The dependence of educational institutions on network infrastructure is increasingly deepening. From multimedia teaching equipment to intelligent security systems, from campus Wi Fi coverage to the access of IoT devices, stable and efficient network support is required. As the core device for network connectivity, PoE (Power over Ethernet) switches play a crucial role in educational settings. Recently, we completed an upgrade of a PoE switch and would like to share our experience and insights during the upgrade process, as well as promote the application knowledge of PoE switches to everyone.
1、 Background and Requirements for Upgrading PoE Switches in Educational Institutions
With the advancement of school informatization construction, we are facing the dual challenges of a surge in equipment quantity and an upgrade in network demand. The originally deployed PoE switch had a limited number of ports, which could not meet the access requirements of newly added smart classroom terminals, IP cameras, wireless access points, and other devices. At the same time, older switches also have shortcomings in power supply, data transmission rate, and network management functions, often resulting in unstable power supply leading to frequent device disconnections and inability to finely control network traffic. In order to ensure the smooth implementation of teaching activities and improve the stability and reliability of campus networks, the upgrade of PoE switches is urgently needed.
2、 PoE Switch Application Knowledge Popularization
（1） Basic principles of PoE switches
PoE switches can simultaneously transmit data signals and power through Ethernet cables, without the need to separately lay power lines for each powered device, greatly simplifying the wiring work. Its working principle is based on the 802.3af/at/bt standard, which supplies power through idle lines or data transmission lines in the network cable. For example, the 802.3af standard supports a maximum power supply of 15.4W per port, suitable for common wireless access points and IP phones; The 802.3at standard increases the power to 30W, which can meet the needs of some devices with high power consumption; The latest 802.3bt standard has increased the single port power supply to 90W, which can provide power for high-power smart devices.
（2） The advantages of PoE switches in educational scenarios
Simplified deployment: In campus network deployment, PoE switches enable smart projectors, electronic whiteboards, network cameras, and other devices in classrooms to achieve data transmission and power supply through just one Ethernet cable, reducing wiring costs and construction complexity.
Flexible Expansion: With the continuous introduction of new IoT devices by educational institutions, such as environmental monitoring sensors, intelligent access control, etc., PoE switches can easily achieve port expansion to meet device access needs.
Centralized management: Modern PoE switches support remote management functions, and network administrators can configure and monitor the port status, power supply policies, network traffic, and other aspects of the switch through a web interface or dedicated management software, thereby improving operational efficiency.
（3） Key points for selecting PoE switches
Number and type of ports: Select the appropriate number of ports for the switch based on the actual number of devices connected and future expansion needs. At the same time, pay attention to the port speed and it is recommended to choose products that support gigabit or even ten gigabit ports to meet the needs of high traffic data transmission.
Power supply standards and power: Clearly define the power requirements of the powered equipment, select switches that meet the corresponding power supply standards and have sufficient total power supply to avoid situations of insufficient power supply.
Management function: For large educational institutions, it is recommended to choose switches that support advanced management functions such as VLAN partitioning, QoS (Quality of Service) control, port mirroring, etc., to facilitate network optimization and troubleshooting.
3、 PoE Switch Upgrade Process and Practice
（1） Pre planning and preparation
Before upgrading, we conducted a comprehensive requirements analysis and equipment research on the campus network. Based on the types, power, and quantity of existing equipment, combined with the equipment expansion plan for the next 1-2 years, the number of ports, power supply standards, and performance indicators for the new switch have been determined. At the same time, a detailed upgrade plan has been developed, including upgrade time windows, equipment backups, risk plans, etc., to minimize the impact on normal teaching activities.
（2） Equipment selection and procurement
After multiple rounds of comparison and testing, we ultimately chose a PoE switch that supports the 802.3bt standard and has 48 Gigabit ports and 4 10G uplink ports. This switch not only meets the power supply and network requirements of existing devices, but also reserves sufficient expansion space. In addition, its rich network management functions, such as port based VLAN partitioning, traffic control, and fault alarm, also provide convenience for subsequent operation and maintenance work.
（3） Upgrade Implementation and Testing
Within the designated upgrade time window, we will proceed as follows:
Backup configuration: Perform a complete backup of the configuration of the old switch so that it can be quickly restored in case of upgrade issues.
Replace equipment: Disconnect the old switch in sequence, install a new switch, and connect the network and power cables according to the plan.
Configuration migration: Import the backed up configuration into a new switch and make appropriate adjustments based on the characteristics of the new device, such as redefining VLANs, setting QoS policies, etc.
Comprehensive testing: Conduct individual testing on all connected devices to check if the power supply is normal and the network connection is stable. At the same time, conduct high traffic data transmission testing to verify the performance of the switch.
4、 Experience and lessons learned during the upgrade process
（1） Experience summary
Adequate communication: Before upgrading, communicate fully with various departments of the school, clarify the arrangement of teaching activities, choose a suitable upgrade time, and avoid affecting normal teaching.
Detailed testing: After the upgrade is completed, conduct comprehensive and detailed testing without missing any details. We found some ports with unstable power supply during testing, and promptly contacted the manufacturer to solve the problem, avoiding the occurrence of subsequent failures.
Document recording: Detailed records of every step, configuration parameters, and test results during the upgrade process, providing reference for subsequent operation and maintenance work.
（2） Reflection on Lessons Learned
During the upgrade process, we had insufficient power estimation for some of the powered devices, which resulted in the initial power supply strategy being unable to meet the equipment requirements. This reminds us to conduct more rigorous equipment power research in future work, reserve sufficient power supply margin, and prepare emergency plans in advance.
5、 Future prospects
The upgrade of PoE switches has significantly improved the performance and stability of campus networks, providing strong support for the digital transformation of educational institutions. With the deepening application of technologies such as 5G, Internet of Things, and artificial intelligence in the field of education, we will continue to pay attention to the updating and iteration of network devices, explore more advanced network architectures and management solutions, and create a more intelligent and efficient network environment for teachers and students in the future.
Through this upgrade practice, we not only solved the current network problems, but also accumulated valuable experience. I hope the above sharing can provide useful reference for other educational institutions in upgrading PoE switches and network construction. If you have any questions or experiences during the process of selecting and upgrading network equipment, please feel free to leave a comment in the comment section, and let's discuss the new developments in education network construction together.