Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP)

The Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) is a protocol for monitoring and managing network devices such as routers, switches, and servers. SNMP can be thought of as a monitoring center that continuously collects information about the health and performance of devices, allowing network administrators to detect and resolve problems early.

SNMP sends regular status reports and can also send automatic notifications (called “traps”) when a problem occurs.

Still relevant today: Widely used in professional networks, although security vulnerabilities in older SNMP versions call for caution. A modern version: SNMPv3 with authentication and encryption.

Classification in the OSI model:

• Application Layer (Layer 7)
  SNMP belongs to the application layer because it is specifically responsible for managing and monitoring devices within a network.