What is a limitation of SNMP regarding configuration capabilities?

The correct answer highlights a significant limitation of Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) in its standard framework. SNMP primarily functions as a monitoring protocol that uses Management Information Bases (MIBs) to define the data structures for network devices. While SNMP allows for the retrieval of information from devices (like performance data and status), it has restrictions when it comes to modifying device configurations.

Specifically, the limitation that it has no writable MIBs points to the fact that, under SNMPv1 and SNMPv2, MIBs typically contain only read operations. Although SNMPv3 introduced further capabilities, SNMP in general is not primarily designed as a configuration management tool. Writable MIBs do exist, allowing modification of specific configurations, but these can be limited in scope and are not universally applicable across all MIBs or compliant devices. This limitation emphasizes the need for network management systems to utilize additional tools or protocols, like NETCONF or REST APIs, for configuration tasks.

The other options presented refer to conditions that do not accurately encapsulate the specific limitations encountered with SNMP in terms of configuration capabilities. The focus on writable MIBs is crucial for understanding how SNMP functions within network management tasks, where monitoring is indeed