Blog

“Just quote me a UPS.”

All too often this is what we hear when we ask people about power protection. Unfortunately, it just isn’t that easy, although we all wish it was.

Are you trying to decide between the Cisco Catalyst 6500 and 6800 chassis systems? There are many factors to consider, but don’t go down the rabbit hole and get lost in minutiae. Here are the major factors to consider up front.

In today’s day and age, more and more businesses are using compatible optics in their networks. The reason is simple and easy to justify – the cost savings are tremendous.

All network hardware manufacturers have their pros (and cons) that set them apart from their competition. Understanding these differences will help guide you to make smart decisions on how to justify your technology investments. If you’re considering Juniper hardware for your network, check out these three really cool features.

In the Halloween season, we’re reminded of history’s great ghouls, goblins and monsters. And with the way our minds work here at CXtec, we then think of how these monsters would look in the technology world. In that spirit (pun intended), we’d like to weave a tale for you so horrifying, so absolutely scarrific, that you won’t sleep for weeks!

Meet Bob – he's an equal2new® switch. Bob started life in a fancy financial institution, processing thousands of transactions every day. But one day, things changed for Bob. He was sold to CXtec and he began a new adventure!

Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) made an announcement in September 2015 that they would end-of-sale the HP 5400 zl Switch Series on December 31, 2015. At the time of the announcement, HPE encouraged its customers to migrate to the HP 5400R zl2 Switch Series chassis.

Some people enjoy fine wines, and some are connoisseurs of artwork or antiques. And that’s all well and good. But here at CXtec, every now and again we like to proclaim our admiration for certain pieces of technology. Yes, network technology is what captures our hearts. In this edition, we’re extolling the virtues of the Cisco Catalyst 6509-E chassis solution.

We posed this question in a recent article on Network World. It certainly is a subject matter that many have been discussing recently. The answer may not be entirely clear, but one thing seems to be certain: the 6500 Series is going strong and shows very few signs of going away any time soon.

Third-party maintenance (TPM) programs are hardware support solutions provided by vendors independent of the OEM. TPM is a subject matter that is garnering a great deal of attention in today’s climate of discovering creative ways to extend technology budgets. TPM offerings are essential in a hybrid support model – which entails using a mix of OEM support, TPM and sparing strategies where each is appropriate.

The CXtec team explored the Enterprise Connect 2016 conference in Orlando, Florida on March 7-10. Here is a recap of our adventures!

Typically, around this time of year we hear luck being tossed around playfully as "The luck of the Irish" or the lucky leprechaun with his pot of gold. In reality, luck doesn't always have a happy ending.

High-quality, reliable network hardware and cabling are requirements for a high-performing technology infrastructure and a successful IT team that helps drive more business. It’s the heart of your network.

Every equal2new^® ShoreTel IP phone is backed by a true lifetime warranty, as well as a 99.51% reliability rating.

We discuss the recently introduced Cisco 1850 access point (AP). This is the first native 802.11ac Wave 2 device Cisco has released. So what's the big deal? This AP can reach speeds up to 1.7 GB!

Hybrid maintenance is a smart way to lower operating expenses (OPEX) and maximize your uptime. CXtec recently took part in a project that illustrates the benefits of hybrid support.

Many organizations’ budgets are being squeezed so hard, that they are foregoing support contracts altogether – a risky proposition. However, there are alternatives that can save significant OPEX budget and still provide the support you need.

Navigating the secondary market for used IT equipment can be tricky. There are a number of potential pitfalls to look out for – sometimes it might even feel like the Wild, Wild West to IT professionals trying to make their way through. But the value provided by this market can be undeniable, which makes it a worthwhile effort to learn the tricks of the trade.