diff --git a/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/LLDPTLV.java b/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/LLDPTLV.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d7bcc68
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/java/net/onrc/onos/core/packet/LLDPTLV.java
@@ -0,0 +1,140 @@
+/**
+*    Copyright 2011, Big Switch Networks, Inc. 
+*    Originally created by David Erickson, Stanford University
+* 
+*    Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); you may
+*    not use this file except in compliance with the License. You may obtain
+*    a copy of the License at
+*
+*         http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+*
+*    Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+*    distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT
+*    WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied. See the
+*    License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations
+*    under the License.
+**/
+
+package net.onrc.onos.core.packet;
+
+import java.nio.ByteBuffer;
+import java.util.Arrays;
+
+/**
+ *
+ *
+ * @author David Erickson (daviderickson@cs.stanford.edu)
+ */
+public class LLDPTLV {
+    protected byte type;
+    protected short length;
+    protected byte[] value;
+
+    /**
+     * @return the type
+     */
+    public byte getType() {
+        return type;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * @param type the type to set
+     */
+    public LLDPTLV setType(byte type) {
+        this.type = type;
+        return this;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * @return the length
+     */
+    public short getLength() {
+        return length;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * @param length the length to set
+     */
+    public LLDPTLV setLength(short length) {
+        this.length = length;
+        return this;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * @return the value
+     */
+    public byte[] getValue() {
+        return value;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * @param value the value to set
+     */
+    public LLDPTLV setValue(byte[] value) {
+        this.value = value;
+        return this;
+    }
+
+    public byte[] serialize() {
+        // type = 7 bits
+        // info string length 9 bits, each value == byte
+        // info string
+        short scratch = (short) (((0x7f & this.type) << 9) | (0x1ff & this.length));
+        byte[] data = new byte[2+this.length];
+        ByteBuffer bb = ByteBuffer.wrap(data);
+        bb.putShort(scratch);
+        if (this.value != null)
+            bb.put(this.value);
+        return data;
+    }
+
+    public LLDPTLV deserialize(ByteBuffer bb) {
+        short sscratch;
+        sscratch = bb.getShort();
+        this.type = (byte) ((sscratch >> 9) & 0x7f);
+        this.length = (short) (sscratch & 0x1ff);
+        if (this.length > 0) {
+            this.value = new byte[this.length];
+
+            // if there is an underrun just toss the TLV
+            if (bb.remaining() < this.length)
+                return null;
+            bb.get(this.value);
+        }
+        return this;
+    }
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see java.lang.Object#hashCode()
+     */
+    @Override
+    public int hashCode() {
+        final int prime = 1423;
+        int result = 1;
+        result = prime * result + length;
+        result = prime * result + type;
+        result = prime * result + Arrays.hashCode(value);
+        return result;
+    }
+
+    /* (non-Javadoc)
+     * @see java.lang.Object#equals(java.lang.Object)
+     */
+    @Override
+    public boolean equals(Object obj) {
+        if (this == obj)
+            return true;
+        if (obj == null)
+            return false;
+        if (!(obj instanceof LLDPTLV))
+            return false;
+        LLDPTLV other = (LLDPTLV) obj;
+        if (length != other.length)
+            return false;
+        if (type != other.type)
+            return false;
+        if (!Arrays.equals(value, other.value))
+            return false;
+        return true;
+    }
+}