Cisco Technology, Inc.

Ahmed Faraz

Krishna Kumar Vavilala

Kabiraj Sethi

Sachin Modi

Padmanabhan Ramanujam

Saravanan M K

Saravanan Mk

Embodiments described herein improve availability of a power plane in a network device by using a PoE manager that is separate from an operating system in the network device. For example, when the operating system (or a PoE application executing in the operating system) becomes unavailable, either because of failure or system upgrade, the PoE manager continues managing a power plane in the network device such that connected PDs continue to receive DC power. Stated differently, by using a PoE manager that is separate from the operating system, there is no fate sharing between the PoE manager and the operating system. If the operating system is unavailable, the PoE manager continues to provide the same power allotment to the PDs. As such, updates and failures which previously made the power plane unavailable no longer affect the power supplied to the PDs.

Persistent Power over Ethernet

Persistent power over ethernet

In one embodiment, a power sourcing equipment (PSE) includes: processing circuitry, a multiplicity of power over Ethernet (PoE) enabled ports, a PSE module to be executed by the processing circuitry and operative to: receive requests for power from at least two devices via one PoE enabled port from among the multiplicity of PoE enabled ports, allocate power for the at least two devices according to the requests for power, and provide the power to the at least two devices via the one PoE enabled port.

Ethernet power distribution

Embodiments described herein include a Power over Ethernet (PoE) enabled device that uses 2-event classification when allocating power to coupled powered devices (PDs). If the 2-event classification is successful, power sourcing equipment (PSE) on the PoE device allocates a maximum power allotment to the PD. Once powered on, the PD may determine it does not require the maximum power allotment and negotiate a reduction in the power allotted to the PD.

Selection of power in power over Ethernet systems

Persistent power over Ethernet

Selection of power in power over ethernet systems

Growing community of inventors

Saharanpur, India

Ahmed Faraz