Which Protocol Does an Access Point Use to Draw Power from a Connected Switch?

B

The protocol that an access point (AP) uses to draw power from a connected switch is the Cisco Discovery Protocol (CDP).

CDP is a proprietary Layer 2 protocol developed by Cisco that is used to share information about directly connected Cisco networking devices. It allows Cisco devices to learn about other Cisco devices connected to the same network segment, including their IP addresses, device types, and capabilities.

When an access point is connected to a switch port configured for Power over Ethernet (PoE), the switch will use CDP to detect the presence of the access point and negotiate the power requirements. This allows the switch to provide the necessary power to the access point over the Ethernet cable, eliminating the need for a separate power source.

In addition to power negotiation, CDP can also provide information about the access point's model number, firmware version, and other attributes that can be useful for network management and troubleshooting.

The other answer choices listed are not relevant to the process of an access point drawing power from a connected switch:

• Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP) is a protocol used by hosts and adjacent routers to manage multicast traffic.
• Adaptive Wireless Path Protocol (AWPP) is not a recognized networking protocol and does not relate to power negotiation between a switch and access point.
• Neighbor Discovery Protocol (NDP) is an IPv6 protocol used for neighbor discovery and address resolution, but it is not involved in PoE.