It is very challenging to encompass SNMP in a active measurement platform. Why? Can you also give me reference in literature that proves why?

Incorporating SNMP into an active measurement platform can be challenging due to several inherent limitations and complexities associated with the protocol. Here are some key reasons:

Security Concerns and Lack of Encryption

Earlier versions of SNMP, such as SNMPv1 and SNMPv2c, transmit data without encryption, making networks vulnerable to interception. Although SNMPv3 improves security with encryption, it can be more complex to configure2.

Complexity of SNMP MIBs

The Management Information Bases (MIBs) in SNMP are complex and require a high level of expertise to manage effectively. Different vendors use distinct MIBs, which adds to the complexity when monitoring diverse devices within a network infrastructure1.

SNMP Trap Overload

SNMP trap overload occurs when the volume of traps received by a monitoring system exceeds its processing capacity. This can lead to missed or delayed alerts, overwhelming system resources, and a cluttered notification interface. Effective prioritization and filtering mechanisms are often lacking, exacerbating alert fatigue1.

Resource Consumption and Scalability Issues

SNMP can consume significant network bandwidth and device resources, especially in large deployments. The frequent polling and data collection can affect network performance. Additionally, SNMP struggles to scale well, particularly when dealing with a large number of devices, interfaces, and metrics, which can create an overwhelming amount of network traffic25.

Limited Insight and Granularity

SNMP's basic implementations may not provide deep visibility into network health, and it often lacks the ability to offer sub-minute information without overloading devices. This limitation is particularly problematic for modern network operations that require real-time or near-real-time monitoring5.

Timing and Data Accuracy Issues

SNMP data points can be delayed due to transit, processing, and storage times, leading to inaccuracies in the data. This can result in spikes or troughs in metrics that are not true reflections of the actual network state4.

These challenges are well-documented in various literature, including the sources mentioned:

• The complexity and security concerns of SNMP are discussed in detail in the NetFlowLogic blog post1.
• The resource consumption, scalability issues, and limited insight provided by SNMP are highlighted in the Kentik blog post5.
• The timing and data accuracy issues are explained in the YouTube video by Kentik's Phil Gervasi and Chris O'Brien4.

These references provide a comprehensive view of the challenges associated with using SNMP in an active measurement platform.