Access Control Devices covers a huge market in many application fields, both in purely software and Internet applications, or in the Ethernet wired networks. PowerDsine technology of Power over Ethernet has its added value is the Ethernet based networks.

Access Control systems are being installed today in many different environments. Most common among these are:

• Transport terminals, Airports
• The Business Enterprise
• Government and Security facilities
• Universities, Schools

There are differences in the requirements from the Access Control system for each type of environment. An airport installation, with the need for high security while maintaining a high rate of approved personnel changes, is very different from an enterprise installation, with the need for work hours recording, and so on.

Fortunately, most Access control devices installations, in most environments, share a very similar infrastructure design.

The Ethernet lines run from the network switch, sometimes through a patch panel, out of the communications room and connect to the various Access Control terminals (See Figure 3). Adding Power over Ethernet enables the Access Control terminals to be powered through the same cabling infrastructure, providing the most cost effective solution.

When the switch is already installed, the simplest means to add Power over Ethernet is by adding a dedicated Power over Ethernet Midspan.