Skip to main content

 

Cisco Meraki Documentation

How to Configure PoE on MS Switches

Overview 

Meraki MS switches with model numbers ending in P, LP, or FP power devices using Power over Ethernet (PoE). This article explains how to configure PoE on Meraki switches from the Meraki dashboard and how to monitor PoE consumption once devices are connected. 

You can find model-specific features in the MS Family datasheet.

Step-by-step instructions 

Configure PoE using the dashboard on a per-port basis. 

Configure PoE on switch ports 

  1. Go to Switch > Monitor > Switch ports

Dashboard menu with 'Switch ports' circled in red

  1. Select the switchports you wish to configure by selecting the checkbox to the left of the port description. 

Multiple switch ports selected using the check boxes

  1. At the top left of the table, select Edit to open a dialog box where you configure port-specific settings. 

  1. Enable or disable PoE for the selected ports. 

Switch port settings for multiple switch ports being configured

  1. Select Update to save the port settings. 

Verification 

When PoE devices connect to PoE-enabled ports of MS switches, the ports on the Switch Details page display a lightning bolt symbol. This symbol indicates that power from these interfaces is being supplied from the switch (PSE) to the powered device(s) (PD). 

The port status diagram for an 8 port switch. Some ports have a lightning bolt indicating PoE.

Monitor PoE consumption on the switch live, including both overall Consumption and Budgeted values as well as port-specific information: 

  1. Go to Switch > Monitor > Switches > Switch Details for a specific switch. 

  1. Select the Power tab to view live consumption. 

  1. To view port-specific information, select the Ports tab or an individual switchport from the Switch Details page. 

The switch details page for power usage. Shows sections for the power supplies and PoE usage.

The Consumption value shows overall real-time consumption across the switch. The Budgeted value indicates how much power is potentially available for provisioning additional PoE devices. The total available PoE budget varies depending on the switch model, available power supplies, and which PoE mode the switch uses (Redundant Power or Combined Power). 

For more information on Combined Power please refer to our article on Combined Power on MS Devices. For more information about the available PoE budget of each MS hardware model, please see the MS Family Datasheet.

Troubleshooting 

Switches budget power based on the device PoE classification. The PoE budget value can exceed the maximum available power because it only gauges the potential overall power that might be consumed on the switch. Devices continue to be powered until the actual Consumption exceeds the maximum power the switch can provide. In that case, the lowest port numbers take precedence, and power is pulled from the highest ports, denying them power. 

Additional resources 

  • Was this article helpful?