The Ethernet Alliance recently made its Power over Ethernet certification program available to the public. Launched for alliance members in May 2017, the PoE certification program “serves as not only a clear identifier for today’s interoperable, standardized PoE products, but also a solid foundation for the next generation of IEEE 802.3 PoE standards,” the alliance said. It added, “With rising numbers of both standards- and non-standards-based PoE solutions entering the market, introducing a simple method for determining products capable of seamless interoperability is essential.”
The program is backed by a resource library that is designed to help streamline the path to certification. “It aims to minimize market confusion and elevate the end-user experience,” the Ethernet Alliance added. “Within the program, power sourcing equipment and powered device manufacturers can submit PoE-enabled products for testing and validation against the Ethernet Alliance’s industry-defined test plan. Tests may be performed at the University of New Hampshire InterOperability Laboratory (UNH-IOL), or vendors can self-test using approved equipment. Upon successful test completion, vendors will be authorized to use the Ethernet Alliance’s official certification logo and be added to a first-of-its-kind public registry of certified PoE products.”
John D’Ambrosia, chair of the Ethernet Alliance and senior principal engineer with Huawei, commented, “Ethernet is disrupting every part of the technology landscape, from the enterprise, to consumer, to emerging markets such as automotive and industrial applications. With PoE solutions popping up across the ecosystem, users are seeking the robust interoperability that standards-based products promise. Our certification program is aiding the industry in making good on that promise. The timing of our certification program is critical, as the next generation of IEEE 802.3 PoE standards heads toward the finish line. The question we ultimately want the market to ask itself is, ‘Is your PoE Ethernet Alliance-certified?’ If your answer is ‘No,’ then you should be asking yourself, ‘Why not?’”
UNH-IOL will host a test event the week of October 2-6. Participation is open to Ethernet Alliance members and to the general industry. You can find information on the test event here.