Layer 2 topology: device types

A network may contain a range of different device types, such as Access Points, Switches, VoIP phones and many more. Plasma Cloud detects and visualizes as many devices as possible to give an accurate network overview. How different device are represented and what information is available about them is explained in this article.

Own Devices

Own devices are all Access Points and Switches that belong to your currently selected Plasma Cloud network. For ease of distinction, own devices are shown in blue:

	represents a Plasma Cloud PoE Switch;
	represents a Plasma Cloud WiFi Access Point.

Clicking on a blue device icon opens the device popup, which provides the following information:

• device name and shortcut to device details page,
• model name and icon,
• max path speed (calculated traffic speed from the device to its uplink across the network); and
• number of clients connected (for WiFi devices only);

WiFi Access Points indicate the number of connected clients on top of the icon for an easy and quick overview.

Comparing the max path speed of multiple devices in an uplink chain allows you to identify speed bottlenecks throughout your network.

Third Party Devices

Any device that is part of the LAN but does not belong to the currently selected Plasma Cloud network is regarded as third party device. There are two categories of third party devices in the Layer 2 topology:

• LLDP capable devices 
• non-LLDP capable devices.

LLDP is a protocol that announces device information to its neighbors. Thus, details such as device name and device type can be retrieved from LLDP capable devices. Non-LLDP capable devices do not broadcast device information about themselves.

All Plasma Cloud devices are LLDP capable and are regarded as third party device if detected on the LAN while not belonging to the currently selected Plasma Cloud network.

Red icons are used for third party devices. The following types can be recognized among LLDP capable devices:

	represents a networking Switch;
	represents a WiFi Access Point or repeater;
	represents a router;
	represents a telephone;
	represents a station;
	represents an unknown device.

Non-LLDP capable devices are always represented by the unknown device icon.

Clicking on a red device icon opens the device popup, which provides the following information:

• device name (LLDP) or MAC address (non-LLDP);
• Model names are not available for third party devices. The limited information icon is shown instead;
• MAC address;
• vendor (if available)