[MLUG] [OT] getting cheap cisco gear

[Jean-Francois Theroux]

Personally, I wouldn't trust a used switch on my network. Not anywhere near
production machines at least. Maybe for users.

Ebay is always a sure bet though, they have insurances for when deals go
sour.

On Wed, Jul 30, 2008 at 12:36 AM, Jérôme Oufella <
jerome.oufella at savoirfairelinux.com> wrote:

> The Anarcat wrote :
> > Sorry for the slightly off-topic post...
> >
> > So we got bit by our last buy on ebay with our 2950G switch: 2 ports
> > don't light up and 2 drop packets. Out of 24 ports, that's a
> > non-negligible problem, to say the least.
> >
> > So we're looking at replacing that piece of crap with another cisco
> > switch (because we don't have to port the configuration and everyone
> > knows cisco, right?).
> >
> > Where do *you* get your Cisco gear around here? Ebay? kijiji? craiglist?
> >
> > Ebay and kijiji have a few hits, craiglist none, but since all of those
> > are outside of town, I can't double-check the switch before buying it
> > and i'm a bit worried about getting another DOA...
> >
> > I know there /was/ a shop, i think it was called 'A+' on St-Laurent near
> > Jarry/Gounod that would sell tons of used stuff and where I could find
> > cisco gear but I think the guy moved again, any idea where he went?
> >
> > Besides, there's the issue of subsequent firmware upgrades: how can you
> > ensure your switch is secure and upgraded when you didn't buy it from an
> > official cisco-approved vendor?
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > A.
> >
> Here's a related info that might interest people and can often be an issue.
>
> Like watches and clothes, there are counterfeit cisco equipments on the
> market. Some are produced off-shift in the same factories, some are
> cheap  clones from independant factories.
>
> When buying an used item, it's hard to tell if it's genuine or not. You
> may want to ask for warranties, or assume the risk (maybe even use it to
> deal a better price).
>
> You can check this site, they claim to have a list of known counterfeit
> serial numbers.
>  http://www.coastnetwork.com/counterfeitcisco.html
>
> I once purchased a router from an individual ebay seller here in
> montreal. He provided me with indications on the origins of the device,
> without me to ask for them. Like The Anarcat, I'd be interested in
> finding stores that resell hardware from upgraded/bankrupt businesses.
>
> Also, to push the thread back in the linux-related topics, there are
> developers working to have Linux running on bare Cisco hardware. See
> http://www.linux-mips.org/wiki/Cisco :-). NetBSD might also run on
> older, m68k-based hardware.
>
> JO
>
> --
> Jérôme Oufella
> Vice-président Technologies
> Savoir-faire Linux inc.
> 7275 St-Urbain, Bureau 306
> Montréal QC H2R2Y5
> tél: (514) 276-5468 #125
> fax: (514) 276-5465
>
>
>
>
>
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-- 
Jean-François Théroux
Linux/network security consultant
http://www.theroux.ca
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