Network management and SNMP

Network Management and SNMP

Network management refers to the process of administering, monitoring, and maintaining computer networks. It involves the use of various tools and techniques to ensure that the network is functioning correctly and efficiently. Network management includes activities such as network performance monitoring, troubleshooting, security management, and capacity planning. The goal of network management is to ensure that the network is available, reliable, and secure.

Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) is a protocol that is widely used for network management. SNMP allows network administrators to monitor the performance of network devices such as routers, switches, and servers. It is a standard protocol that is used by most network devices, making it a popular choice for network management. SNMP uses a hierarchical structure to organize network devices, with each device having a unique identifier called an SNMP agent.

SNMP operates on a client-server model, where the SNMP agent is the server and the network management system (NMS) is the client. The NMS sends requests to the SNMP agent to gather information about the network device, such as its configuration, performance, and status. The SNMP agent responds to the requests with the requested information. SNMP also includes the ability to send alerts and notifications to the NMS when certain events occur, such as when a network device fails or when network traffic exceeds a certain threshold.