Which protocol is commonly associated with network management?

The selection of SNMP as the correct answer highlights its established role in network management. SNMP, or Simple Network Management Protocol, is specifically designed for the monitoring and management of network devices. It allows network administrators to collect information on device status, performance, and configuration, enabling routine maintenance and troubleshooting.

With its capability to manage various devices such as routers, switches, servers, and printers, SNMP operates by utilizing agents installed on network devices that communicate with a central management system over the network. This communication is essential for maintaining the health and efficiency of a network, providing features like alerting administrators to issues (like device failures or performance degradation) and permitting remote configuration changes.

In contrast, while HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) is primarily used for delivering web pages, FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is focused on transferring files over the network, and SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) is geared towards email transmission, none of these protocols serve the purpose of network management in the same manner as SNMP. Each of these other protocols fulfills a specific function, but they do not encompass the comprehensive monitoring capabilities that SNMP provides for effectively managing network infrastructure.