Check the power supply of the PoE switch

You can check a switch's PoE power supply using CLI commands like show power inline, WebUI monitoring, and physical PSU indicators to verify power allocation, consumption, and health.Using CLI Commands

1. show power inline
   • Displays the PoE status for each port, including power allocated and consumed by connected devices.
   • Shows the total available power and how much is currently in use, helping you monitor the switch's power budget and detect potential overloads .
2. show switch interface inline-status
   • Provides a detailed view of PoE on all interfaces or a specific interface, showing the exact power delivered to each port .
3. show power inline consumption
   • Reports the power consumption of each connected PoE device, useful for verifying that devices are receiving sufficient power .
4. Additional Commands for Troubleshooting
   • show power inline faulty – Lists any ports or devices with PoE issues.
   • show power inline police – Displays power policing settings that may limit PoE delivery .
   • For modular switches, show power inline module can check PoE status per module .

Using WebUI

• Modern switches, such as Cisco Catalyst 9000 series, include an embedded WebUI that visually displays PSU status, port-by-port PoE allocation, and total power usage.
• This interface allows monitoring without CLI access and provides a quick overview of power distribution and available budget .

Physical PSU Checks

• LED Indicators:
  • "AC OK" indicates stable input voltage.
  • "PS OK" confirms the PSU is delivering proper output .
• Wattage Labels: Check the PSU label for maximum power (e.g., 350W, 715W, 1100W) to ensure it meets your PoE requirements.
• Redundant PSUs: For critical deployments, verify that dual PSUs are installed to maintain uptime during maintenance or failures .

Best Practices

• Estimate total PoE load including access points, IP cameras, and VoIP phones, and ensure the PSU wattage is sufficient with 20–30% headroom .
• Regularly monitor via CLI or WebUI to detect failing PSUs or capacity issues before they impact operations .
• Align PSU health checks with hardware lifecycle planning and consider redundancy for high-density PoE deployments . By combining CLI commands, WebUI monitoring, and physical inspection, you can effectively check the PoE power supply of your switch, ensure devices receive adequate power, and proactively troubleshoot potential issues.