What protocol does Zabbix primarily use for data gathering from network devices?

Zabbix primarily uses the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) for data gathering from network devices. SNMP is widely recognized for its ability to manage and monitor network devices such as routers, switches, servers, and other hardware. This protocol allows Zabbix to collect performance metrics and status information, providing a standardized method of communication between the network devices and the Zabbix server.

Using SNMP, Zabbix can periodically poll devices for data, receive alerts, and gather statistics efficiently. The protocol is specifically designed for network management, making it the ideal choice for this purpose within Zabbix. In contrast, while HTTP, SSH, and FTP serve distinct functions such as web communication, secure shell access, and file transfer respectively, they do not provide the same level of structured management and monitoring capabilities focused on network devices as SNMP does. This makes SNMP the most suitable and effective protocol for Zabbix in the context of network data gathering.