Enterasys Matrix DFE-Gold Series PoE Module Hardware Installation Guide C-1
CAbout PoE (Power over Ethernet)
ThisappendixprovidesanoverviewofPoweroverEthernetTechnologyandhowitis
implementedinrelationtothe4G4285‐49and4G4205‐72DFEmodules.
Overview
PoweroverEthernet(PoE)referstotheabilitytoprovideoperationalpowerthroughthe
sameEthernetcablingtoaPD(powereddevice)connectedtoadatanetwork.Modern
Ethernetimplementationsemploydifferentialsignalsovertwistedpaircables.This
requiresaminimumoftwotwistedpairsforasinglephysicallink.Bothendsofthecable
areisolatedwithtransformersblockinganyDCorcommonmodevoltageonthesignal
pair.PoEexploitsthisfactbyusingtwotwistedpairsasthetwoconductorstosupplya
directcurrent.Onepaircarriesthepowersupplycurrentandtheotherpairprovidesa
pathforthereturncurrent.WhileseveralproprietarylegacyimplementationsofPoE
havebeendeployedbyLANequipmentvendors,in2003theIEEEpublishedtheIEEE
802.3af‐2003specification,whichispartofthe802.3suiteofstandards.
The4G4285‐49and4G4205‐72arefullycompliantwiththeIEEE802.3afstandard.They
supportthestandardresistorbaseddetectionmethod,aswellasACdisconnectcapability.
The4G4285‐49and4G4205‐72arealsocapableofsupplyingthemaximumspecified
currenttoallportssimultaneously.
EachPDhasaPDC(PoweredDeviceClassification)thatistransmittedtotheDFEmodule
forpowermanagementpurposes.Table C ‐1liststheclassificationsandtheassociated
powerranges.
Table C-1 Powered Device Classifications
Class Usage PD Maximum Power Range Usage
0 Default 0.44 to 12.95 Watts
1 Optional 0.44 to 3.84 Watts
2 Optional 3.84 to 6.49 Watts
3 Optional 6.49 to 12.95 Watts
4 Not Allowed Reserved for Future Use