What protocol is designed for network management?

The Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) is specifically designed for network management. It is used to monitor, manage, and control network devices and systems, enabling network administrators to collect and organize information about managed devices on IP networks. SNMP allows for the monitoring of network performance, detecting network faults, and managing configurations, making it an essential tool for network management and maintenance.

In contrast, the other protocols listed have different primary functions. For example, IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol) is primarily used for retrieving emails from a mail server, while SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) is designed for sending emails. HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) is the foundation of data communication on the World Wide Web, handling the transfer of web pages and resources. Each of these protocols serves specific purposes unrelated to direct network management, highlighting the distinct role that SNMP plays within the realm of network administration.