Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) is a standard by which network devices like firewalls, bridges, NAS drives, servers, printers, switches, hubs, and routers are configured to a network. SNMP is the means by which the network exchanges information with the device in order to monitor and manage it.

The SNMP port is a designated server port that sends commands to each device (agent) on the network. The SNMP manager is installed on the server, and the SNMP agent is installed on the managed device. The manager send commands through port 161 and receives reports and responses from the device on port 162.

One benefit of SNMP is that it allows devices with different hardware or software to communicate with each other. These benefits are most evident on very large networks.

After the devices are configured, SNMP monitors activity, performance, usage, and availability to ensure the health of the network.