• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

My TechDecisions

  • Best of Tech Decisions
  • Topics
    • Video
    • Audio
    • Mobility
    • Unified Communications
    • IT Infrastructure
    • Network Security
    • Physical Security
    • Facility
    • Compliance
  • RFP Resources
  • Resources
  • Podcasts
  • Subscribe
  • Project of the Week
  • About Us
    SEARCH
IT Infrastructure, News

Does Your Org Have Any Used Cisco Hardware? The Company Is Making It More Difficult to Use It

Your used Cisco hardware could become harder to use, now that the company has adopted Smart Licensing. But is this done intentionally?

August 21, 2019 TechDecisions Staff Leave a Comment

Cisco

According to this report from iFixit, owners of used Cisco hardware may find it more difficult to use it.

When their Smart Licensing System became mandatory to use Cisco’s Catalyst 3650, 3850, and 9000 series switches, the company claimed it would make make fore more flexible management of hardware licenses. But, according the iFixit report, it also provides the company more control.

Prior to Smart Licensing, these products were deployed and largely left alone. When sold, the hardware would go with its corresponding software license. But in the current system, companies buy a pool of licenses per account, which are divvied among their devices. Said devices communicate with Cisco for validation — a mandatory process.

iFixit cites IT maintenance professional Todd Bone of XS International in saying that Cisco can now theoretically limit the ability to use hardware, since licenses reside on Cisco’s servers and because the company is technically in charge of whether these devices work or not.

You don’t technically “own” used Cisco hardware anymore

Since these devices are tied to the original purchaser’s account, it has potential ramifications for buying and selling used hardware. “This will dramatically change the ability to buy used or refurbished Cisco hardware that run smart licensing because the original end user only owns the hardware, not its usage,” explains Bone. — excerpt from iFixit article.

This could also limit services from third-party companies

“It’s not clear if the owners of Cisco hardware will continue to have entitlements outside a SMARTnet contract,” the article quotes Bone. “Cisco may cut access to their entitlement servers for units they don’t support.” Coupled with a decline in the used market, that could lead to more Cisco e-waste in landfills.

iFixit’s source says he fears many Cisco customers do not recognize what they’re granting the company by upgrading to Smart Licensing.

Read Next: RFP Template for IT Hardware

If you enjoyed this article and want to receive more valuable industry content like this, click here to sign up for our digital newsletters!

Tagged With: Cisco, Hardware, IT Hardware

Related Content:

  • FTC Ring FTC Accuses Ring of Watching Private Videos, Poor…
  • Threat Detection Trends, 2023 Hacking Trends, Expel New Email Rules, MFA Bypass Are Top Hacking…
  • Lucidworks logo Lucidworks Strengthens Partnership with Google Cloud
  • Crowdstrike Charlotte AI CrowdStrike Launches Virtual Security Assistant Charlotte AI

Free downloadable guide you may like:

  • Download TechDecisions' Blueprint Series report on Security Awareness now!Blueprint Series: Why Your Security Awareness Program is Probably Falling Short

    Learn about the evolution of phishing attacks and best practices for security awareness programs to ensure your organization is properly prepared to defend against them in this report from TechDecisions' Blueprint Series.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Get the FREE Tech Decisions eNewsletter

Sign up Today!

Latest Downloads

Download TechDecisions' Blueprint Series report on Security Awareness now!
Blueprint Series: Why Your Security Awareness Program is Probably Falling Short

Learn about the evolution of phishing attacks and best practices for security awareness programs to ensure your organization is properly prepared t...

Workplace Collaboration Tools for Corporate Spaces
Workplace Collaboration Tools for Corporate Spaces

From lobbies and shared spaces to conference rooms and multipurpose facilities, you need high-performing AV technology to effectively share informa...

ChatGPT, generative AI, enterprise, workplace
Blueprint Series: ChatGPT and Generative AI in the Workplace

This latest release of the TechDecisions Blueprint Series explores the new phenomenon of tools such as ChatGPT and how IT leaders should go about d...

View All Downloads

Would you like your latest project featured on TechDecisions as Project of the Week?

Apply Today!
Sharp Microsoft Collaboration HQ Logo

Learn More About the
Windows Collaboration Display

More from Our Sister Publications

Get the latest news about AV integrators and Security installers from our sister publications:

Commercial IntegratorSecurity Sales

AV-iQ

Footer

TechDecisions

  • Home
  • Welcome to TechDecisions
  • Subscribe to the Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • Media Solutions & Advertising
  • Comment Guidelines
  • RSS Feeds
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Linkedin

Free Technology Guides

FREE Downloadable resources from TechDecisions provide timely insight into the issues that IT, A/V, and Security end-users, managers, and decision makers are facing in commercial, corporate, education, institutional, and other vertical markets

View all Guides
TD Project of the Week

Get your latest project featured on TechDecisions Project of the Week. Submit your work once and it will be eligible for all upcoming weeks.

Enter Today!
Emerald Logo
ABOUTCAREERSAUTHORIZED SERVICE PROVIDERSTERMS OF USEPRIVACY POLICY

© 2023 Emerald X, LLC. All rights reserved.