Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Practice Exam

What authentication type is used by SNMPv2?

1. MD5

2. Community strings

3. SNMPv3 passwords

4. Public and private keys

The correct answer is: Community strings

The correct authentication type used by SNMPv2 is community strings. In the context of SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol), community strings function similarly to passwords but are not as secure because they are transmitted in clear text. The community strings serve as a form of simple access control mechanism to limit operations that can be performed on network devices. There are typically two types of community strings: one for read-only access, which allows for monitoring the device without making any changes, and another for read-write access, granting the ability to change device configurations. This method is fundamentally different from more advanced authentication methods found in later versions of SNMP, like SNMPv3, which introduced more robust security features, including encrypted passwords and stronger authentication protocols. Understanding this distinction is crucial, particularly as network security has evolved, and SNMPv1 and SNMPv2 are becoming less common for managing networks due to the security vulnerabilities associated with their use of community strings.