SNMP

Simple Network Management Protocol [SNMP] is an Internet standard application-layer protocol used for collecting and organizing information about managed devices and their functions.

SNMP provides a common language for network devices to relay management information within single- and multivendor environments in a local area network (LAN) or wide area network (WAN).

SNMP is widely used in network management for network monitoring. Devices that typically support SNMP include cable modems, routers, switches, servers, workstations, printers, environmental monitors, UPSs and more.

SNMP exposes management data in the form of variables on the managed systems organized in a management information base (MIB) which describe the system status and configuration. These variables can then be remotely queried (and, in some circumstances, manipulated) by managing applications.

The most recent iteration of SNMP, version 3, includes security enhancements that authenticate and encrypt SNMP messages as well as protect packets during transit.