What is SNMP?

It is a protocol for network management. SNMP is an acronym for standard Network Management Protocol. This protocol is used to collect information and configure different devices in the network system. The devices can be servers, printers and hubs on a network.

It was developed in 1988 to provide the TCP/IP protocols the monitoring capabilities. Later, in 1990s it was given the status of internet standard. Different versions are available. Some of them are- SNMPv1, SNMPv2c, SNMPv2 and SNMPv3. Today the network hardware comes with built in SNMP agents. You have to configure these agents to exchange information and communicate with the network management system.

Thus this protocol is used for network management. The network management systems use this protocol to communicate with the network elements. The network elements thus must have SNMP agent to make the communication possible. You can use SNMP to monitor the network, detect any faults and errors in the network. You can also use it to configure remote devices.

The network management software initiate a message called as SNMP GET while the network element initiate a message called as SNMP trap. The network management software receive message from the network elements as SNMP trap.

The basic components of SNMP are:
Network elements.
SNMP agent.
Network management system.

Agent helps in the transfer of the data to the network management system. Each SNMP agent has different job to perform. The information is send to the network management system which is also called as the control center. Network elements are the one which have the SNMP agents. The elements can be hubs, printers, routers, IP telephones and servers.

How SNMP works?
A network management system has different network elements. These network elements have SNMP agent. Data stream flows among these network elements. The SNMP agent provides the information as feedback to the main network system. This information is in the form of SNMP traps. This data gives the information of what is actually happening in the network. And this data stream is monitored by the network system.

The SNMP traps are first arranged and then they are filtered. The traps are first decoded by the management system. The filtering is on the basis of matching them to the event filters. The system takes the action on the basis of the type of event filters that match. The main network use SNMP GET to receive the data from the network element. It uses SMNP SET to alter the data and SNMP MIB to modify the data on hardware and software.