Extension nodes are non-standard nodes that extend the capabilities or scope of the SP system, but cannot be used in all the same ways as standard SP nodes. Extension nodes are attached to the SP Switch via a special extension node adapter.
A specific type of extension node is a dependent node. A dependent node depends on SP nodes for certain functions, but implements much of the switch-related protocol that standard nodes use on the SP Switch.
SMIT menus and commands are provided for adding configuration information about extension nodes to the SDR. Once this information has been entered into the SDR, a Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) Manager daemon that runs on the control workstation (the SP SNMP Manager) allows the transfer of extension node configuration information to the SNMP Agent running on the extension node.