(Simple Network Management Protocol) A widely used network monitoring and control protocol. Data are passed from SNMP agents, which are hardware and/or software processes reporting activity in each network device (hub, router, bridge, etc.) to the workstation console used to oversee the network. The agents return information contained in a MIB (Management Information Base), which is a data structure that defines what is obtainable from the device and what can be controlled (turned off, on, etc.). Originating in the Unix community, SNMP has become widely used on all major platforms.
SNMP 2 provides enhancements including security and an RMON (Remote Monitoring) MIB, which provides continuous feedback without having to be queried by the SNMP console. See RMON. See also SMTP.
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