SNMP Overview

SNMP, or Simple Network Management Protocol, is a method for monitoring and managing SNMP-compatible networking devices. SNMP is a widely used and accepted protocol for receiving alarms and coordinating responses to network problems and incidents. SNMP monitoring can be proactive in notifying the administrator the moment a problem occurs. SNMP monitoring can identify when a piece of equipment is beginning to experience problems so that corrective actions can be taken before the problem becomes a critical issue.

SNMP is separated into two components–Agent and Manager. The Agent is the software that monitors the status of a networking device. This software can be easily programmed into a switch, IP camera, or wireless access point. The Manager is the software application that monitors Agents. It collects data from all Agents on the network for network administrators to review and determine if all networking components are working properly. Depending on the robustness of the SNMP application, Manager software can change settings on devices running Agent software.

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