What is disclosed is a system and method to use discovery packets, such as in an LLDP message, for determining operational status of a rack system. A network device is connected to the port of a switch. Operational data may be sent or received via a discovery packet to the network device. The operational data may be determined by a management agent on the network device and sent to a management controller via the discovery packet. The operational data may be determined by the management controller and sent to the network device.