Power over Ethernet
Also known as PoE
Delivering electrical power to devices over the same cable that carries their network connection.
Access points, IP phones, and cameras all draw power this way, removing the need for a socket at each location and allowing central UPS backing.
Power budget is the constraint people hit. A switch has a total wattage it can supply across all ports, and modern high-power devices consume it faster than expected.
Where this comes up
Power over Ethernet sits inside our networks and infrastructure work. If you are trying to work out what this means for your own environment rather than in the abstract, that is the page worth reading next, and a short call will get you a straight answer faster than either.
Related terms
Network switch The device that connects wired equipment within a site and forwards traffic between them. Wireless access point The device that provides wireless network coverage and bridges wireless clients onto the wired network. Uptime The proportion of time a system is available, usually expressed as a percentage over a period.