Skip to content

Manage PoE on Switch Ports

PoE (Power over Ethernet) powers connected devices through the network cable — VoIP phones, APs, cameras, IoT devices. FortiSwitch PoE models let you enable/disable PoE per port, see live wattage draw, and reset PoE on stuck devices.

Check PoE Capability

Not every FortiSwitch port supports PoE. Look at the model number suffix:

  • FortiSwitch 108E-POE — 8 PoE+ ports.
  • FortiSwitch 124F-POE / 124E-POE — 24 PoE+ ports.
  • FortiSwitch 248F-FPOE — 48 PoE+ ports.

F in model = supports 60W+ (PoE++ on some); E = standard 30W PoE+.

Steps

Enable PoE on a port

  1. WiFi & Switch Controller → FortiSwitch Ports.
  2. Click the port.
  3. PoE Status — Enabled.
  4. PoE Priority — Low / High / Critical. If total wattage is constrained, lower priority ports get cut first.
  5. OK.

Disable PoE on a port

Same path → PoE Status = Disabled. Saves power if no PoE device connected.

Reset PoE on a port (power cycle the connected device)

  1. Click the port → PoE Reset (or Power Cycle).
  2. Confirms. Port loses power briefly; device reboots.

Useful when an AP or phone is stuck and you don't want to physically unplug it.

📸 Screenshot needed

FortiSwitch Ports view showing per-port PoE wattage column + a port being edited with PoE settings.

See live PoE draw

The port list shows current draw in watts per port. Total switch draw at the top.

CLI Equivalent

config switch-controller managed-switch
edit "S108EXXXXXXXXX"
    config ports
        edit "port1"
            set poe-status enable
            set poe-priority critical
        next
    end
next
end

# Power cycle:
execute switch-controller poe-reset "S108EXXXXXXXXX" "port1"

Verify

diagnose switch-controller switch-info poe "S108EXXXXXXXXX"

Shows per-port enabled/disabled, current draw, and power class detected.

Common Issues

  • PoE not delivering despite enabled. Connected device incompatible PoE class. FortiSwitch and device must negotiate. Most enterprise PoE devices auto-negotiate fine.
  • Port draws nothing despite cable. Device is passive PoE (no negotiation) — won't work with standards-based PoE+. Use a passive injector.
  • Switch reports total power budget exceeded. Too many high-draw devices. Disable PoE on non-critical ports OR upgrade to FPOE model.
  • AP stops working at boot. PoE budget allocation issue or AP draws more on startup than steady-state. Set port priority to Critical.