Peer-to-peer networks allow for sharing of idle computer resources. The first popular peer-to-peer system was a file sharing service that gained public attention. Other peer-to-peer systems require nodes to know each other's network addresses in advance. Network management programs use SNMP messages to poll agent programs running on devices, which reply with aggregated information presented to the management console. Agent software records device-specific performance data and makes it available to SNMP management programs, allowing repairs to be made.

1. How Peer-to-Peer Networks Work Peer-to-Peer networking makes sense because personal computers seem to defy the law of gravity. Most computers spend much of their time idling.

2. P2P The sharing service was first P2P system to reach public attention. In other P2P systems it's necessary for codes to know one another 's network address in advance.

3. SNMP A management program uses messages conforming to the SNMP to poll the agent programs running in various network devices. When the agents reply, SNMP console program aggregates the information and presents .

4. A Network Management System Provides Information On It's useful for making repairs!

5. How Agent Software Work The agent software records performance and traffic data in a MIB format that is specific to the make and model. The agent software makes MIB data available to SNMP-based management programs.

6. Get to device Even auxiliary devices such as a UPS or printer can have a management agent and a specific MIB