In SNMP usage, when would you prefer polling versus traps?

In SNMP usage, when would you prefer polling versus traps?

• A. Polling periodically queries devices for status; traps are unsolicited alerts from devices. Use polling for baseline metrics and traps for real-time events.
• B. Traps regularly poll the devices for status.
• C. Traps provide baseline metrics while polling alerts in real-time.
• D. Polling creates unsolicited alerts.

Answer: (A)

In SNMP, you choose between polling and traps based on how you want to gather data: either on a regular schedule or as events occur. Polling means the management system actively asks devices for their status at set intervals. This gives you a predictable, complete set of baseline metrics over time (like CPU, memory, interface counters) that you can chart, trend, and use for capacity planning. Traps are unsolicited alerts a device sends when something notable happens (for example, a link goes down or a sensor crosses a threshold). They provide immediate notification of real-time events without constant checking, which is great for rapid response and reducing polling load. So, polling is best for building baseline metrics and historical trends, while traps are best for real-time event alerts. The other ideas mix up these roles—traps aren’t polling, polling isn’t used for unsolicited alerts, and traps don’t inherently provide baseline data.

In SNMP, you choose between polling and traps based on how you want to gather data: either on a regular schedule or as events occur. Polling means the management system actively asks devices for their status at set intervals. This gives you a predictable, complete set of baseline metrics over time (like CPU, memory, interface counters) that you can chart, trend, and use for capacity planning. Traps are unsolicited alerts a device sends when something notable happens (for example, a link goes down or a sensor crosses a threshold). They provide immediate notification of real-time events without constant checking, which is great for rapid response and reducing polling load.

So, polling is best for building baseline metrics and historical trends, while traps are best for real-time event alerts. The other ideas mix up these roles—traps aren’t polling, polling isn’t used for unsolicited alerts, and traps don’t inherently provide baseline data.