# Are network switches basically the same as 5 to 10 years ago? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 23, 2014, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-network-switches-basically-the-same-as-5-to-10-years-ago/696300 "2014-08-23T16:55:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2014, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-network-switches-basically-the-same-as-5-to-10-years-ago/696300/21 "2014-08-26T17:51:29Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > No. Cisco, btw, wasn’t interested in helping us when their switches began failing. They didn’t make the model anymore. They were more than willing to sell us another 25 or so the redo the network. > Cisco switches cost thousand and have a three month warranty. HPs cost hundreds and have a lifetime warranty. Awesome, good to know! ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2014, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-network-switches-basically-the-same-as-5-to-10-years-ago/696300/22 "2014-08-26T19:01:13Z")
> [@Reply](#): > > Don’t you have to pay for an enterprise support contract for that? Like $50 million per port? HP Procurve switches have a lifetime warranty. I’ve replaced several over the years, even if one port failed. The only time it was denied was when I told them the fan was very noisy. “Does it still switch?” “yes” “We only replace it when it fails to perform” Fortunately it was in a closet, so it didn’t really bother anyone, and AFAIK it’s still working fine. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2014, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-network-switches-basically-the-same-as-5-to-10-years-ago/696300/23 "2014-08-26T20:30:37Z")
> [@md2000](#): > > HP Procurve switches have a lifetime warranty. I’ve replaced several over the years, even if one port failed. The only time it was denied was when I told them the fan was very noisy. > “Does it still switch?” > “yes” > “We only replace it when it fails to perform” > Fortunately it was in a closet, so it didn’t really bother anyone, and AFAIK it’s still working fine. I would imagine that if you took the lid off and replaced the fan, the warranty would be voided. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2014, 10:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-network-switches-basically-the-same-as-5-to-10-years-ago/696300/24 "2014-08-27T10:18:15Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > I would imagine that if you took the lid off and replaced the fan, the warranty would be voided. ☹ Netgear Pro (lifetime warranty). We told them one of the fans had **failed** and they authorised the replacement. From our point of view, it had already ‘failed’, and I didn’t need to explain that by ‘failed’ I meant that it was making a screaching noise. When I was doing mechanical engineering work, we considered that ‘failed’. Of course, in that job, if the line stopped, 40 people were standing there getting paid to do nothing, while the income had stopped too. Kind of like the network in a big company. [Original Poster]: 10 years ago, you might have had to think about what you plugged into which hole. It’s all autosense now. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2014, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-network-switches-basically-the-same-as-5-to-10-years-ago/696300/25 "2014-08-27T12:27:55Z")
> [@Melbourne](#): > > Netgear Pro (lifetime warranty). We told them one of the fans had **failed** and they authorised the replacement. Cool! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-network-switches-basically-the-same-as-5-to-10-years-ago/696300.md?page=1)