The Edge

17 min read

Is the Cisco Secondary Market Legal, Safe, and Reliable?

Eric Sommers: 03.12.2026

If you’ve purchased network hardware before, you’ve heard it. “Buying from the grey market is dangerous.” “You won’t have a valid license.” “You...

2 min read

Wi-Fi 6 vs Wi-Fi 7

Eric Sommers: 02.25.2026

2 min read

Quit Blinking at Me!!

Eric Sommers: 02.19.2026

Is the .gif above what it feels like when you look at your Meraki dashboard?!?!

4 min read

Why Companies Should Think Twice Before Adopting Catalyst Center for Access-Layer Switches

Eric Sommers: 02.18.2026

Why Companies Should Think Twice Before Adopting Catalyst Center for Access-Layer Switches

4 min read

Mitigate Security Risk By Design

Eric Sommers: 01.15.2026

We continue to see software updates breaking networks. This has always been an issue, so why do we keep doing it? Bad data.... Software updates are...

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...

2 min read

Do You Need UPoE?

Eric Sommers: 09.17.2025

Did you know that access points can behave differently depending on how much power they are receiving? 👈 To jump to the AP tables, click your OEM

6 min read

Cisco Smart Licensing: Disabling Smart Agents for Enhanced Control

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,...

5 min read

Understanding the Differences: DNA Essentials vs DNA Advantage

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...

3 min read

Which Cisco Nexus Switch is Right For Me?

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

How often should you update Cisco IOS? How important is it?

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

How We Saved $190,000: A Smart Approach to Network Hardware Upgrades

In today's fast-paced technology landscape, businesses are often pressured to adopt the latest hardware. However, making informed purchasing...

2 min read

Network Hardware Buying Guide

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...