What is Simple Network Management Protocol?

SNMP is very simple, yet powerful protocol.  It has the ability to help you manage your network by:

• Provide Read/Write abilities – for example you could use it to reset passwords remotely, or re-configure IP addresses.
• Collect information on how much bandwidth is being used.
• Collect error reports into a log, useful for troubleshooting and identifying trends.
• Email an alert when your server is low on disk space.
• Monitor your servers’ CPU and Memory use, alert when thresholds are exceeded.
• Page or send an SMS text-message when a device fails.
• Can perform active polling, i.e. Monitoring station asks devices for status every few minutes.
• Passive SNMP – devices can send alerts to a monitoring station on error conditions.
• etc.

it is a popular protocol for network management. It is used for collecting information and configuring, network devices, such as servers, printers, hubs, switches, and routers on an Internet Protocol (IP) network.