18 min read
Is Secondary Market Network Hardware Less Reliable than New?
Eric Sommers: 05.06.2026
The bathtub curve, MTBF data, and what 'properly tested' actually means - a reliability framework for network engineers evaluating pre-owned Cisco,...
7 min read
Why Cisco's EULA Doesn't Override Your Hardware Resale Rights
Eric Sommers: 04.13.2026
The short answer: Cisco's End User License Agreement (EULA) does not prevent you from reselling pre-owned Cisco hardware. Courts have consistently...
18 min read
Is the Cisco Secondary Market Legal, Safe, and Reliable?
Eric Sommers: 03.12.2026
The short answer: buying pre-owned Cisco hardware from the secondary market is legal. Lawful resale of lawfully acquired hardware is protected under...
4 min read
How to Handle Meraki End-of-Support Alerts Without Replacing Your Hardware
Eric Sommers: 02.19.2026
What does Meraki End-of-Support (EoST) actually mean? — and how to silence dashboard alerts without a forced hardware upgrade.
6 min read
Why Companies Should Think Twice Before Adopting Catalyst Center for Access-Layer Switches
Eric Sommers: 02.18.2026
Is Catalyst Center for Access-Layer Switches Worth It? The short answer: Access-layer switches don't benefit from Catalyst Center the way core and...
7 min read
How to Harden Cisco Access-Layer Switches for Security Compliance — Without IOS Software Updates
Eric Sommers: 01.15.2026
Are software updates required to maintain compliance with SOC2, ISO 27001, or PCI? The short answer: IOS software updates are not required to...
8 min read
AI in Networking
Eric Sommers: 12.01.2025
What an explosion we’ve seen with Artificial Intelligence (AI)! My initial scope for this article was to explain how AI works for network management...
11 min read
PoE+ or UPoE? Why the Wrong Switch May Cause Unexpected Wi-Fi Issues
Eric Sommers: 09.17.2025
The short answer: If you're powering access points, PoE+ (30W) is no longer sufficient for full operation of most Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 7 enterprise APs...
11 min read
Optical Transceiver Types: Use Cases, Compatibility & Buying Tips
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.
4 min read
Cisco Catalyst 9300 Configuration Guide
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
Breaking Free: Why Cisco’s DNX Licensing Isn’t Your Only Option
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...