What protocol is a vendor-neutral Layer 2 discovery protocol that must be configured separately to transmit and receive information packets?

LLDP, or Link Layer Discovery Protocol, is the protocol that fits the description of being vendor-neutral and functioning at Layer 2 of the OSI model. It is designed to allow devices on a network to advertise their identity and capabilities to other devices on the same local area network (LAN). Unlike proprietary protocols such as CDP (Cisco Discovery Protocol), which is specific to Cisco devices, LLDP is standardized and can be used across different vendor equipment, enhancing interoperability in multi-vendor environments.

Configuring LLDP requires separate commands on each device to enable it and to define what information is shared with neighboring devices. This distinct configuration step is essential because LLDP must be actively enabled to function; it does not operate automatically like some other protocols. This allows network engineers to control how and when device information is advertised and exchanged on the network, ensuring that only relevant and necessary information is shared.

In contrast, CDP provides similar functionality but is limited to Cisco devices, while STP (Spanning Tree Protocol) is focused on preventing network loops and does not serve the purpose of device discovery. VTP ( VLAN Trunking Protocol) is aimed at managing VLAN configurations across joined switches and does not pertain to device discovery, which clarifies why LL