1. In a network device including a management information base (MIB) having a plurality of objects, a method for obtaining information concerning an operational characteristic of the network device, the method comprising steps of, receiving a request for information concerning an operational characteristic of the network device; and configuring a mechanism of the network device in response to the request that includes an encoded representation corresponding to two or more objects in the (MIB), the encoded representation having a format understandable by the mechanism allowing the mechanism to search the MIB and to identify the two or more objects in the MIB for obtaining the information concerning the operational characteristic of the network device.