Summary

In this hour, you learned that the SNMP protocol is integral to providing centralized monitoring and maintenance of distant remote networks. You also learned that, by using a network management console and a central site, a network manager can be notified when abnormal events occur and can view network traffic status as reported by agents operating on routers, hubs, and servers. By using the network management console, the network manager can perform functions such as resetting ports on routers or even resetting remote equipment in the event that less drastic measures don't cure a problem.

Many newer network devices include embedded RMON features. RMON can greatly reduce network traffic normally associated with SNMP and does not require a powerful network management console in order to interpret the data. However, when using RMON, a significant amount of processing occurs on the RMON agent, or probe, that is capturing the network traffic.