SYNOPSIS

lldptool -t -i ethx -V vdp -c enableTx

lldptool -T -i ethx -V vdp -c enableTx=[yes|no]

lldptool -t -i ethx -V vdp -c mode

lldptool -T -i ethx -V vdp -c mode=<mode>,<mgrid>,<typeid>,<typeidversion>,<instanceid>,<mac>,<vlan>

lldptool -t -i ethx -V vdp -c role

lldptool -T -i ethx -V vdp -c role=[station|bridge]

DESCRIPTION

The VSI discovery protocol (VDP) is NOT a TLV in the LLDP sense but rather a protocol to manage the association and deassociation of virtual station interfaces (VSIs) between the station and an adjacent switch. VDP uses ECP as transport for VDP TLVs. An ECP frame may contain multiple VDP TLVs. Each VDP TLVs contains a mode, typeid, version, instanceid, mac and vlan for a VSI.

ARGUMENTS

enableTx

Enables or disables VDP

mode

shows or sets modes for VSIs with the following parameters:

<mode>

mode (0=preassociate, 1=preassociate with RR, 2=associate, 3=deassociate)

<mgrid>

manager (database) id

<typeid>

VSI type id

<version>

VSI type id version

<instanceid>

VSI instance id

<format>

VDP filter info format

<mac>

VSI mac address

<vlan>

VSI vlan id

role

shows or sets the role of the local machine to act as either station (default) or bridge.

Theory of Operation

The VDP protocol is used to pre-associate, associate or deassociate VSIs to and adjacent switch. Information about the VSIs is formatted into VDP TLVs which are then handed to ECP for lower-level transport. Each ECP frame may contain multiple VDP TLVs.

Two ways to receive VSI information exist in llpdad: via netlink or with lldptool. netlink is used by libvirt to communicate VSIs to lldpad. lldptool can be used to associate/deassociate VSIs from the command line. This is especially helpful for testing purposes.

EXAMPLE & USAGE

Display if vdp is enabled on eth8

lldptool -t -i eth8 -V vdp -c enableTx

Enable vdp on eth8

lldptool -T -i eth8 -V vdp -c enableTx=yes

Display the currently configured VSIs for eth8

lldptool -t -i eth8 -V vdp -c mode

Associate a VSI on eth8

lldptool -T -i eth8 -V vdp -c mode=2,12,1193046,1,fa9b7fff-b0a0-4893-8e0e-beef4ff18f8f,2,52:54:00:C7:3E:CE,3

Display the locally configured role for VDP on eth8

lldptool -t -i eth8 -V vdp -c role

Set the local role for VDP on eth8

lldptool -T -i eth8 -V vdp -c role=bridge

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. ECP/VDP TLVs on the wire can be decoded with wireshark > v1.8.

AUTHOR

Jens Osterkamp