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Simple Network Management Protocol

SNMP

The dominant protocol for monitoring and managing networked devices — switches, PDUs, UPS systems — by polling OID values from MIBs or receiving asynchronous trap alerts.

Full Definition

Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) is an application-layer protocol defined in RFC 1157 (v1), RFC 1901 (v2c), and RFC 3411–3418 (v3). It operates over UDP port 161 for polling and 162 for traps. An SNMP manager (monitoring platform) polls agents (device firmware) for structured data organised in a Management Information Base (MIB). Device vendors publish MIBs defining every readable metric: temperature sensors, load, voltage, input/output status.

In datacentre infrastructure, SNMP monitors UPS units (APC, Eaton, Vertiv), intelligent PDUs, network switches, CRAC/CRAH units, and environmental sensors. DCIM platforms including PODVIEW integrate SNMP polling to build real-time power chain and environmental dashboards. SNMPv3 adds authentication and encryption; v1 and v2c transmit credentials in clear text. Despite its age, SNMP remains present in virtually every datacenter BMS and DCIM integration.

Also Known As

SNMP trapSNMPv3MIB polling

Source Reference

RFC 3411–3418 (SNMPv3 Architecture); The Green Grid DCIM Reference Architecture

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