SNMP-managed networks consist of managed devices, software that runs on managed devices (known as agents), and software running on the manager, known as the network management station (NMS). Management data is stored in management information bases (MIBs), which are hierarchical structures.

Enabling SNMP on pfSense enables it to act as a network management station. SNMP is implemented on pfSense/FreeBSD via the bsnmpd service.