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Configuring lldp, Overview, Basic concepts – H3C Technologies H3C WX5500E Series Access Controllers User Manual

Page 213: Lldpdu formats

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Configuring LLDP

Overview

In a heterogeneous network, a standard configuration exchange platform makes sure different types of

network devices from different vendors can discover one another, and exchange configuration for the
sake of interoperability and management.
The IETF drafted the Link Layer Discovery Protocol (LLDP) in IEEE 802.1AB. The protocol operates on the

data link layer to exchange device information between directly connected devices. With LLDP, a device

sends local device information, including its major functions, management IP address, device ID, and
port ID, as TLV (type, length, and value) triplets in LLDP Data Units (LLDPDUs) to the directly connected

devices. At the same time, the device stores the device information received in LLDPDUs sent from the

LLDP neighbors in a standard MIB. LLDP enables a network management system to quickly detect and

identify Layer 2 network topology changes.

Basic concepts

LLDPDU formats

LLDP sends device information in LLDP data units (LLDPDUs). LLDPDUs are encapsulated in Ethernet II or

SNAP frames.

LLDPDUs encapsulated in Ethernet II

Figure 185 LLDPDU encapsulated in Ethernet II

Table 72 Description of the fields in an Ethernet II encapsulated LLDPDU

Field Description

Destination MAC address

MAC address to which the LLDPDU is advertised. It is fixed to
0x0180-C200-000E, a multicast MAC address.

Source MAC address

MAC address of the sending port.

Type

Ethernet type for the upper layer protocol. It is 0x88CC for LLDP.

Data

LLDP data.