Standards

The hardware feature (PoE) evolved from proprietary implementations until it became an IEEE standard. The standards are rather slow to be defined and ratified, so the industry defines and delivers pre-standards and specifications to provide solutions more quickly. The IEEE 802.3af, 802.3at, and 802.3bt specifications define the standards for delivering power over existing network cabling infrastructure that supports wireless connectivity, audio, and video applications for converged services, such as Voice over IP (VoIP), IP surveillance cameras, access points, and so on.

Ruckus ICX switches support the most advanced PoE alternatives in the market:

  • IEEE 802.3af: The original standard, known as PoE (up to 15.4W)

  • IEEE 802.3at: The second standard, known as PoE+ (up to 30W)

  • IEEE 802.3bt: The latest standard ratified at the end of 2018 (up to 90W)

The PoE standard (802.3af) is known for its 1-Event classification, the PoE+ standard (802.3at) utilizes 2-Event classification, and the 802.3bt standard uses 5-Event classification.

PoE+ Example

Note: Ruckus ICX switches have the built-in hardware necessary to support the 802.3bt standard, but the firmware support is roadmapped.

Parent topic: PoE Standards and Proprietary Specifications