How to determine the APs powering method

[Manish Mathur]

Hi Guys,

I was just wondering if someone knows a way to determine the powering method of an AP without physical inspection ? whether the AP is being powered up by POE/power injector/external power.

Thanks,

Manish

[Leo Laohoo]

I was just wondering if someone knows a way to determine the powering method of an AP without physical inspection ? whether the AP is being powered up by POE/power injector/external power.

PoE is very easy:  Does the switch support PoE or not?  If it does, what do you get with the command "sh power inline"?

[Manish Mathur]

Hi Leo,

Thanks for the interest. Let me give you the background of this query. We have around 900 APs already deployed in the network and I would like to know if the AP is being powered up by using POE/injector/external. This info will be added to the AP hostname so that it's easier for us to troubleshoot an AP power issues remotely rather than involving the local IT guys.

Even where the switches are supporting POE, we have (previous deployers) deployed the APs with a power injector/external supply. Hence, if there is an option on the GUI or a CLI command on the WLC/AP to check the powering method, that would be good.

Regards,

Manish

[Leo Laohoo]

If the switch is PoE, then use the command "sh power inline" and compare the number of APs against the amount of APs found in the command "sh cdp neighbors". 

[Manish Mathur]

Aaah.. That's very useful .. This will ensure that the AP is getting POE or not. If it's not POE, how do we determine if it's external power or injector ? Any method to do that ?

Thanks,

Manish

[Leo Laohoo · Accepted solution]

If it's not POE, how do we determine if it's external power or injector ? Any method to do that ?

Nope.