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Cisco Catalyst Blade Switch 3130 for Dell Software Configuration Guide
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Configuring LLDP and LLDP-MED
This chapter describes how to configure the Link Layer Discovery Protocol (LL DP) an d LLD P Medi a
Endpoint Discovery (LLDP-MED) on the switch. Unless otherwise noted, the term switch refers to a
standalone switch and to a switch stack.
Note For complete syntax and usage information for the commands used in this chapter, see the command
reference for this release and the “System Management Commands” section in the Cisco IOS
Configuration Fundamentals Command Reference, Release 12.2.
This chapter consists of these sections:
Understanding LLDP and LLDP-MED, page 27-1
Configuring LLDP and LLDP-MED, page 27-3
Monitoring and Maintaining LLDP and LLDP-MED, page 27-7

Understanding LLDP and LLDP-MED

This section contains this conceptual information:
Understanding LLDP, page 2 7-1
Understanding LLDP-MED, page 27-2

Understanding LLDP

The Cisco Discovery Protocol (CDP) is a device discovery protocol that runs over Layer 2 (the data lin k
layer) on all Cisco-manufactured devices (routers, bridges, access servers, and switches). CDP allows
network management applications to automatically discover and lear n ab out ot her C i sco devices
connected to the network.
To support non-Cisco devices and to allow for interoperability between other devices, the switch
supports the IEEE 802.1AB Link Layer Discovery Protocol (LLDP). LLDP is a neighbor discovery
protocol that is used for network devices to advertise information about themselves to other devices on
the network. This protocol runs over the data-link layer, which allows two systems running different
network layer protocols to learn about each other.