Feature Overview

By default, PoE-enabled switch ports are scheduled to always deliver PoE, 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. However, you can configure a custom time-based schedule for each PoE-capable port individually, specifying when PoE should be enabled or disabled for specific time periods. This schedule is defined using a time-based weekly grid, allowing hour-by-hour control from Monday through Sunday. Feature highlights include:

• The system manages PoE availability on a PoE-enabled port based on the selected time slots in the weekly table.
• Each hour-long time slot determines whether PoE will be Enabled or Disabled for that period.
• The schedule applies only to the specific port for which it is configured.

Following are the benefits:

• Energy and Cost Efficiency: Automatically disables PoE during select times (for example, off-hours, nights, or weekends), reducing power consumption and operating costs.
• Improved Device and Access Control: Ensures powered devices such as IP cameras, phones, or access points are active only when needed, enhancing security and usage control.
• Enhanced Flexibility: Provides custom control per port by applying different schedules to different ports based on device needs and usage patterns.

Requirements

This feature has the following requirements for feature enablement and usage:

• This feature is supported only on PoE-capable RUCKUS ICX switch models.
• This feature is supported only on ICX switch data ports; stacking and uplink ports do not support PoE.

Considerations

Consider the following when configuring a custom PoE schedule:

• Manually enabling or disabling PoE using the PoE Enabled toggle (with or without a PoE schedule) immediately changes the PoE state (enabled or disabled), but does not override the PoE schedule. The PoE schedule automatically takes effect again at the beginning of the next hourly time slot.
• When a custom schedule is applied, PoE is automatically enabled or disabled based on the defined schedule, regardless of the initial PoE state.
• Switching from No Schedule to Custom Schedule activates schedule-based control of PoE.
• Switching from Custom Schedule to No Schedule retains the current PoE state (regardless of whether it was enabled or disabled) and removes schedule-based control.

Best Practices

Following are the best practices:

• Review schedules periodically: Update schedules as business hours, device usage, or security policies change to ensure the schedule still meets operational needs.
• Verify device behavior after scheduling: After applying a schedule, confirm that connected powered devices (PDs) operate as expected during both active and inactive periods.

Prerequisites

This feature has no prerequisites to feature enablement or usage.