Which protocol is Cisco proprietary and shares information about connected Cisco devices?

Which protocol is Cisco proprietary and shares information about connected Cisco devices?

• A. LLDP
• B. UDLD
• C. CDP
• D. STP

Answer: (C)

CDP, the Cisco Discovery Protocol, is Cisco’s own neighbor discovery protocol. It shares information about directly connected Cisco devices—things like device hostname, IP address, platform/model, capabilities, and the port that connects them. This makes it easy to map a Cisco network, verify what’s directly adjacent, and aid in troubleshooting or asset inventory. In contrast, LLDP is a standardized, vendor-neutral protocol that performs similar neighbor discovery but isn’t Cisco-only. UDLD focuses on detecting unidirectional links to prevent certain failure modes, not on advertising device details. STP is about preventing switching loops in a network, not listing neighboring devices.

CDP, the Cisco Discovery Protocol, is Cisco’s own neighbor discovery protocol. It shares information about directly connected Cisco devices—things like device hostname, IP address, platform/model, capabilities, and the port that connects them. This makes it easy to map a Cisco network, verify what’s directly adjacent, and aid in troubleshooting or asset inventory.

In contrast, LLDP is a standardized, vendor-neutral protocol that performs similar neighbor discovery but isn’t Cisco-only. UDLD focuses on detecting unidirectional links to prevent certain failure modes, not on advertising device details. STP is about preventing switching loops in a network, not listing neighboring devices.