Preparing a Kernel-based Virtual Machine (KVM) server for network topology

Use the following steps to prepare your Linux Kernel-based Virtual Machine (KVM) to support network topology.

Before you begin

Links are added to the network topology either dynamically by IBM® Flex System Manager Network Control or manually by a user. You can take advantage of dynamic link discovery by enabling Link Layer Discovery Protocol (LLDP) on KVMs that use Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.1. Perform the following steps to enable LLDP on your KVM:

Procedure

Download and install the lldpad daemon (0.9.43 or higher) to the server from the downloads section at Open-LLDP Downloads page (http://www.open-lldp.org).
Run the following command to start the lldpad daemon on the server:
```
service lldpad start
```
Run the following command to enable the admin status for the interface that connects to the physical switch:
```
lldptool -L -i eth0 adminStatus=rxtx
```
Note: Replace eth0 with the interface in your environment.
Run the following command to verify that the interface is correctly set to send and receive LLDP:
```
lldptool -S -i eth0 adminStatus
```

Results

LLDP should now be running on your server, and the transmitted frames counter should be increasing.