SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol)

SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol)

The Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) is part of the internet protocol suite defined by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). This protocol supports network management systems to monitor whether any devices connected to the network have issues that require management attention. It consists of a set of standards for network management, including an application layer protocol, a database schema, and a set of data objects.

In typical SNMP usage, many systems are managed, and one or more systems manage them. Each managed system runs a software component called an agent, which reports information to the management system via SNMP.

Essentially, SNMP agents present management data in the form of variables. The management system retrieves information using GET, GETNEXT, and GETBULK protocol commands, or the agent sends data using TRAP or INFORM without being asked. The management system can also send configuration updates or control requests to actively manage the system through SET protocol commands. Configuration and control commands are used only when the network infrastructure needs to change, while monitoring commands are typically routine tasks.

The variables accessible via SNMP are hierarchically organized. These hierarchies and other metadata (such as variable types and descriptions) are described in a Management Information Base (MIB).

An SNMP-managed network consists of three key components: Network Management Systems (NMSs), Managed Devices, and Agents.

A Network Management System runs applications that monitor and control the managed devices. Also known as a managing entity, this is where network administrators interact with network devices. Network Management Systems provide the computational and memory resources needed for network management. A managed network may have more than one Network Management System.

A managed device is a network node that contains an SNMP agent present in the managed network. The managed device collects and stores management information through a Management Information Base (MIB) and allows the network management system to access this information via the SNMP agent.

An agent is a network management software module that exists within a managed device. The agent controls the management information of the local machine and transmits this information in a format compatible with SNMP.

• Content adapted from Wikipedia