200-301 Question 33
Select 3A network administrator is deploying IP phones in an office and connecting them to a switch that supports Power over Ethernet (PoE). The phones require both power and data through a single Ethernet cable. The administrator notices that some phones are not powering on when connected to the switch. Which of the following actions can resolve this issue?
- A
Verify that the switch supports the IEEE 802.3af or 802.3at PoE standard.
- B
Check if the switch has sufficient available power budget for all connected PoE devices.
- C
Replace the Ethernet cables with Cat 7 cables to ensure higher power delivery.
- D
Enable PoE on the specific switch ports connected to the affected phones.
- E
Configure VLANs on the switch for proper data and power isolation.
Show answer and explanation
Correct answers: A, B, D
Explanation
For PoE devices to function properly, the switch must support the required PoE standard, have sufficient power budget available, and have PoE enabled on the relevant ports. Verifying these factors addresses common issues with PoE deployment. Cable category and VLAN configuration are unrelated to PoE power delivery.
- A. Correct.
Switches that do not support the IEEE 802.3af or 802.3at PoE standards may not provide power to connected devices. It is essential to verify compatibility.
- B. Correct.
PoE switches have a maximum power budget. If the total power demand of connected devices exceeds this budget, some devices may not receive power.
- C. Incorrect.
While higher-grade cables like Cat 7 can improve data transfer performance, PoE power delivery is not dependent on the cable category as long as the cable meets the minimum requirements for Ethernet.
- D. Correct.
Some switches require PoE to be explicitly enabled on specific ports. Checking the switch configuration can resolve the issue.
- E. Incorrect.
VLANs are used for data traffic segmentation and have no direct impact on PoE power delivery.