CompTIA Cloud+ Practice Test

Which tool is required for an administrator to monitor server applications in a data center?

1. SMS

2. SMTP

3. IPMI

4. SNMP

The correct answer is: IPMI

The correct answer is SNMP, which stands for Simple Network Management Protocol. This protocol is widely used for monitoring and managing network devices and server applications in data centers. SNMP allows administrators to collect and organize data about network devices' performance, including CPU load, memory usage, and application health, making it a vital tool for ensuring the smooth operation of server applications. Utilizing SNMP, administrators can set up alerts for when specific thresholds are reached, which aids in proactive management of server applications. SNMP operates using a client-server model, where network devices run SNMP agents that respond to requests from a management system. This functionality is critical for maintaining optimal performance and reliability in data center environments. The other options, such as SMS and SMTP, serve different purposes. SMS (Short Message Service) is typically used for sending text messages and doesn't inherently provide monitoring capabilities for server applications. SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) is a protocol used for sending emails, and while it can be part of a notification system for alerts, it does not monitor applications directly. IPMI (Intelligent Platform Management Interface) focuses on hardware-level management and monitoring of server components such as power supplies and temperature sensors, but it does not encompass all aspects of server application monitoring like