PoE Configuration Guide

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PoE management modes

Updated: September 15, 2025

Overview

Explains PoE management modes.

PoE management modes control how the PoE-capable switch provides power to connected devices. The PoE-capable switch supports these power management modes:

  • auto:

    In this mode, the PoE-capable switch automatically detects if the powered device requires power and provides power based on the device's power requirement and the available power budget. This is the default setting.

    You can configure the auto mode and specify the maximum wattage that is allowed on the port. If you do not specify a wattage, the device preallocated the maximum value.

    This setting is ideal when you want to connect a plug-and-play device or where you want to restrict high-power devices on a port by specifying a maximum wattage.

  • static:

    In this mode, the switch pre-allocated power to a port regardless of whether a powered device is connected. Any powered device that uses less than or equal to the maximum wattage receives power when connected to the static port.

    You can configure static mode and specify its maximum wattage.

    This setting can be used on a high-priority interface or where you want to restrict high-power powered devices on a port by specifying a maximum wattage.

  • never:

    In this mode, the PoE-capable switch does not power the PoE port and disables powered-device detection. Use this setting on a port that serves only data and is not PoE-enabled.

Configure a power management mode on a PoE port

By default, the power management mode is set to auto. You need to perform this task to change the power management mode.

Before you begin

When you make PoE configuration changes to a port, the power to the port is dropped. The port is provided power again depending on the

  • new configuration,

  • the state of the other PoE ports, and

  • the state of the power budget.

For example, port 1 is in the auto and on states.

When you change the mode to static, then the switch

  • removes power from port 1

  • detects the powered device, and

  • repowers the port

When you change the mode to static and conigure it with a maximum wattage of 10 W, the the switch removes power from the port and then redetects the powered device. The switch provides power to the port only if the powered device is a class 1, class 2, or a Cisco-only powered device.

Procedure

1.

enable

Example:

Device> enable

Enables privileged EXEC mode.

Enter your password, if prompted.
2.

configure terminal

Example:

Device# configure terminal

Enters global configuration mode.
3.

interface interface-id

Example:

Device(config)# interface gigabitethernet1/0/4

Specifies the physical port to be configured and enters interface configuration mode.
4.

power inline {auto [max max-wattage] | never| static [max max-wattage] }

Example:

Device(config-if)# power inline auto

Configures the PoE mode on the port. The following are the keywords:

  • auto : Enables detection of powered devices. If enough power is available, automatically allocates power to the PoE port after device detection. This is the default setting.

  • max max-wattage : Limits the power allowed on the port. The range for Cisco UPOE ports is 4000 to 60000 milliWatts (mW). If no value is specified, the maximum is allowed.

  • never : Disables device detection and power to the port.

    Note

    Do not configure the power inline never command on a port connected to a powered device. A false link-up can occur that can change the port into an error-disabled state.

  • static : Enables detection of powered devices. Preallocate (reserve) power for a port before the device discovers the powered device. The device reserves power for this port even when no device is connected, and guarantees that power will be provided upon device detection.

    The device allocates power to a port configured in static mode before it allocates power to a port configured in auto mode.

5.

end

Example:

Device(config-if)# end

Returns to privileged EXEC mode.

6.

show power inline [interface-id | module switch-number]

Example:

Device# show power inline

Displays the PoE status for a device or a device stack, for the specified interface, or for a specified stack member.

The module switch-number keywords are supported only on stacking-capable devices.
7.

copy running-config startup-config

Example:

Device# copy running-config start-up config

(Optional) Saves your entries in the configuration file.