SNMP

• The Simple Network Management Protocol is an application-layer protocol that facilitates the exchange of management information between network devices. It is part of the TCP/IP protocol suite. SNMP enables network administrators to manage network performance, find and solve network problems and plan for network growth.
  
  Two versions of SNMP exist: SNMP version 1 (SNMPv1) and SNMP version 2 (SNMPv2). Both versions have a number of feature in common, but SNMPv2 offers enhancements, such as additional protocol operations.
  
  An SNMP-managed network consists of three key components: managed devices, agent and NMSs (Network Management Systems).
  
  A managed device is a network node that contains an SNMP agent and resides on a managed network. Managed devices collect and store management information and make this information available to NMSs using SNMP. Managed devices, something called network elements, can be routers and access servers, switches and bridges, hubs, computer hosts, power supply or printers.
  
  An agent is a network-management software module that resides in a management device. An agent has local knowledge of management information and translates that information into a form compatible with SNMP.
  
  An NMS execute applications that monitor and control managed devices. NMSs provide the bulk of processing and memory resources required for the network management. One or more NMSs can exist on any network.