300-420 Question 102
Single answerAn enterprise network is being designed to support both Power over Ethernet (PoE) and Wake-on-LAN (WoL) functionalities for IP phones and desktop computers. The network engineer needs to ensure that devices can be powered on remotely while meeting the power requirements efficiently. Which design consideration is MOST critical for ensuring both functionalities work seamlessly?
- A
Ensure the switches support both IEEE 802.3af/at standards and have sufficient power budget.
- B
Enable Energy Efficient Ethernet (EEE) to minimize power usage during WoL operations.
- C
Configure VLANs to prioritize WoL traffic over PoE to prevent conflicts.
- D
Ensure that the end devices support WoL magic packets and are connected to PoE-enabled switch ports.
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: D
Explanation
For PoE and WoL to work together seamlessly, the network must provide power to the devices via PoE while also supporting the transmission of WoL magic packets. This requires that end devices are compatible with WoL and are connected to PoE-enabled switch ports to ensure both power delivery and wake-up signal functionality. Other options, while related to power efficiency or network configuration, do not address the core requirements for enabling PoE and WoL together.
- A. Incorrect.
While supporting IEEE 802.3af/at standards and sufficient power budget is important, it does not directly ensure the functionality of WoL, which relies on network configuration and end-device capabilities.
- B. Incorrect.
Energy Efficient Ethernet (EEE) reduces power consumption but is not directly relevant to enabling Wake-on-LAN or ensuring compatibility with PoE.
- C. Incorrect.
Configuring VLANs to prioritize WoL traffic over PoE is not a standard or necessary step for these functionalities to work together. PoE and WoL operate independently on different layers of the network.
- D. Correct.
Ensuring that the end devices support WoL magic packets and are connected to PoE-enabled switch ports is critical for enabling both functionalities. PoE provides power while WoL requires proper device and network configuration to process the wake-up signal.