diff --git a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/net/AnnotationKeys.java b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/net/AnnotationKeys.java
index f7eca85..a22b768 100644
--- a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/net/AnnotationKeys.java
+++ b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/net/AnnotationKeys.java
@@ -266,6 +266,13 @@
     public static final String TIER = "tier";
 
     /**
+     * Annotation key for the datapath description.
+     * Provides a human readable description of a given datapath. Used, for instance, when an Openflow
+     * switch connects to the controller, in the response to the OFPMP_DESC request
+     */
+    public static final String DATAPATH_DESCRIPTION = "datapathDescription";
+
+    /**
      * Returns the value annotated object for the specified annotation key.
      * The annotated value is expected to be String that can be parsed as double.
      * If parsing fails, the returned value will be {@value #DEFAULT_VALUE}.
diff --git a/providers/openflow/device/src/main/java/org/onosproject/provider/of/device/impl/OpenFlowDeviceProvider.java b/providers/openflow/device/src/main/java/org/onosproject/provider/of/device/impl/OpenFlowDeviceProvider.java
index cb389e3..fdc3ff3 100644
--- a/providers/openflow/device/src/main/java/org/onosproject/provider/of/device/impl/OpenFlowDeviceProvider.java
+++ b/providers/openflow/device/src/main/java/org/onosproject/provider/of/device/impl/OpenFlowDeviceProvider.java
@@ -797,6 +797,10 @@
                     .set(AnnotationKeys.CHANNEL_ID, sw.channelId())
                     .set(AnnotationKeys.MANAGEMENT_ADDRESS, sw.channelId().split(":")[0]);
 
+            if (sw.datapathDescription() != null && !sw.datapathDescription().isEmpty()) {
+                annotationsBuilder.set(AnnotationKeys.DATAPATH_DESCRIPTION, sw.datapathDescription());
+            }
+
             // FIXME following ignores driver specified by name
             Driver driver = driverService.getDriver(sw.manufacturerDescription(),
                     sw.hardwareDescription(),