diff --git a/user_channel/channel_layer.hpp b/user_channel/channel_layer.hpp
index 1a8d64c..4308794 100644
--- a/user_channel/channel_layer.hpp
+++ b/user_channel/channel_layer.hpp
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 
 static constexpr uint8_t maxIpmiChannels = 16;
 static constexpr uint8_t currentChNum = 0xE;
+static constexpr uint8_t invalidChannel = 0xff;
 
 /**
  * @enum IPMI return codes specific to channel (refer spec se 22.22 response
@@ -367,4 +368,12 @@
  */
 std::string getChannelName(const uint8_t chNum);
 
+/** @brief Retrieves the LAN channel number from the IPMI channel name
+ *
+ *  @param[in] chName - IPMI channel name (i.e. eth0)
+ *
+ *  @return the LAN channel number
+ */
+uint8_t getChannelByName(const std::string& chName);
+
 } // namespace ipmi