An SNMP proxy is a device that forwards SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) requests between different SNMP-enabled devices. When a device sends an SNMP request to a target device, the SNMP proxy intercepts the request and relays it to another device that has access to the requested data. The request is processed by the destination device, and the response is sent back to the SNMP proxy, which then forwards it back to the original device.
SNMP proxies work by adding an additional layer of abstraction to the SNMP communication process. Instead of devices communicating directly with each other, they send requests and receive responses through the proxy. This allows the proxy device to act as a go-between, translating requests between devices that may not support the same version of SNMP or have different security requirements.
SNMP proxies can also provide additional functionality, such as caching SNMP data to reduce the load on the target device or simplifying network management by consolidating SNMP communication through a single proxy device. Overall, an SNMP proxy provides a flexible and efficient way to manage SNMP-enabled devices within a network.
