11 min read
Eric Sommers: 06.16.2025
Ever stood in front of a switch rack with a box of optics and thought, “Wait… is this the right one?” You’re not alone.
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4 min read
Eric Sommers: 04.10.2025
Setup, Stacking, Passwords, and Troubleshooting When you’re rolling out a network built for speed, scale, and rock-solid reliability, Cisco’s...
2 min read
OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) support contracts—like Cisco SMARTnet—have long been the go-to for IT managers. But with rising costs and rigid...
2 min read
Eric Sommers: 02.10.2025
"Changes aren’t permanent, but change is." Rush fans will recognize this iconic lyric from Tom Sawyer. Could Geddy Lee have been unknowingly singing...
3 min read
Every IT manager faces the same dilemma at some point: Is it time to replace aging network hardware, or should you invest in keeping it running? It’s...
2 min read
Eric Sommers: 12.16.2024
When Old Habits Don’t Fit Modern Realities One of my favorite stories is the "ham story." It’s an allegory about why we cling to outdated practices...
6 min read
Eric Sommers: 11.19.2024
Cisco’s Smart Licensing has sparked ongoing debate—impacting how businesses manage hardware, software, and licensing policies. As Cisco shifts gears,...
6 min read
Eric Sommers: 10.28.2024
Cisco has been making significant changes to its Digital Network Architecture (DNA) offerings, particularly with the rebranding of DNA Center to...
7 min read
Eric Sommers: 10.07.2024
DNA Center has been rebranded to Catalyst Center In today’s fast-paced networking world, managing complex systems is no longer just about using the...
5 min read
Eric Sommers: 09.23.2024
Cisco has rolled out yet another layer to their support services—Success Tracks. Let's take a look at how it compares with traditional SMARTnet, how...
5 min read
Eric Sommers: 09.09.2024
Welcome back, everyone! This blog will quickly outline the differences between DNA Essentials and DNA Advantage to help you choose the best option...
2 min read
Eric Sommers: 08.26.2024
Let’s clear up some confusion! MPO (Multi-Fiber Push-On) and MTP (Mechanical Transfer Push-On) connectors might sound like tech jargon, but they’re...
3 min read
Eric Sommers: 08.18.2024
Edgeium is proud to announce its inclusion in the 2024 Inc. 5000 list, ranking No. 2840 among the fastest-growing private companies in America. This...
2 min read
Eric Sommers: 08.07.2024
In today’s fast-paced IT landscape, managing the lifecycle of your hardware is as crucial as the technology itself. IT Asset Recovery stands out as a...
3 min read
Eric Sommers: 07.01.2024
Welcome back everyone! This blog is going to quickly outline the differences between Network Essentials and Network Advantage to hopefully help you...
2 min read
Eric Sommers: 06.10.2024
Environmental sustainability in the IT sector is more critical than ever. At Edgeium, we are committed to reducing e-waste and promoting a circular...
2 min read
Eric Sommers: 05.24.2024
Like most things that got interrupted when COVID hit in 2020, so too did the supply chain Cisco used to build its products. We saw 4- to 12-week...
3 min read
Eric Sommers: 05.24.2024
Among the wide range of modular and fixed-configuration switches Cisco offers, Catalyst and Nexus switches are the most popular. The main difference...
1 min read
Dylan McKenna: 05.23.2024
For the 15-ish years I’ve been in the TPM (third party maintenance) space, one of the primary objections I’ve heard from potential new customers is,...
2 min read
In today's fast-paced technology landscape, businesses are often pressured to adopt the latest hardware. However, making informed purchasing...
2 min read
Eric Sommers: 04.15.2024
In today’s fast-paced IT landscape, managing the lifecycle of your hardware is as crucial as the technology itself. IT Asset Recovery stands out as a...
2 min read
Eric Sommers: 02.07.2024
Did you know that access points can behave differently depending on how much power they are receiving? The addition of a new device drawing the...
3 min read
Eric Sommers: 01.25.2024
Interested in adding C9300s to the Meraki Dashboard?
2 min read
Eric Sommers: 11.20.2023
It’s easy to use the terms “software update” and “software upgrade” interchangeably, but when it comes to determining what you need to meet your...
2 min read
Eric Sommers: 11.20.2023
Whether you’re heading into hardware procurement to find the latest and greatest network devices or shopping for secondary market hardware, there are...
2 min read
Eric Sommers: 10.23.2023
There’s no doubt Cisco is the most popular OEM in the industry. They build superior products that last. But like everything else, sometimes their...
2 min read
Eric Sommers: 09.22.2023
When the network goes down, all eyes are on you. Downtime means lost business, lost revenue, more overtime, and lots of stress spread between you and...
3 min read
Eric Sommers: 09.22.2023
There are three main reasons you may need to reset your Cisco Catalyst 9300 series switch password: either you’re locked out, your admin is longer...
2 min read
Eric Sommers: 08.29.2023
As an IT professional, you’re familiar with the equipment graveyard present in many offices. Dusty old hardware, destined for the trash heap —...
5 min read
Eric Sommers: 08.14.2023
When it comes to technology, everyone wants the hot new item, but the pretty new things aren’t always in your budget. This is certainly true in the...
3 min read
Eric Sommers: 05.23.2023
Did you know that IOS updates are available from Cisco and DO NOT always require a SMARTnet contract?
3 min read
Eric Sommers: 05.04.2023
Let's recap. Why buy used? Cost savings, fast delivery, reliable hardware along with a better warranty and less expensive support. The newest...
5 min read
Eric Sommers: 04.18.2023
Cisco has managed to blow our minds with switch options so I am going to try and simplify what the 9300 options are and how they compare. There are...
2 min read
Eric Sommers: 03.07.2023
Is the new mGig feature more of a “meh” gig?
2 min read
Are you having trouble finding essential network equipment? You're not alone. The factors contributing to longer lead times are multi-faceted, and so...
2 min read
Eric Sommers: 01.25.2022
Or, Can you afford to be? It may sound like an exaggeration, but Cisco 9200Ls were quoted to a client at 434 days lead time this week. That’s Easter...
1 min read
Eric Sommers: 10.20.2021
Unfortunately, high hopes won’t get you very far if you’re trying to purchase and install new Cisco before year end. Lead times continue to grow and...
3 min read
Eric Sommers: 06.09.2021
Let's recap. Why buy used? Cost savings, fast delivery, reliable hardware along with a better warranty and less expensive support. The newest...
3 min read
Eric Sommers: 10.12.2020
Operating in the landscape of more efficiency without investing more money must imply optimization at all levels, be it software, hardware, or...
3 min read
Cisco offers a wide range of modular and fixed-configuration switches that help every business find the right solution to their networking needs....
3 min read
Eric Sommers: 08.05.2020
Designed to leverage assurance, security, and automation capabilities for the Cisco SD access and DNA center, the Catalyst 9300 Switches set the...
4 min read
Cisco server maintenance, in addition to SmartNet services, is a reliable way of protecting your data and IT support. These are award-winning and...
3 min read
Eric Sommers: 12.19.2019
Each year, editors of Britain’s Collins Dictionary select a word of the year; the one word that they believe best epitomizes the global trends and...
2 min read
Decisions, especially regarding network equipment purchases, are rarely cut and dried. Aside from the belief that Moore’s law will continue to drive...
2 min read
Eric Sommers: 09.18.2019
Whether it’s network equipment, pickup trucks or toothpaste, the new product adoption curve remains nearly unchanged. Statistically speaking, about...
1 min read
Eric Sommers: 06.20.2019
A new security vulnerability pushed Cisco to urge enterprise administrators to install critical security updates. As always, a SMARTnet contract is...
1 min read
Eric Sommers: 05.21.2019
May 10, 2019 Tariff increase to 25% scheduled to impact switching and routing hardware, as well as phones. Costs to end-users on products...
1 min read
Simplifying the Cisco Software Experience I guess the biggest question that I have is for who? Is the software experience being simplified for Cisco?...
2 min read
Eric Sommers: 05.14.2019
Thomas Edison put it this way, “Waste is worse than loss …. Every person who lays claim to ability will keep the question of waste before him...
1 min read
Per Cisco: “The vulnerability is due to the presence of a default SSH key pair that is present in all devices. An attacker could exploit this...
