20 min read
Eric Sommers: 06.09.2026
Direct answer: Strip the Catalyst 9350 down to what an access-layer switch actually does, and it's simply a new version of the 9300, which was itself functionally equivalent to the previous 3850. What the 9350 genuinely adds over that lineage is not...
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7 min read
Eric Sommers: 05.28.2026
The short answer: Edgeium is not a VAR replacement. Every Edgeium customer still has a VAR. But for access-layer switches, EOL hardware, emergency...
18 min read
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
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
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
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
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...
9 min read
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
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
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
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.
