SNMP is a protocol that facilitates the exchange of management information between network devices to monitor and control network performance. It enables network administrators to manage network performance, find and solve network problems, and plan for network growth. SNMP has several basic components, including a network management station that collects information, a network management system that executes monitoring applications, agents in managed devices that reside software modules, and a management information base that contains variables managed by SNMP.

1. Simple Network Management
Protocol (SNMP)
What is it?
A Protocol that Facilitates the exchange of management information
between network devices.
Why was it developed?
To control and monitor status of network devices
How is it beneficial?
Enables network administrators to:
Manage network performance
Find and solve network problems
Plan for network growth

2. SNMP Basic Components
• Network Management station
– Collects and stores management information, and makes this information
available to NMS using SNMP
– Could be a work station or PC
• Network Management System (NMS)
– Executes applications that monitor and control managed devices
• Agent
– A network-management software module that resides in a managed device
• Management Information Base (MIB)
– Is the stricture that contains variables that are managed by the SNMP

3. Management Station
NMS
User Interface
Network
Management
Application
MIB MIB
MIB
AGENT AGENT AGENT
SNMP
Managed
Devices
Network
Management
Architecture
Router
Printer
Host

4. How SNMP Works
MIB
SNMP Agent
Get-request: Request value of variable.
Get-response: agents sends a reply to manager.
Traps: agent notifies manager about an abnormal situation.
Get-request
Get-next-request: Request the value of next variable (like a table).
Get-next-request
Set-request: update one or more variables (for reconfiguration).
Set-request
Get-response
traps
Network Management
Station

5. With a Network Management System, you can monitor a large network from a
central console.

6. Summary
• Network management is becoming increasingly important with
the advent of larger networks
• Network management costs are high
• Automated tools can lower management cost.
• Vendors finally paying belated attention to it.
• Standards such as SNMP and SNMPv2 are now emerging and
are being adopted widely.