PoE (output)
The switch supports
the Power over Ethernet function.
This feature allows the switch to supply power to network devices over the same Ethernet cable that transmits data. This reduces the number of wires and simplifies power supply, which is especially convenient if the device is installed in a hard-to-reach place where there is no outlet nearby, and it is difficult to pull an additional cable. An example is an IP surveillance camera installed under the ceiling.
The number of PoE outputs may vary. It should also be borne in mind that when several consumers are connected at the same time, specific power restrictions apply; see "Total PoE Power" for details.
Accordingly, such devices are much more expensive than
switches without PoE.
PoE outputs
The number of PoE-enabled outputs (see above) provided in the design of the switch. This number corresponds to the maximum number of PoE network devices that can be connected to this model at the same time.
PoE output power
The PoE power (see above) provided by the switch to each individual PoE output. This indicator allows you to evaluate whether a particular device can be connected to such an output — the power consumption of the load in peak mode should not exceed the output power of the port. There are three standards EEE 802.3af (
PoE, ~15W), IEEE 802.3at (
PoE+, ~30W) and IEEE 802.3bt (
PoE++, ≥40W)
Note that when connecting several PoE devices at the same time, the total PoE power must also be taken into account — see below for more details.
Total PoE power
The total output power provided by the switch when powering devices using the PoE standard (see above).
This indicator usually corresponds to the sum of the powers of all outputs — that is, the power of one PoE port, multiplied by their total number. However, the power limits for one output and for the entire switch are somewhat different: if a load with a power equal to the output power of the power supply on this connector can be connected to a single connector, then the total power consumption of all devices connected via PoE should ideally not exceed 75% of the total power supply — this gives an additional guarantee in case of malfunctions. In fact, this means that all PoE outputs cannot be used “to the fullest” at the same time. For example, if there are two such outputs, and one is loaded at 100%, then the second can be loaded with a maximum of 50% — the total power consumption in this case will be the same 75% of the total output. Therefore,
a large total power is needed when using the device to the maximum.
Supply voltage
The amount of voltage required by the switch for uninterrupted operation. The power supply voltage of network equipment can vary from 5 V to 230 V, which allows you to power compatible devices from either a low-voltage USB socket on your computer or a standard household outlet. Values in the middle assume that the switch is powered by the appropriate power supply.
Operating temperature
The range of operating temperatures allowed for the switch, in other words, the air temperature at which the device is guaranteed to remain operational.
All modern switches are able to normally endure conditions that are comfortable for a person. Therefore, you should pay attention to this indicator, first of all, in cases where the conditions at the installation site of the switch will differ markedly from home / office; a typical example is the placement of ISP equipment in the attic of a multi-storey building. At the same time, special attention should be paid to the lower limit of the temperature range — not every device is able to operate at sub-zero temperatures. If we talk about specific numbers, then for an unheated room frost resistance is desirable at least at the level of
-5 °C, and ideally —
— 20 °C(although, of course, this also depends on the climate).
Also note that, in addition to temperature, most switches have restrictions on the relative humidity of the air; these restrictions are usually specified in the documentation.
