How to use Cisco Discovery Protocol

Cisco Discovery Protocol (CDP) is a Cisco proprietary Layer 2 protocol that is used to discover information about directly connected Cisco devices. This information includes the device's hostname, hardware type, software version, and IP address. CDP is a passive protocol, which means that it does not require any configuration on the neighboring devices.

CDP is used for a variety of purposes, including:

• Network inventory: CDP can be used to create a map of the network and identify all of the devices that are connected.
• Troubleshoot: CDP can be used to troubleshoot network problems by identifying the devices that are connected to a particular interface or by determining the path between two devices.
• Security: CDP can be used to identify unkown devices on the network.

To enable CDP on a Cisco device, you can use the following command:

cdp run

To view the information about the directly connected devices, you can use the following command:

show cdp neighbors

CDP is a valuable tool for network administrators and engineers. It can be used to quickly and easily gather information about the devices that are connected to a network. This information can be used to troubleshoot problems, plan network changes, and improve network security.

Here are some of the benefits of using Cisco CDP:

• It is a simple and easy-to-use protocol.
• It is widely supported by Cisco devices.
• It does not require any configuration on the neighboring devices.
• It can be used to gather a variety of information about the directly connected devices.

Here are some of the limitations of Cisco CDP:

• It is a Layer 2 protocol, so it cannot be used to discover devices that are not directly connected.
• It can be used to gather information about the devices that are connected to a network, but it cannot be used to control those devices.
• It can be a security risk if it is not configured properly.

Overall, Cisco CDP is a valuable tool for network administrators and engineers. It is simple to use and widely supported by Cisco devices. However, it is important to be aware of its limitations and to configure it properly to avoid security risks.