SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) makes it possible to remotely monitor a network.

The SNMP model of network management consists of two kinds of actors: a manager and an agent. If you have SNMP manager software installed on a computer, you can use it to monitor an agent which responds to requests for information. This enables you to remotely obtain status information about the remote network. Each type of managed resource has a MIB (Management Information Base). A MIB for a router contains information about each interface (it's speed, protocols supported and current status), while a MIB for a server has information about CPUs, operating system, memory, and disk. SNMP depends on IP and other protocols.