Purpose
The Microsoft Windows implementation of the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) is used to configure remote devices, monitor network performance, audit network usage, and detect network faults or inappropriate access.
Where Applicable
SNMP uses a distributed architecture consisting of management applications and agent applications. The SNMP service implements an SNMP agent. To use the information the SNMP service provides, you must have at least one host that is running an SNMP management application. You can use third-party SNMP management software, or you can develop your own SNMP management software application. The following APIs are available for this purpose:
- SNMP Management API, a set of functions that can be used to quickly develop basic SNMP management systems
- WinSNMP API, version 2.0, a set of functions for encoding, decoding, sending, and receiving SNMP messages
Additionally, the SNMP Extension Agent API defines the interface between the SNMP service and third-party SNMP extension agent DLLs. The SNMP Utility API functions can be used to simplify the processing of SNMP messages.
Developer Audience
The APIs listed in the preceding section are designed for use by C/C++ programmers. Familiarity with SNMP and SNMPv2C, as well as a working knowledge of networking and network management concepts, are required.
Run-Time Requirements
Requires Windows NT, Windows 2000 or Windows XP; the Microsoft SNMP extension agent also runs on Windows 95 and Windows 98, and Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition clients. For more information about the operating system required to use a particular function, see the Requirements section of the reference page for that function. Applications that use the WinSNMP API require Windows 2000 or later.
In This Section
See Also
Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP)
Network Management
Remote Access Service
Routing and Remote Access Service
Send comments about this topic to Microsoft
Build date: 2/28/2008