Oracle Solaris uses the Virtual Station Interface Discovery and Configuration Protocol (VDP) defined in IEEE 802.1Qbg to exchange VNIC information with the switch. If the switch supports VDP, then VNIC properties are automatically configured on the switch. This is similar to the host and switch exchanging physical link properties by using DCBX. When a VNIC is created, modified, or deleted, a VDP exchange is initiated between the host and the switch. This exchange enables the switch to allocate resources for the packets destined to the VNIC based on properties of the VNIC.
For more information about exchange of VNIC information between a system and an external switch in Oracle Solaris, see Exchanging VNIC Information by Using VDP and How VDP Exchanges VNIC Information.