I'm trying to navigate the market for networking equipment as budgets get tighter. I'm considering used switches and routers from brands like Juniper and Arista. Has the reliability and support for used gear improved recently, or is it still considered risky to go this route?
5 Answers
It's really about the features you need and your data rates. If you're experienced, cheaper solutions could work for you. Just be mindful of power consumption and port density, especially with older equipment.
For me, buying used Cisco, Juniper, and Brocade switches has worked like a charm. Just recently, I picked up four Cisco 10G switches for about 20% of what new ones would cost, and they've been performing really well!
I've had a solid experience with refurbished Cisco gear. The supplier I use is a bit pricier, but the no-questions-asked replacements really make it worthwhile. I'd say their failure rates are pretty standard for older equipment, and the savings mean we keep a few spares handy just in case!
Honestly, Ubiquiti has been making a name for themselves with their enterprise-level gear. It's quite high quality and reasonably priced. I'm definitely a fan of refurbished hardware, so I'd say go for it!
I switched to UniFi systems after some headaches with SonicWALL, and so far, things have been running smoother!
I've had great luck buying used gear from Teracai. Their prices are good, and the support has been solid with a decent warranty.
So, if I get used networking hardware, does it make it ineligible for licensing? I thought you could still buy and use the software licenses, but maybe support contracts are the issue?
Wait, why do so many people have issues with Ubiquiti? Did they mess up or something?