what are the specific models? if the switches support v2 or higher, you may have to explicitely configure SNMP to be able to use it.

They are Silkworms and not directors.

good question, i see this in supportshow on my 4x16 (integrated into HP Blade):

SNMPv1 community and trap recipient configuration:

but also this:

snmp.snmpv3EngineBoots:10
snmp.snmpv3TrapTarget.0.trapSeverityLevel:0
snmp.snmpv3TrapTarget.0.trapTargetAddr:0.0.0.0
snmp.snmpv3TrapTarget.0.trapTargetIndex:1
snmp.snmpv3TrapTarget.0.trapUsmIndex:1
snmp.snmpv3TrapTarget.1.trapSeverityLevusmPrivProtocol:2
snmp.snmpv3Usm.1.usmPrivSecret:adminpasswd2
snmp.snmpv3Usm.1.usmUserName:snmpadmin2
snmp.snmpv3Usm.2.usmAuthProtocol:3
snmp.snmpv3Usm.2.usmAuthSecret:adminpasswd3
snmp.snmpv3Usm.2.usmIndex:3
snmp.snmpv3Usm.2.usmPrivProtocol:2
snmp.snmpv3Usm.2.usmPrivSecret:adminpasswd3
snmp.snmpv3Usm.2.usmUserName:snmpadmin3
snmp.snmpv3Usm.3.usmAuthProtocol:3
snmp.snmpv3Usm.3.usmAuthSecret:userpasswd1
snmp.snmpv3Usm.3.usmIndex:4
snmp.snmpv3Usm.3.usmPrivProtocol:2
snmp.snmpv3Usm.3.usmPrivSecret:userpasswd1
snmp.snmpv3Usm.3.usmUserName:snmpuser1
snmp.snmpv3Usm.4.usmAuthProtocol:3
snmp.snmpv3Usm.4.usmAuthSecret:userpasswd2
snmp.snmpv3Usm.4.usmIndex:5
snmp.snmpv3Usm.4.usmPrivProtocol:2
snmp.snmpv3Usm.4.usmPrivSecret:userpasswd2
snmp.snmpv3Usm.4.usmUserName:snmpuser2
snmp.snmpv3Usm.5.usmAuthProtocol:3
snmp.snmpv3Usm.5.usmAuthSecret:userpasswd3
snmp.snmpv3Usm.5.usmIndex:6
snmp.snmpv3Usm.5.usmPrivProtocol:2
snmp.snmpv3Usm.5.usmPrivSecret:userpasswd3
snmp.snmpv3Usm.5.usmUserName:snmpuser3

Supportshow on the silkworms do not show any of those. However, that was a good idea to check that output. Thanks.

Is the SNMP version displayed anywhere on the silkworms?

Yes, the agtcfgShow displays it. However, it could be wrong.

do we have two sysmgr here ..or you are just thinking out loud ?

I'm talking to myself. I had to call support on this one, so I can answer my own question.

The FabOS v5 and higher appears to be able to run SNMPv1 and SNMPv3. There is a command called snmpconfig that can also let you set up SNMPv3 options.
However, the older switches do not have this and appear to have only the SNMPv1 option.

are you sending traps to ECC or something else ? I gave up on using ECC as my trap destination, so clunky

not ECC but smarts.