Edit: I am in the process of designing a Java-based monitoring tool that will send back periodic "health checks" of a Java app deployed to a cluster of GlassFish servers. I am trying to figure out the best protocol for this monitoring tool to send information back to the monitoring server on.

After an initial research effort on my part, it seems like SNMP is just a protocol for monitor-type applications to communicate the "health status" of something (a part of a network, a server, a cluster, an application, etc.) to the rest of the network.

• If the above is incorrect, please correct me!!!

Assuming the generalization is more or less accurate, my next question is: why is this a protocol!?!?

In the age of REST/SOAP/TCP protocols, why is there the need for a standardized protocol that only fits one type of application (monitoring)? In other words, if I'm a developer assigned to building a new monitoring tool that periodically polls a server and reports on its CPU and available memory, what advantages does SNMP give me over just POSTing to a RESTful API via plain 'ole HTTP?

I'm sure I'm missing something here - I just need someone to help connect the dots! Thanks in advance!