scope:

This standard describes control mechanisms and management methods necessary to enable creation and operation of virtual links in Ethernet-based subscriber access networks. The key characteristics of the Virtual Link Control (VLC) mechanisms are:

- The ability to transit Layer 2 bridges in a single IEEE 802 Media Access Control (MAC) domain to allow remote device management;

- Extensibility to accommodate new protocols and new types of devices;

- The ability to simultaneously send messages to multiple VLC-aware stations using broadcast or multicast addressing.

The standard describes the message format, as well as processing operations at the stations participating in the VLC protocol.