I can only get functionality from the Core2 if USB is plugged in.

What should my setup look like?

Here is my code so far... I don't know how to indicate code in a post, so sorry if this is not the correct way to do this.

#include <M5Core2.h>
#include <SPI.h>
#include <M5_Ethernet.h>

byte mac[] = { 0xDE, 0xAD, 0xBE, 0xEF, 0xFE, 0xED };
char server[] = "www.google.com"; // name address for Google (using DNS)

IPAddress ip(192, 168, 0, 177);
IPAddress myDns(192, 168, 0, 1);

EthernetClient client;

void setup {
M5.begin(true, true, true, false, kmBusModeInput);
Ethernet.init(GPIO_NUM_26);
M5.Lcd.setTextSize(2);
M5.Lcd.setTextColor(TFT_WHITE, TFT_BLACK);
M5.Lcd.println("Ethernet Test!");

M5.Lcd.println("Initialize Ethernet with DHCP:");
if (Ethernet.begin(mac) == 0) {
M5.Lcd.println("Failed to configure Ethernet using DHCP");
// Check for Ethernet hardware present
if (Ethernet.hardwareStatus() == EthernetNoHardware) {
M5.Lcd.println("Ethernet shield was not found. Sorry, can't run without hardware. :(");
while (true) {
delay(1); // do nothing, no point running without Ethernet hardware
}
}
if (Ethernet.linkStatus() == LinkOFF) {
M5.Lcd.println("Ethernet cable is not connected.");
}
// try to congifure using IP address instead of DHCP:
Ethernet.begin(mac, ip, myDns);
} else {
M5.Lcd.print(" DHCP assigned IP ");
}
// give the Ethernet shield a second to initialize:
delay(1000);
M5.Lcd.print("Connecting to ");
M5.Lcd.print(server);
M5.Lcd.println("...");

// if you get a connection, report back via serial:
if (client.connect(server, 80)) {
M5.Lcd.print("Connected");
} else {
// if you didn't get a connection to the server:
M5.Lcd.println("Connection failed");
}

}

void loop() {

}

Is the sequence of commands critical?

Is there a command to force the Axp to use MBus seeing that kmBusMode* is no longer used

this should work automatically when you power from PoE exclusivly. The code (see here) checks if external power (e.g. on the M5 bus) is available and switches to use that. (But I think that only works if USB wasn't already plugged in.)

Note: kMBusMode* is no longer used.

Thanks
Felix

How do I force my Core2 to be powered only from the PoE Base, I have tried this and it still needs the USB cable plugged for a power source.

M5.begin(true, true, true, false, kMBusModeInput);

I can get it to work when I include M5Core2.h at the top, set the correct CS pin and initialize the M5Core2 LCD, Serial etc. at the top of setup(), e.g.

#include <M5Core2.h>
...
void setup() {
  Ethernet.init(GPIO_NUM_26);
  M5.begin();

//  // Open serial communications and wait for port to open:
//  Serial.begin(115200);
//  while (!Serial) {
//    ; // wait for serial port to connect. Needed for native USB port only
//  }

Thanks
Felix