Abstract: A method and an apparatus for data transfer between network devices are suggested. It is proposed to introduce a network file transfer protocol into the data transfer between a NMS and a NE in order to improve the communication efficiency there between. Generally, when a NMS is to retrieve data from a NE, it will send a message to the NE to prepare a data file which can support a network file transfer protocol. Then the data file will be transmitted from the NE to the NMS by the network file transfer protocol.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for communication between a first network device and second network device are suggested. The method comprises, at the level of the first network device: receiving, from the second network device, one or more requests for SNMP Set operation; caching the one or more requests; and upon a determined time period being reached, processing the cached one or more requests. A cache mechanism is suggested so that an SNMP agent can cache the requests for SNMP Set operation for a time period and process these requests in batch.