MSM7xx Controllers Configuration Guide v6.4.0

LLDP configuration
The IEEE 802.1AB Link Layer Discovery Protocol (LLDP) provides a standards-based method for
network devices to discover each other and exchange information about their capabilities. An
LLDP device advertises itself to adjacent (neighbor) devices by transmitting LLDP data packets on
all ports on which outbound LLDP is enabled, and reading LLDP advertisements from neighbor
devices on ports that are inbound LLDP-enabled. An LLDP enabled port receiving LLDP packets
inbound from neighbor devices stores the packet data in a Neighbor database (MIB).
LLDP information is used by network management tools to create accurate physical network
topologies by determining which devices are neighbors and through which ports they connect.
LLDP operates at layer 2 and requires an LLDP agent to be active on each network interface that
will send and receive LLDP advertisements. LLDP advertisements can contain a variable number of
TLV (type, length, value) information elements. Each TLV describes a single attribute of a device.
When an LLDP agent receives information from another device, it stores it locally in a special LLDP
MIB (management information base). This information can then be queried by other devices via
SNMP.
Support is provided for the following MIBs:
• Physical topology MIB (RFC 2922)
• Entity MIB version 2 (RFC 2737)
• Interfaces MIB (RFC 2863)
NOTE: LLDP information is only sent/received on Ethernet links. LLDP information is not collected
from wireless devices connected to an AP. However, LLDP can function across a local mesh link
and will show the AP on the other side of the link as a neighbor.
NOTE: When operating in controlled mode the LLDP agents on controlled APs cannot be queried
via SNMP. Instead, all LLDP information from the APs is stored in the controller’s MIBs.
LLDP agent
Select this option to globally activate LLDP support on the controller.
For each port, select whether the agent will transmit and/or receive LLDP information. Select
Configure TLVs to customize TLV support for each interface.
Transmit
Enable this option to have the agent transmit LLDP information to its neighbors.
Receive
Enable this option to have the agent accept LLDP information from its neighbors.
LLDP settings
Use these options to define global LLDP settings.
Transmit interval
Sets the interval (in seconds) at which local LLDP information is updated and TLVs are sent
to neighboring network devices.
Multiplier
The value of Multiplier is multiplied by the Transmit interval to define the length of Time to
live.
Time to live
Indicates the length of time that neighbors will consider LLDP information sent by this agent
to be valid. Time to live is automatically calculated by multiplying Transmit interval by
Multiplier.
Discovery protocols 55