Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP)

The SNMP is a frequently used network management protocol. It is a TCP/IP protocol that establishes specific standards for network management. Through the standard protocol, administrators can monitor various aspects of a network. The Simple Network Management Protocol is used to gather network device information concerning computers, switches, routers and more. Information can range from frames sent to errors per seconds. The collected configuration details include device operating system information.

The management elements of the protocol also monitor network issues and diagnostics. SNMP is in the seventh layer of the OSI model. The protocol does not specify the statistics to be collected and device information that should be offered to administrators through the SNMP system. These variables are instead determined by management information bases (MIBs).

SNMP Managers, Devices and Agents

With a network managed by SNMP, there are SNMP managers, agents and devices. At least one computer on the system must take the managing role and is called the manager. SNMP managers are assigned to monitor the other network devices. Details about the devices on an SNMP-managed system are reported to the computer “manager” using software running on the devices. This SNMP software element is called an agent.

SNMP-Enabled Devices

SNMP-enabled devices include printers, computers, switches and routers. Programmes on SNMP-managed, network devices gather statistics about device operations, as well as configuration information. Network management programs can then present the statistics to administrators via a graphical user interface. SNMP device error notifications are also provided. There have been several versions of the Simple Network Management Protocol.