Where do SNMP agents reside in a typical network?

• A. On the managed devices
• B. On the Network Management System
• C. In external cloud services
• D. In a dedicated central server

Answer: (A)

SNMP works with a manager and agents. The agent is the software running on each device you want to monitor—routers, switches, servers, printers, and similar equipment. It collects the device’s data, presents it through the Management Information Base (MIB), and replies to SNMP requests from the manager. It can also send alerts (traps) to the manager when something notable happens.

The Network Management System acts as the manager, not as the agent. While management software can be hosted on various servers or in cloud environments, the actual SNMP agent resides on the managed devices themselves. That’s what allows the manager to query current status and receive notifications from each device. Hence, the most accurate placement is on the managed devices.