Network Discovery Protocol LLDP and LLDP-MED

Abstract

Various devices are connected in network to each other. It becomes a tedious task to keep track of all the devices for network administrator. Checking links physically are also not a good option for network administrator. In case of network consisting of devices from same vendors it may becomes possible to keep track of devices and manage network, but in multi vendor scenario it becomes more difficult. Solution to this is use of Network Discovery Protocol. Network discovery protocol help administrator to find devices connected over network but also helps to find information related to devices. Various vendors have designed their own proprietary discovery protocols, but they are not interoperable in case of devices from different vendors. Here comes the Link Layer Discovery Protocol (LLDP) which is IEEE 802.3ab standard for network discovery over link layer. Link Layer Discovery Protocol-Media Endpoint Discovery (LLDP-MED) is extension to LLDP which is specially designed for multimedia devices and IP Phones, Video Phones etc. LLDP and LLDP-MED helps to achieve discovery in multi-vendor environment also. Here this paper discusses the need, basics and implementation of LLDP and LLDP-MED over a network switch.