Check out the certified refurbished Cisco equipment program

In an effort to keep used equipment out of landfills, Cisco's Capital Remarketing remanufactures and recycles returned equipment. Products include units returned or outgrown by companies. Cisco certified refurbished equipment sells for at least 25 percent less than a new product and comes with the same warranty and support options. Products are remanufactured to factory specifications and go through a certification process that includes firmware upgrades.

I recommend: Purchase certified refurbished Cisco networking equipment from an authorized Cisco reseller like CXtec or Doretel. More information about resellers and Cisco contacts for refurbished Cisco networking equipment is available on Cisco's website.

Shop online for used Cisco hardware

If you want a product right away, check out companies that keep a large stock of used networking equipment. Be sure to check the history and references of these companies and read the warranty information carefully.

I recommend: Network Liquidators and Digital Warehouse provide a vast array of Cisco equipment including refurbished Cisco switches, routers, firewalls and access servers. They have an inspection and certification process and offer a lifetime warranty. Specially trained used Cisco consultants at Alliance Datacom LP will help you with your sales questions and provide installation and technical support.

Watch out for counterfeit used Cisco networking equipment

It's estimated that counterfeit products make up almost 10% of the IT products market. Counterfeit Cisco products have been turning up for several years and have even infiltrated into certified reseller channels. Counterfeit products have a Cisco logo attached without permission. These products are not produced or approved by Cisco and generally have high failure rates.

I recommend: General warning signs include a discount that is much lower than regular product prices and cheap packaging. There are also subtle clues to look for on the products themselves. Coastside Networking provides a list of known counterfeits by part number. An article at Mercury Networks Inc. includes photos of telltale signs of counterfeiting. A Network World article lists general information and photos.