/ˌɛs-ɛn-ɛm-ˈpi/
noun — "the polite protocol that asks devices how they’re doing, then reports back."
SNMP, Simple Network Management Protocol, is a standard protocol used in information technology for managing and monitoring devices on IP networks. It allows network administrators to collect device data, configure network equipment, and receive alerts about operational or performance issues. SNMP is widely used for routers, switches, servers, printers, and other networked devices.
Technically, SNMP involves:
- Agents — software on devices that collect and report data to management systems.
- Managers — systems that request information and control devices via SNMP.
- Management Information Base (MIB) — a structured database defining the objects that can be monitored or controlled.
- Traps and polling — agents send alerts (traps) or respond to queries (polling) to report status.
Examples of SNMP in action include:
- Monitoring CPU load or memory usage on a server.
- Tracking network interface statistics on a switch.
- Receiving alerts when a printer runs out of paper or toner.
Conceptually, SNMP is the nervous system of network management—it senses, reports, and sometimes reacts, helping administrators keep complex networks healthy and efficient.
In practice, SNMP works with network monitoring tools, logging systems, and dashboards to provide real-time visibility and alerting across IT infrastructures.
See Network Monitoring, Logging, Alerting, Network, Device Management.