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...
8 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...
7 min read
How a national entertainment operator saved $1.66M and avoided a forced platform migration when their workhorse switch hit End-of-Sale — and how to...
12 min read
The short answer: Edgeium completes a 19-step quality assurance process on every unit of pre-owned or used network hardware before it enters...
19 min read
Eric Sommers: 05.06.2026
The short answer: No - properly tested secondary-market network hardware is not less reliable than new hardware. In most cases, it is more reliable...
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...
5 min read
How one hospital network saved 57% on a Cisco switch and access point refresh — without sacrificing hardware quality or lead time. Most healthcare IT...
19 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.
7 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...
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: 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.
