What is SNMP used for in network management?

SNMP, or Simple Network Management Protocol, is primarily used for monitoring and managing network devices. Its core function revolves around collecting and organizing information from various managed devices such as routers, switches, servers, and printers within a network.

This protocol allows network administrators to access detailed data about device status, performance metrics, and configuration parameters. By using SNMP, network management tools can efficiently gather this information, enabling the monitoring of network health, performance analysis, and troubleshooting. The structured data collected through SNMP can also aid in network planning and expansion by providing insights into usage patterns and device behavior over time.

The other choices do not accurately reflect the purpose of SNMP. For instance, transferring files between devices is typically the function of different protocols, such as FTP or SFTP, while data encryption in transit is handled by protocols designed specifically for secure transmission, such as TLS or SSL. Establishing VPN connections involves using protocols like IPSec or OpenVPN, which serve entirely different purposes than network management.