CompTIA Network+ Practice Test

Which protocol is used for exchanging management information between network devices?

1. TCP

2. Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP)

3. Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP)

4. File Transfer Protocol (FTP)

The correct answer is: Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP)

The Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) is specifically designed for exchanging management information between network devices. It facilitates the monitoring and management of networked devices, such as routers, switches, servers, and workstations, allowing administrators to gather real-time data and configuration settings. SNMP works by using a manager-agent framework, where the manager requests data from the agents installed on the devices. This interaction allows for efficient network management, enabling tasks like performance monitoring, fault detection, and configuration management. The other protocols mentioned serve very different purposes. TCP is a transport layer protocol used for establishing connections and ensuring reliable data transmission, but it does not provide management capabilities. Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) is primarily used for transmitting web pages and other resources on the internet, lacking the functionality to manage network devices. File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is designed for transferring files across a network, which also does not include network management features. Therefore, SNMP stands out as the most appropriate choice for managing and monitoring network hardware effectively.