Options for selecting your own EtherType
June 30, 2026
Option 1: The “Local Experimental” EtherTypes #
Local Experimental EtherTypes are two specific identifiers reserved by the IEEE Registration Authority for prototype protocols and vendor-specific development within privately administered networks.
They allow engineers and developers to test new or proprietary networking protocols on an Ethernet network without going through the formal process of officially registering a unique EtherType.
Their use and administration are officially defined in the IEEE 802a standard (which has since been merged into the base IEEE 802 standard).
The two assigned Local Experimental EtherTypes are:
- 0x88B5: Local Experimental EtherType 1
- 0x88B6: Local Experimental EtherType 2
Option 2: The “OUI Extended EtherType” #
An OUI Extended EtherType is a flexible method for network developers to identify proprietary or experimental protocols without using up a globally assigned EtherType number. It uses an organization’s unique IEEE-issued identifier to create globally unique protocol IDs within standard Ethernet frames.
By combining the reserved EtherType value with a specific OUI, organizations are granted the freedom to invent and identify their own protocols on a local network without disrupting standard network traffic.
The format is as follows:
- 0x88B7 [ three octets OUI ] [ two octets protocol identifier ]
The two octets protocol identifier is not exactly mandatory, but common practice.
Option 3: A registered EtherType #
Here’s the registration link for publicly registering an EtherType with the IEEE Standards Association (current fees are US $4,170):