Introduction to SNMP & Netflow
SNMP and NetFlow are 2 widely used features in networking world.
Some of top industry tools utilizing SNMP are:
- Solarwinds NPM,
- OpManager by ManageEngine,
- PRTG and
- Nagios among others.
NetFlow is also not far behind with worth mention tools like:
- Solarwinds NTA,
- PRTG Network Monitor,
- Scrutinizer and
- ManageEngine NetFlow Analyzer
utilizing NetFlow as the underlying technology.
Related- Netflow V5 vs V9
SNMP has proved to be quite a popular tool especially in network monitoring like alarms and notifications. NetFlow was initially implemented by Cisco and now adopted by many vendors. Further, NetFlow helps in capacity management and planning scalability and future requirements links and circuits.
Significance of SNMP and NetFlow
Many times queries are raised on significance of both SNMP and NetFlow, and whether one can perform the functionalities of other.
- Not quite so, since SNMP primarily focuses on monitoring while NetFlow helps provide detailed view of link level utilization up to application level and good for link bandwidth planning.
- Moreover NetFlow is quite intensive on resources unlike SNMP.
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Comparison Table: SNMP vs Netflow
Below table enumerates the difference between SNMP and NetFlow:
Parameter | SNMP | NetFlow |
| Real Time | Yes, up to seconds | Not real time |
| RFC | 1157, 1065-67 etc. | RFC 3954, RFC 5101 etc. |
| CPU and memory utilization of devices | SNMP provides | NetFlow cant provide |
| Detailed bandwidth utilization | Limited to Interface level i.e. high level | Provides detailed bandwidth utilization up to application level, source/destination IPs, QOS etc. |
| Bandwidth required for exporting over WAN | Very less approx. less than 1% | 2-5 % of WAN bandwidth |
| PUSH/PULL technology | PULL technology | PUSH technology |
| Supported by | Almost all devices | Limited to Cisco and some vendor devices. |
| Usage | Primarily used for device alarms and notifications including device interface utilization. | Primarily used for bandwidth usage up to application, source/destination IP level. |
Download the Comparison table: SNMP vs Netflow
Continue Reading:
SNMP vs SYSLOG : Know the difference
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
I am here to share my knowledge and experience in the field of networking with the goal being – “The more you share, the more you learn.”
I am a biotechnologist by qualification and a Network Enthusiast by interest. I developed interest in networking being in the company of a passionate Network Professional, my husband.
I am a strong believer of the fact that “learning is a constant process of discovering yourself.”
– Rashmi Bhardwaj (Author/Editor)
