The Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) provides a mechanism for managing network-connected devices using a standard protocol for a wide variety of networked devices, such as routers, switches, servers, workstations, printers, etc. Microsoft Windows systems support SNMP, but they are not configured by default to support SNMP. But once you've installed and configured SNMP on a Windows system you can monitor a variety of system parameters on it from an SNMP network management system. Steps for configuring SNMP on a Microsoft Windows 7 system are detailed here.
Instructions for installing SNMP on systems running Windows XP are at Installing SNMP Under Windows XP.
