Overview
ISO/IEC/IEEE 8802-A:2015/Amd 3:2025 is Amendment 3 to Part A (Overview and architecture) of the ISO/IEC/IEEE 8802 series. Published as an IEEE amendment (IEEE Std 802f™-2023) and adopted into the joint ISO/IEC/IEEE standard, it specifies a YANG data model for EtherTypes. The amendment defines a YANG module that contains EtherType entries - including a compact human‑readable name and description - for a subset of values drawn from the IEEE Registration Authority EtherType public listing. It also corrects errors and omissions in the existing IEEE Std 802 descriptions of functionality.
Key Topics and Requirements
- YANG data model specification: formal definition of a module to represent EtherType information in a machine-readable format.
- EtherType entries: each entry includes a compact human‑readable name and a descriptive text for a selected subset of IEEE‑registered EtherTypes.
- Source alignment: EtherType values are taken from the IEEE Registration Authority public listing to ensure authoritative mapping.
- Corrections to IEEE Std 802: addresses identified errors and omissions in the existing IEEE 802 overview/architecture descriptions.
- Standards adoption: developed by IEEE LAN/MAN committee and incorporated through the ISO/IEC fast‑track process into the 8802 series.
Applications and Who Uses This Standard
This amendment is aimed at organizations and professionals who require standardized, programmatic representation of link‑layer protocol identifiers:
- Network equipment vendors - implement YANG modules in device firmware to expose EtherType tables for management and telemetry.
- Network management and orchestration teams - use the YANG model to automate policy, monitoring, and classification based on EtherTypes.
- Software developers and SDN/automation engineers - integrate EtherType metadata into controllers, analytics, and inventory systems.
- Standards bodies and registries - maintain consistent mappings between registration authority listings and device representations.
Practical uses include consistent naming and descriptions in network configuration, automated translation between human documentation and management APIs, and improved interoperability for tools that depend on EtherType identification.
Related Standards (if applicable)
- ISO/IEC/IEEE 8802 series - Part A: Overview and architecture (base).
- IEEE Std 802 family and IEEE Std 802f™ (Overview and Architecture).
- IEEE Registration Authority EtherType public listing (source of registered EtherType values).
- YANG data modeling (IETF YANG language and ecosystem) - for integration with NETCONF/RESTCONF‑based network management systems.
This amendment helps bridge authoritative EtherType registration with modern network automation practices by providing a standardized YANG representation suitable for implementation in devices and management platforms.