Power Over Ethernet

www.ine.com
 POE Basics
What problem does it solve?
POE Terminology
PD = Powered Device
PSE = Power Source Equipment
Endspan PSE = Networking device (like a Switch) that supplies
power.
Midspan PSE = a device that supplies power to PDs that is installed
between a switch (non-POE) and the PD.
Typically installed in a patch-panel.

Copyright www.ine.com
 POE Methods
Cisco Inline Power (ILP)
Cisco proprietary and developed prior to IEEE 802.3af
IEEE 802.3af
IEEE 802.3at (POE+)
Cisco Universal Power over Ethernet (UPOE)

Copyright www.ine.com
 Detecting Powered Devices (802.3af/at)
802.3af
1. Port comes up
2. Small voltage sent across Tx/Rx pairs and resistance is
measured
3. If 25K ohm resistance detected, a powered device is
present.
4. Then, several pre-determined voltage levels sent and
resistance measured for each.
5. Ohm level indicates which 802.3af power class for PD.
Copyright www.ine.com
 POE Power Classes
PDs may indicate their Power Class to
determine max amount of power they can
receive.
0 (default by IEEE when no class is used) 15.4 W
1 4.0 W
2 7.0 W
3 15.4 W
4 Up to 50 W (optional 802.3at)

Copyright www.ine.com
 Detecting Powered Devices (Cisco ILP)
Cisco In-Line Power
1. Send out 340kHz test tone on TX pair.

2. PDs loop TX/RX pairs when powered off so test tone

will be reflected back to switch.
Safer than sending DC current as a test.
Initial power delivered = 48V DC / 6.3 W

3. CDP can also be used for capable devices.

Copyright www.ine.com
 POE Pinouts

802.3af (optional)
Cisco ILP/8802.3af
7
6
5
3 4
2
1

Copyright www.ine.com
 POE Configuration
Switch(config-if)# power inline {auto [max milli-watts] |
static [max milli-watts] | never}

Copyright www.ine.com
 Troubleshooting POE
Common reasons why POE might fail
Port is shutdown (admin)
Port is err-disable
Command, power inline never was accidentally configured.
Patch panel port is bad
Cable from PD to PSE is bad
Cable from PD to PSE is too long (must be less than 100-
meters).
Total available power budget has been consumed.
Copyright www.ine.com
 Troubleshooting POE
Less Common reasons why POE might fail
PoE section of power supply might be defective (no POE ports
work on switch)

Defective PoE subsection in switch (if only a consecutive group

of POE ports dont work).

Either of the above? RMA!

Copyright www.ine.com
 Troubleshooting POE with Debugs

Copyright www.ine.com