What is the main focus of network management protocols in a modern setup?

The main focus of network management protocols in a modern setup is centralized configuration and oversight. This is essential for efficiently managing a complex network ecosystem, where multiple devices, services, and users interact. Centralized management allows network administrators to monitor, configure, and troubleshoot network devices from a single point of control, resulting in improved operational efficiency and reduced chances of configuration errors.

In a modern network that can span across multiple geographic locations, supporting diverse device types and configurations, having a centralized approach facilitates better visibility into the network's performance and health. This oversight aids in quickly identifying issues, ensuring compliance with policies, and efficiently deploying updates or changes across the network.

While aspects such as device access control, data forwarding optimization, and reduced networking costs are certainly important factors in network operations, they are secondary to the primary role of management protocols, which is to provide a holistic view and control of the entire network architecture. Centralized configuration and oversight directly contribute to the overall functionality and resilience of the network infrastructure.