shift, only 9 user-defined varbinds are available for alert macros. This can impact users expecting to access all sent varbinds through macros like VbData11, VbData12, etc.

Resolution

To allow more than 10 varbinds in alert processing, update the AlertMaximumTrapVarBindings setting via Advanced Configuration.

Steps:

  1. Open a browser and navigate to the Advanced Configuration page:
     
    http://<solarwinds_server>/Orion/admin/advancedconfiguration/global.aspx
  2. Use the search field to find:
     
    AlertMaximumTrapVarBindings
  3. Ensure that the setting appears under the path:
     
    LogManagement.RuleProcessing.Settings
  4. Increase the value to the desired number of varbinds you wish to allow (for example, 15 or more).
  5. Save changes.
  6. Restart all SolarWinds services for the change to take effect.

 

After updating the setting, the new maximum number of varbinds will be available for use in alerting macros:

${N=OLM.AlertingMacros;M=OLMAlertMessage.VbData1}
${N=OLM.AlertingMacros;M=OLMAlertMessage.VbData2}
...
${N=OLM.AlertingMacros;M=OLMAlertMessage.VbData15}