diff --git a/netx_api/topology_discover_common.py b/netx_api/topology_discover_common.py
index b6110cc..3a0e592 100644
--- a/netx_api/topology_discover_common.py
+++ b/netx_api/topology_discover_common.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ from fastapi import HTTPException
 from sqlalchemy.orm import Session
 
 from .cli_resolve import get_default_profile, infer_device_type_vendor
+from .device_types import LLDP_DISCOVERED_NE_SOURCE
 from .models import ManagedNE, TopoDiscoverJob, TopoDiscoverJobItem, UmeInventoryNE
 from .topology_common import _RAW_PREVIEW_MAX
 from .topology_schemas import (
@@ -24,6 +25,22 @@ def _raw_preview(raw: str, *, limit: int = _RAW_PREVIEW_MAX) -> str:
     return f"{text[:limit]}\n...[truncated preview {limit}/{len(text)} chars]"
 
 
+def _is_lldp_placeholder_ne(ne: ManagedNE) -> bool:
+    """LLDP SSH placeholders have no credentials until the operator promotes them."""
+    return str(ne.source or "").strip().lower() in {LLDP_DISCOVERED_NE_SOURCE, "lldp"}
+
+
+def _managed_target_dict(ne: ManagedNE) -> dict[str, str]:
+    return {
+        "ne_id": ne.id,
+        "ume_ne_id": "",
+        "ne_name": ne.name or "",
+        "ne_ip": ne.ip_address or "",
+        "vendor": ne.vendor or "",
+        "device_type": ne.device_type or "",
+    }
+
+
 def _job_out(
     db: Session,
     job: TopoDiscoverJob,
@@ -138,21 +155,15 @@ def _resolve_scan_targets(
     targets: list[dict[str, str]] = []
     if scope == "all_inventory":
         # Managed inventory first; then UME NEs not already covered by the same management IP.
+        # Skip LLDP placeholders (no login yet); once promoted they join normal inventory.
         managed_ips: set[str] = set()
         for ne in db.query(ManagedNE).all():
+            if _is_lldp_placeholder_ne(ne):
+                continue
             ip = str(ne.ip_address or "").strip()
             if ip:
                 managed_ips.add(ip)
-            targets.append(
-                {
-                    "ne_id": ne.id,
-                    "ume_ne_id": "",
-                    "ne_name": ne.name or "",
-                    "ne_ip": ne.ip_address or "",
-                    "vendor": ne.vendor or "",
-                    "device_type": ne.device_type or "",
-                }
-            )
+            targets.append(_managed_target_dict(ne))
         for ume in db.query(UmeInventoryNE).all():
             uid = str(ume.ne_id or "").strip()
             if not uid:
@@ -173,19 +184,10 @@ def _resolve_scan_targets(
             if mid in seen:
                 continue
             ne = db.get(ManagedNE, mid)
-            if ne is None:
+            if ne is None or _is_lldp_placeholder_ne(ne):
                 continue
             seen.add(mid)
-            targets.append(
-                {
-                    "ne_id": ne.id,
-                    "ume_ne_id": "",
-                    "ne_name": ne.name or "",
-                    "ne_ip": ne.ip_address or "",
-                    "vendor": ne.vendor or "",
-                    "device_type": ne.device_type or "",
-                }
-            )
+            targets.append(_managed_target_dict(ne))
         for uid in ume_ids:
             key = f"ume:{uid}"
             if key in seen:
@@ -206,17 +208,10 @@ def _resolve_scan_targets(
     for mid in list(filter_ids):
         ne = db.get(ManagedNE, mid)
         if ne is not None:
-            targets.append(
-                {
-                    "ne_id": ne.id,
-                    "ume_ne_id": "",
-                    "ne_name": ne.name or "",
-                    "ne_ip": ne.ip_address or "",
-                    "vendor": ne.vendor or "",
-                    "device_type": ne.device_type or "",
-                }
-            )
             filter_ids.discard(mid)
+            if _is_lldp_placeholder_ne(ne):
+                continue
+            targets.append(_managed_target_dict(ne))
     for uid in list(filter_ids):
         row = _ume_target_dict(db, uid, default_profile)
         if row is not None:
diff --git a/tests/test_lldp_collect.py b/tests/test_lldp_collect.py
index ee2f780..3390281 100644
--- a/tests/test_lldp_collect.py
+++ b/tests/test_lldp_collect.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ from datetime import datetime, timedelta
 from uuid import uuid4
 
 from netx_api.db import Base, SessionLocal, engine
+from netx_api.device_types import LLDP_DISCOVERED_NE_SOURCE
 from netx_api.lldp_collect_schemas import LldpCollectPolicyUpdate
 from netx_api.lldp_collect_service import (
     build_discover_request,
@@ -255,6 +256,14 @@ class LldpCollectTests(unittest.TestCase):
             device_type="cisco_ios",
             ip_address="10.20.30.1",
         )
+        placeholder = ManagedNE(
+            id=f"ph-{suffix}",
+            name=f"PH-{suffix}",
+            vendor="Other",
+            device_type="generic",
+            ip_address="",
+            source=LLDP_DISCOVERED_NE_SOURCE,
+        )
         ume_only = UmeInventoryNE(
             ne_id=f"u-{suffix}",
             ne_name=f"U-{suffix}",
@@ -271,6 +280,7 @@ class LldpCollectTests(unittest.TestCase):
             ne_type="ZXCTN",
         )
         self.db.add(managed)
+        self.db.add(placeholder)
         self.db.add(ume_only)
         self.db.add(ume_dup)
         self.db.commit()
@@ -280,9 +290,11 @@ class LldpCollectTests(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertIn((managed.id, ""), ids)
         self.assertIn((ume_only.ne_id, ume_only.ne_id), ids)
         self.assertNotIn((ume_dup.ne_id, ume_dup.ne_id), ids)
+        self.assertNotIn((placeholder.id, ""), ids)
 
         # Cleanup shared DB rows created by this test.
         self.db.delete(managed)
+        self.db.delete(placeholder)
         self.db.delete(ume_only)
         self.db.delete(ume_dup)
         self.db.commit()