Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) is a network protocol used to manage TCP/IP networks. In Windows, the SNMP service -- also known as the SNMP agent -- is used to provide status information about an SNMP host on a TCP/IP network.

An SNMP trap is an event notification message sent by the SNMP Trap service running on an SNMP host. The SNMP trap is sent to other SNMP hosts or to an SNMP management system, which are known as trap destinations.

If SNMP traps are required, one or more community names must be specified. Trap destinations can be specified as host names or IP addresses.

SNMP Trap controls

Community name: Provides a location for you to type or select a community name that you want used by the trap destinations. A community name acts as a password that is shared by one or more SNMP hosts. The SNMP agent can only send SNMP trap messages to SNMP hosts that use a known community name. Community names listed on the Traps tab are used only to authenticate outgoing SNMP trap messages. To authenticate all incoming SNMP trap messages, configure this SNMP host on the Security tab.

Add to list: Adds a typed community name to the Community name list.

Remove from list: Removes the selected community name from the Community name list.

Trap destinations: Lists trap destinations, which are SNMP management systems that receive SNMP trap messages from any SNMP host in the selected community.

Add: Adds an SNMP management system to the list of trap destinations for the selected community.

Edit: Provides a dialog box to edit the host name or IP address of the selected trap destination.

Remove: Removes the selected SNMP management system from the list of trap destinations for the selected community.

Additional references

For more information about SNMP, see Simple Network Management Protocol in TCP/IP Fundamentals for Windows in the Microsoft TechNet Technical Library at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=66006.