Understand Unknown Protocol Drops

Understand Unknown Protocol Drops
Unknown protocol drops is a counter on the interface. It is caused by protocols that are not understood by
the router/switch.
This example of the show running−config interface command shows the unknown protocol drops on the
Gigabit Ethernet 0/1 interface.
Switch#sh run int Gig 0/1
GigabitEthernet0/1 is up, line protocol is up
Hardware is BCM1125 Internal MAC, address is 0000.0000.0000 (via 0000.0000)
MTU 1500 bytes, BW 1000000 Kbit/sec, DLY 10 usec,
reliability 255/255, txload 1/255, rxload 1/255
Encapsulation 802.1Q Virtual LAN, Vlan ID 1., loopback not set
Keepalive set (10 sec)
Full−duplex, 1000Mb/s, media type is RJ45
output flow−control is XON, input flow−control is XON
ARP type: ARPA, ARP Timeout 04:00:00
Last input 00:00:05, output 00:00:03, output hang never
Last clearing of "show interface" counters 16:47:42
Input queue: 0/75/0/0 (size/max/drops/flushes); Total output drops: 0
Queueing strategy: fifo
Output queue: 0/40 (size/max)
5 minute input rate 0 bits/sec, 0 packets/sec
5 minute output rate 0 bits/sec, 0 packets/sec
3031 packets input, 488320 bytes, 0 no buffer
Received 3023 broadcasts, 0 runts, 0 giants, 0 throttles
0 input errors, 0 CRC, 0 frame, 0 overrun, 0 ignored
0 watchdog, 63107 multicast, 0 pause input
0 input packets with dribble condition detected
7062 packets output, 756368 bytes, 0 underruns
0 output errors, 0 collisions, 0 interface resets
2015 unknown protocol drops
4762 unknown protocol drops
0 babbles, 0 late collision, 0 deferred
0 lost carrier, 0 no carrier, 0 pause output
0 output buffer failures, 0 output buffers swapped out
Unknown protocol drops are normally dropped because the interface where these packets are received is not
configured for this type of protocol, or it can be any protocol that the router does not recognize.

For example, if you have two routers connected and you disable CDP on one router interface, this results in
unknown protocol drops on that interface. The CDP packets are no longer recognized, and they are dropped.

Cisco - Troubleshooting Switch Port and Interface Problems