SNMP stands for Simple Network Management Protocol. It is one of the most popular networking protocols available today.
Most network administrators understand various components of SNMP including SNMP Agents, SNNMP traps, and SNM Managers.
The use of different types of SNMP-enabled devices has prompted many networks to incorporate SNMP monitoring to keep an eye on their network systems. SNMP protocol is often used by organizations to monitor various aspects of a system – from network performance to infrastructure health.
What is SNMP?
If you don’t know what is SNMP, then here is a brief history. SNMP was first developed in 1989 for the purpose of allowing the exchange of information between devices throughout a network. There are different SNMP versions available from the most popular V3 to the oldest one called V1.
The main purpose of the SNMP protocol is to identify connected devices in a network and determine the performance level of each device. But it is important to note that SNMP can only be used on specific devices that are compatible with it. This often leaves out many devices unable to use SNMP because of compatibility issues.
How does SNMP work?
SNMP depends on a number of components in order to function properly and move information from a device to the end-user monitor. Below are 4 components that an SNMP relies on:
- SNMP Agent: It is located within the device and is responsible for gathering information from the device and sending it to the SNMP Manager
- SNMP Manager: It is a separate system that receives information from the SNMP Manager
- Management Information Base (MIB): It is used as a database and requests access to particular information from the SNMP Agent.
- SNMP devices
SNMP monitoring software
To effectively use an SNMP, you will require a software interface to be able to view data from the MIB device. The good news is that there are quite a number of SNMP monitoring solutions in the market today.
SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor
This is a network monitoring tool for operating systems that are compatible with the SNMP protocol. You can use thin monitoring software to automatically discover SNMP-enabled devices within your network.
Advantages of using SNMP
There are many advantages that come with using SNMP in your network. Here are some of the advantages:
Greater visibility: One of the biggest advantages is that it gives you a lot of visibility over your network. You can easily check all SNMP-enabled devices and detect if there are any performance issues.
Minimizing security risk of SNMP
The major security risks of SNMP are found within the V1 and V2c versions. If there is no authentication, then it means that you need to implement measures that will mitigate risks to your network system.
Bottom line
SNMP or Simple Network Management Protocol is a very useful software when it comes to network management. As a business owner or network administrator, your top priority should always be to ensure that your network is safe and performing optimally.
An SNMP is a great way to watch over your network and detect performance issues before they affect the entire network system.
