25.1.1 Overview

(1) Outline of OADP function

The Octpower Auto Discovery Protocol (OADP) is functionality that operates at the Layer 2 level of the Switch. OADP is used to collect information about neighboring devices by the exchange of OADP PDUs (protocol data units) among devices.

The information can then be used to show the status of connections to neighboring devices. With this functionality, you can easily understand the status of connections to neighboring devices from the device and port information that is displayed. You can also use this functionality to check the status of a connection between devices without logging in to the neighboring devices or viewing a network configuration diagram. Furthermore, you can verify the correctness of a device connection by comparing the connection status information displayed by using this functionality against a network configuration diagram.

The devices that the Switch can recognize as neighboring devices are devices implementing OADP (including Switches) and devices implementing CDP.

(2) Outline of CDP Receive Function

Because OADP can interpret the Cisco Discovery Protocol (CDP), the status of connections to neighboring devices that send CDP PDUs can also be checked from the Switch. Note, however, that the Switch does not send CDP PDUs. CDP operates at the Layer 2 level on Cisco Systems' devices to detect neighboring devices.

(3) OADP application

OADP allows a local device to send its own device and port information to the ports of neighboring devices connected to the local device. The device and port information includes the device ID, port ID, IP address, and VLAN ID. By managing the received information, the operator at the local device can check the status of connections to neighboring devices.

The figure below shows an example of using OADP. In this example, the operator of Switch A installed on the 1st floor of a building can check the status of connections to other Switches installed on other floors of the same building.

Figure 25-1: OADP apply