Method and apparatus for managing a network use one or more diagnostic objects in a Management Information Base (MIB). In some implementations, a managed network device is provided that includes a management module configured to receive a request from a remote device on a network to perform one or more network management tasks. The managed network device also includes an execution engine configured to identify one or more errors associated with the request. The managed network device also includes a diagnostic engine configured to generate diagnostic information associated with the one or more identified errors. The diagnostic information can include textual information identifying one or more origins giving rise to the one or more identified errors.