* A look at Link Layer Discovery Protocol-Media Endpoint Discovery (LLDP-MED)
Our Technology Update this week revisits a topic we covered recently on the 802.lAB Link Layer Discovery Protocol.
You may recall that LLDP is what’s known as the a neighbor discovery protocol. It defines a way for Ethernet network devices such as switches, routers and wireless LAN access points to advertise information about themselves to other nodes on the network and store the information they discover. Details such as device configuration, device capabilities and device identification can be advertised using this protocol.
Our authors (aallen@entarasys.com and Frattura@enterasys.com) this week take a look at LLDP-Media Endpoint Discovery (LLDP-MED) which builds upon LLDP features by adding media- and IP telephony-specific messages that can be exchanged between the network and endpoints. LLDP-MED will provide detailed information on Power-over-Ethernet, network policy, media endpoint location for Emergency Call Services (ECS) and inventory.
Our authors say LLDP-capable devices periodically transmit information in messages called Type Length Value (TLV) fields to neighbor devices.
Among other uses, this TLV information can be employed to pin-point device location across a wide area and may ulitimately be adopted to support E911 services.
It’s an interesting story. For more see: https://www.nwfusion.com/news/tech/2004/110104techupdate.html
