Power over ethernet management devices and connection between ethernet devices

摘要

In one embodiment, a connection is maintained between a pair of ethernet ports that have circuitry connected in series with the ports and receiving power-over-ethernet (PoE) from one of the ports, by providing a controllable bypass circuit coupled to the pair of ethernet ports in parallel with the circuitry receiving power-over-ethernet, sensing a preselected condition, and opening and closing the bypass circuit in response to the presence or absence of the preselected condition. Power sourcing equipment (PSE) may supply the one of the ports with power over ethernet, and the circuitry may transports data between the pair of ethernet ports. The circuitry may also supply the switch with a control signal in response to the detection of the preselected condition.

主权项

1. An ethernet network comprising:
a physical ethernet segment shared by at least two protected private networks coupled to a carrier network, comprising; a first special client coupled to the interface between said ethernet segment and one of said protected private networks; a second special client coupled to the interface between said ethernet segment and the other of said protected private networks; and a network resolver between said ethernet segment and said carrier network; each of said special clients and said resolver having a unique MAC address and being programmed to find the MAC address corresponding to an IP address, each of said special clients being programmed to send an ARP request to said network resolver using a unicast destination address, and said network resolver being programmed to respond to said request using a unicast ARP reply.