Which statement best describes a managed device?

• A. A device that only stores user data and does not participate in management.
• B. A network node that contains an SNMP agent and resides on a managed network.
• C. A hardware switch that forwards frames.
• D. A network interface card used for data plane traffic.

Answer: (B)

Managed devices are network elements that participate in centralized monitoring and control through a management protocol such as SNMP. They run a management agent on the device and expose information via MIBs so a network management system can read status, configure settings, and receive alerts.

The statement describing a network node that contains an SNMP agent and resides on a managed network captures this idea precisely. The SNMP agent is the software that handles requests from the management system and can push traps when issues arise, enabling ongoing supervision and control of the device. Being on a managed network means it is part of the set of devices that the management system is responsible for.

Other descriptions don’t fit as well because they either imply the device isn’t involved in management (storing user data only), or describe hardware components that focus on forwarding data without management capabilities, rather than devices that provide management data and respond to management commands.