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We want to present a collected list of best practices and policies around code updates that you'll thank your future self for considering and enacting when it comes to procuring, operating, and maintaining your IT infrastructure.

Network hardware manufacturers will do their best to lead you to believe that third-party compatible optical transceivers void existing OEM service contracts and warranties. While making a claim like this is to their advantage, it simply isn’t true.

The entire world has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The world will remember what people have endured for a very long time and this will become a part of history. It is a serious time presenting us all kinds of challenges.

What are some of the lessons can businesses learn from the COVID-19 pandemic? More specifically, what lessons can information technology (IT) teams learn?

Let's do a quick comparison of a specific Cisco switch and its close HPE equivalent. In this instance let's compare the Cisco WS-C3650-48FQM-S 48-port switch with full PoE and 4 SFP+ ports with the HPE JL558A - 2930F 48-port PoE+ switch with 740W power and 4 SFP+ ports.

The HPE switch portfolio is vast, so understanding it can be a challenge. But upon closer inspection, we notice that generally all the switches fall into three distinct types of categories: Data Center, Campus, and Small Business. To make the offerings even more clear – HPE further splits those switches into four product lines: Aruba, FlexFabric, FlexNetwork, and OfficeConnect. Let's take a deeper dive into these models to learn a little more about them.

A lot of people use Cisco to help their networks run well. Those same people have a lot of questions regarding Cisco, so we're here to help clear up the three most common.

In this world of “too good to be true” prices and “trust me” guarantees, as buyers, we must always beware of fraudulent products. Today, counterfeiting in the networking world is becoming more prevalent, more sophisticated… and a whole lot harder to spot. With years of expertise in vetting out real vs. fake, we’ve pinpointed key markers to look out for.

Although many things of the past have faded away, the continued use and staying power of the Cisco Catalyst 3560 has kept it current for over 15 years. Why would anyone still use it? Take a look at what it offers.

Cybersecurity is a subject matter on everyone’s minds these days. Seems like every day we see news stories and articles warning us of the dangers inherent out there in the world. This article provides an overview of some principles it makes sense to be aware of.

Networking and server equipment are among those products affected by the U.S. tariffs on China, causing original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to increase their prices. We’ve heard concerns from many of our customers about these price increases.

After attending the Gartner Catalyst conference, I was amazed to learn how much the Internet of Things (IoT) is continuing to grow and becoming a more prominent factor in our customer's business. It’s important for all of us to stay current on this trending technology.

Complete infrastructure life cycle management that includes secure IT asset disposition (ITAD) and third-party (TPM) can help you maximize value ate every stage of your technology investment.

 Product Engineer, Errol McCall explores the mind of famous villains throughout history to understand their take on network administration. He delves into common challenges in the workplace and how choosing the right technology vendor can steer you away from the dark side. Stick with the good guys and your organization can avoid network downtime, going over budget and more. 

At CXtec, we've been doing this maximizing value in IT investments thing a long time. 40 years, to be exact. We decided to start writing about it in this blog several years back and it's been a fun ride, to say the least. We decided to gather together our top 40 blog posts to celebrate our 40 years in business.

The right life cycle management approach when it comes to network hardware and data center cabling will help IT organizations do more while optimizing their budget

A VoIP phone system can save an organization a lot of money, but the up-front costs for new equipment can be prohibitive. Instead, consider used phones from a reputable provider.

Are you ready to upgrade your equipment? Is unused equipment collecting dust in a closet? How do you maximize ROI and get the most value for this gear? When trading in your used equipment, it is important to partner with a vendor you trust.

In order to achieve this, make sure you are asking the right questions. Check out these important factors to consider when choosing a vendor.

A couple allegations have surfaced surrounding the Aruba AP-310 series access points in comparison to other AP’s in the Aruba indoor 300 level Wave 2 lines.

What better time to discuss these accusations and take a deep dive into how the AP-310 compares to the 300/320/330.