Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Practice Exam

Which SNMPv2 feature allows the retrieval of multiple pieces of information in one request?

1. GetNext

2. GetBulk

3. GetRequest

4. Inform

The correct answer is: GetBulk

The feature of SNMPv2 that enables the retrieval of multiple pieces of information with a single request is known as GetBulk. This command is specifically designed to enhance performance when retrieving large volumes of data from a device, such as a router or switch. In the context of SNMP, traditional commands like GetRequest retrieve a single instance of data for each item specified, which can become inefficient when multiple items are needed. GetNext allows the retrieval of the next item in a sequence, but still requires separate requests for each item, potentially leading to excessive traffic and overhead. GetBulk, on the other hand, minimizes this by allowing the requester to specify how many instances it wants to retrieve in one go. This is particularly useful in scenarios where a bulk of similar information needs to be gathered, such as a list of interface statistics. The GetBulk request sends one command and retrieves the requested set of information in a single round trip, thus optimizing the process and reducing the load on both the network and the devices involved. Inform is a different concept entirely, as it relates to notifications sent from an agent to a manager, including acknowledgment. Therefore, while other commands serve their purposes in SNMP, the capability of retrieving multiple pieces of information in one