This invention discloses a data communications network including at least one hub (106), a plurality of nodes (102) connected via network connections (104) to the hub (106), a power distribution subsystem (105) operative to provide at least some power to at least some of the plurality of nodes (102) via at least some of the network connections (104). The power distribution subsystem (105) includes a node identification functionality (107) providing identification of nodes via at least some of the plurality of network connections (104) in order to enable an appropriate supply of power to individual nodes and a power supply responsive to the node identification functionality and supplying power to the at least some of the plurality of nodes via the at least some of the network connections (104).
