74 System configuration software featuresASCII configuration fileYou can also store the configuration parameters of a switch/stack as anASCII configuration file and retrieve the stored file to automatically configurea replacement switch/stack.AutotopologyYou can enable the Optivity* Autotopology* protocol on the Ethernet RoutingSwitch 2500 Series using the CLI. For more information about Autotopology,go to the Nortel support site: www.nortel.com/support (The product familyfor Optivity and Autotopology is Data and Internet.)Link Layer Discovery Protocol (IEEE 802.1ab)Release 4.1 software supports the Link Layer Discovery Protocol (LLDP)(IEEE 802.1ab), which lets stations connected to a LAN to advertise theircapabilities to each other, enabling the discovery of physical topologyinformation for network management. LLDP-compatible stations canconsist of any interconnection device including PCs, IP Phones, switches,and routers. Each LLDP station stores LLDP information in a standardManagement Information Base (MIB), making it possible for the informationto be accessed by a network management system (NMS) or application.Each LLDP station:• advertises connectivity and management information about the localstation to adjacent stations on the same 802 LAN (802.3 Ethernet withEthernet Routing Switch 2500)• receives network management information from adjacent stations onthe same LANATTENTIONLLDP works in stack mode.LLDP makes it possible to discover certain configuration inconsistencies ormalfunctions that can result in impaired communications at higher layers.For example, it can be used to discover duplex mismatches between an IPPhone and the connected switch.LLDP is compatible with IETF PROTO MIB (IETF RFC 2922).Figure 22 "How LLDP works" (page 75) shows an example of how LLDPworks in a network.Nortel Ethernet Routing Switch 2500 SeriesOverview — System ConfigurationNN47215-500 (323162-B) 02.02 Standard4.1 19 November 2007Copyright © 2007, Nortel Networks.
