SYNOPSIS

lldptool -t -g ncb -i ethx -V evbCfg -c enableTx

lldptool -T -g ncb -i ethx -V evbCfg -c enableTx=[yes|no]

lldptool -t -g ncb -i ethx -V evbCfg -c fmode

lldptool -T -g ncb -i ethx -V evbCfg -c fmode=[bridge|reflectiverelay]

lldptool -t -g ncb -i ethx -V evbCfg -c capabilities

lldptool -T -g ncb -i ethx -V evbCfg -c capabilities=[rte|ecp|vdp|none]

lldptool -t -g ncb -i ethx -V evbCfg -c rte

lldptool -T -g ncb -i ethx -V evbCfg -c rte=[<rte>]

lldptool -t -g ncb -i ethx -V evbCfg -c vsis

lldptool -T -g ncb -i ethx -V evbCfg -c vsis=[<number of vsis>]

DESCRIPTION

The EVB TLV is a TLV to announce the station and bridge's edge virtual bridging (evb) capabilities and request the bridge forwarding mode. If both sides have agree on edge control protocol (ECP), VSI discovery protocol (VDP) capabilities, both sides can exchange VDP TLV using ECP frames. The vsis parameter will set the maximum number of VSIs and show the number of currently configured VSIs.

ARGUMENTS

enableTx

Enables the EVB TLV to be transmitted

fmode

shows or sets the forwarding mode between bridge (default) or reflectiverelay (RR).

capabilities

shows or sets the local capabilities that are announced to the adjacent switch in the TLV. This parameter will accept any combination of rte, vdp or ecp, separated by ",". Use the keyword "none" if you do not want to set any capabilities.

rte

shows or set the local run time exponent (RTE). The RTE will be used as the base for the timing of the ECP and VDP protocols.

vsis

shows or sets the number of virtual station interfaces (VSIs) that are announced to the adjacent switch in the TLV. This parameter expects a number between 0 and 65535.

Theory of Operation

The EVB TLV is used to announce and exchange supported parameters between the station and an adjacent switch. The TLV uses the nearest customer bridge agent.

If "reflectiverelay" is set as forwarding mode, the switch will allow "reflection" of frames coming from different sources at the same port back to the port. This will allow communication between virtual machines on the same host via the switch.

The capabilities parameter is used to set RTE, ECP and VDP support. VDP TLVs in ECP frames can only be exchanged if both sides agree on ECP and VDP as capabilities. RTE will be used as the base timing parameter for ECP and VDP.

EXAMPLE & USAGE

Display locally configured values for eth8

lldptool -t -g ncb -i eth8 -V evbCfg

Display remotely configured values for eth8

lldptool -n -g ncb -t -i eth8 -V evbCfg

Display wether evb tlv is configured for tx on eth8

lldptool -t -g ncb -i eth8 -V evbCfg -c enableTx

Display the currently requested forwarding mode for eth8

lldptool -t -g ncb -i eth8 -V evbCfg -c fmode

Set the forwarding mode to reflective relay

lldptool -T -g ncb -i eth8 -V evbCfg -c fmode=reflectiverelay

Display the currently configured capabilities

lldptool -t -g ncb -i ethx -V evbCfg -c capabilities

Set the locally possible capabilities to RTE, ECP and VDP

lldptool -T -g ncb -i ethx -V evbCfg -c capabilities=rte,ecp,vdp

Resets the locally possible capabilities to "none"

lldptool -T -g ncb -i ethx -V evbCfg -c capabilities=none

Display the locally configured value for RTE

lldptool -t -g ncb -i ethx -V evbCfg -c rte

Set the value for RTE

lldptool -T -g ncb -i ethx -V evbCfg -c rte=[<rte>]

Display the configured maximum number of VSIs

lldptool -t -g ncb -i ethx -V evbCfg -c vsis

Set the maximum number of VSIs

lldptool -T -g ncb -i ethx -V evbCfg -c vsis=[<number of vsis>]

SOURCE

• IEEE 802.1Qbg (http://www.ieee802.org/1/pages/802.1bg.html)

NOTES

Currently the code in lldpad reflects draft 0 of the upcoming standard. EVB TLVs on the wire can be decoded with wireshark > v1.6.

AUTHOR

Jens Osterkamp