Ruckus Switch and Access Point Interoperability
Ruckus ICX switches running FastIron 08.0.90 or later can interoperate flawlessly and automatically negotiate the appropriate amount of power APs need to function at full potential, that is, using 2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz radios, USB ports, and all Ethernet ports.
FastIron 08.0.90 changes the default mode on the PoH ports (usually Multi-Gigabit Ethernet ports) to 30W. This change reduces the impact on the power budget when 95W is budgeted for a port that may not need more than 60W (30W+30W UPOE).
PoH ports run over 4-Pairs, which means that up to 47.5W can be delivered over each of the 2-Pairs for a total of 95W. With this new default, the port provides 60W instead of 95W. Should there be a device requiring more than 60W, the port can be configured for that.
For example, a PoH port has 95W assigned, but the R730 AP only uses 38W. This results in 57W deducted from the PoE power budget that never gets used, limiting the total number of APs that one switch could power up.
Fortunately, the R730 supports LLDP and Ruckus PoE+ Overdrive. When the AP is connected to an ICX-7650, it requests 38W of power, which the switch honors and properly adjusts the PoE power budget of the switch.
If the AP is connected to a PoH port, the switch provides 60W at the port.
If the AP is connected to a non-PoH port, the switch detects the need for more than 30W and goes into Overdrive mode to provide the exact amount of power requested by the AP by way of LLDP.
Thanks to the Ruckus wired and wireless integration, an ICX switch can deliver the power needed to the R730 AP, whether that means providing more than 30W by way of a 2-Pair PoE port (PoE+ Overdrive) or 60W by way of a 4-Pair PoE port (PoH port).
The following table shows the PoE capabilities along with the power assigned and negotiated by way of LLDP for the Ruckus ICX switches and the R730 AP.
Interoperability: ICX Switches and R730 AP
Note: The power levels displayed are allocated power levels at the switch port, not power consumed by the PD.
Similarly, the Ruckus R720 AP is supported by an ICX switch with all of its PoE alternatives: Gigabit Ethernet and Multi-Gigabit Ethernet ports (PoE+ Overdrive or PoH).
Interoperability: ICX Switches and R720 AP
The Ruckus R710 AP is supported by any ICX switch (standard Gigabit Ethernet port or non-PoH port).