POAP stands for PowerOn Auto Provisioning
(POAP) automates the process of upgrading software images and installing configuration files on devices that are being deployed in the network for the first time.
When a device with the POAP feature boots and does not find the startup configuration, the device enters POAP mode, sends a DHCP request, and bootstraps itself with its interface IP address, gateway, and DNS server IP addresses. The device also obtains the IP address of a TFTP/SCP server or the URL of an HTTP server and downloads a configuration script that enables the switch to download and install the appropriate software image and configuration file.
POAP requires the following network infrastructure:
-A DHCP server to bootstrap the interface IP address, gateway address, and Domain Name System (DNS) server.
-A TFTP server that contains the configuration script used to automate the software image installation and configuration process.
-One or more file servers that contain the desired software images and configuration files.
