Application of the SNMP Protocol for Remote Monitoring of Network Infrastructure Performance

Abstract

The article presents a comprehensive analysis of the application of the SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) for organizing remote monitoring of network infrastructure performance. The necessity of centralized network monitoring is discussed, driven by the increasing scale of corporate systems and the growing requirements for their reliability. The evolution of the protocol from SNMPv1 to SNMPv3 is described in detail, highlighting their advantages and disadvantages in terms of security, performance, and compatibility. Particular attention is paid to the protocol architecture based on the «manager–agent» model, as well as to the functionality of the main commands (get, set, walk, trap, inform), which enable both periodic polling of devices and prompt response to network events. A classification of SNMP message types is provided, and their practical significance for administrators in maintaining infrastructure operability is analyzed. The main challenges of using the protocol are identified: low security levels in older versions, monitoring channel overload in large-scale networks, occurrence of false alerts, scalability issues, and dependence on vendor-specific MIB implementations. Several practical optimization methods are proposed, including the use of SNMPv3 with encryption support, implementation of distributed managers, data aggregation, and integration with web-based monitoring systems built on Laravel, Docker, and MySQL. The results of experimental testing of the deployed system in a corporate network under different load scenarios are presented. A comparison of SNMP efficiency with modern alternative technologies, such as NetConf, REST API, and Streaming Telemetry, is provided. In conclusion, promising directions for further development are identified – integration with SIEM systems, the use of machine learning algorithms, and support for IoT devices – which together enhance the reliability and flexibility of monitoring in future network infrastructures