Reference
SNMP Reference
SNMP v1/v2c/v3 comparison — authentication, encryption, features
| Feature | SNMPv1 | SNMPv2c | SNMPv3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Authentication | Community (plaintext) | Community (plaintext) | User-based (MD5, SHA) |
| Encryption | None | None | DES, AES-128/192/256 |
| Counters | 32-bit | 64-bit | 64-bit |
| GetBulk | No | Yes | Yes |
| Replay Protection | No | No | Yes |
| Access Control | Limited | Limited | VACM (role-based) |
| Recommendation | Legacy only | Internal nets | Recommended |
SNMPv1/v2c send community strings in plaintext. Always use SNMPv3 on
security-sensitive networks.