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Cisco Refresh can be a lower-cost way to buy Cisco equipment with manufacturer-led remanufacturing, testing, and support options. Its five main attractions are certification, tested hardware, potential savings, broad model availability, and warranty and service choices. Those are Cisco’s program claims, not a guarantee that every model or quote suits your network: check the exact SKU, license, lifecycle status, delivered price, and support entitlement before you buy.
What Cisco means by “refurbished”
Cisco calls its certified refurbished offer Cisco Refresh and describes the equipment as remanufactured. Cisco says the units are pre-owned, screened for authenticity and remanufacturability, and may receive critical hardware and software upgrades. It also says the process uses genuine Cisco parts, tracks product service history, and tests and retests equipment against its specifications. A third-party listing labelled “refurbished” is not automatically Cisco Refresh-certified.
These descriptions come from Cisco; they do not establish independent failure-rate comparisons or the condition of a particular unit. Verify the specific product and terms in the quote.
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Five reasons buyers consider Cisco Refresh
1. Manufacturer certification and added confidence
Cisco says equipment must pass its remanufacturing process to be called Cisco Refresh. Its FAQ says Refresh equipment has a valid software license and the same warranty and Cisco SMARTnet support options as the equivalent new product. Treat those as program-level descriptions and confirm the actual SKU and service terms before ordering.
#1 Best Overall
- Product Type- Ethernet Switch
- Total Number of Network Ports- 48
- Form Factor- Rack-mountable
2. Remanufacturing, upgrades, and testing
Cisco describes engineering changes, genuine replacement parts, and thorough testing as part of its process. That can be preferable to buying a device whose inspection and repair history is unknown, but Cisco’s description is not an independently verified comparison of reliability. Ask what hardware configuration and upgrades are included in the offered unit.
3. A chance to reduce purchase cost
Cisco has promoted Refresh as competitively priced and says its program avoids separate inspection and relicensing fees that may arise with secondary-market equipment. An older Cisco policy page published a range of 25–75% off original list price; that is historical Cisco guidance, not a current offer, typical saving, or promise. Request a current quote for the exact SKU and compare licensing, support, shipping, and required accessories against a new unit.
Rank #2
![Cisco Small Business SG300-52-K9 [SRW2048-K9] 52-Port Gigabit Managed Switch (Renewed)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/312SOXS8TyL._SL160_.jpg)
- Cisco Small Business SG300-52 - Switch - L3 - managed - 50 x 10/100/1000 + 2 x combo Gigabit SFP - desktop, rack-mountable
- IPv6 support allows you to move up to the next generation of networking applications and operating systems without an extensive equipment upgrade
- Strong security features include access control lists (ACLs), guest virtual LANs (VLANs), and other advanced security features to tightly control networks
- Quality of service (QoS) prioritizes network traffic to keep critical network applications running at top performance
- Static routing and Layer 3 IP routing between VLANs allows for communicating across VLANs without degrading application performance
4. Access to a wide range of models
Cisco’s FAQ describes a catalog of more than 6,500 active and end-of-sale products. That is a catalog count, not a live inventory guarantee. The FAQ also says end-of-sale stock has at least one year of TAC support available; confirm the current support position for the exact model and region, and check Cisco’s lifecycle information before relying on an older unit.
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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute5. Warranty and service options
Cisco says Refresh units have the same warranty and support options as equivalent new equipment, including limited lifetime warranties where applicable. Warranty and a support contract are different: Cisco’s general warranty FAQ says warranty generally does not include TAC support, software updates, or other service-contract benefits. Check the quoted warranty duration and exclusions, and confirm whether TAC or SMARTnet coverage is included or separately available.
Rank #3
- Brand CISCO, Model WS-C3560X-48P-S
- Format Rackmount, Network Management Type Managed, Primary Ports 48 x RJ-45 10/100/1000Base-T PoE LAN, 1 x Type B USB Management, 1 x Type A USB, 1 x RJ-45 Serial Management, 1 x RJ-45 10/100Base-TX Network Management, Primary Port Speed 10/100/1000Mbps.
- VLAN Support Yes, PoE Yes, SNMP Yes, QoS Yes, Layer 2, Product Type: Ethernet Switch, Number of Ports: 48, Fast Ethernet Port: Yes, Gigabit Ethernet Port: Yes, Interfaces/Ports: 48 x RJ-45 10/100/1000Base-T PoE LAN, 1 x Type B USB Management, 1 x Type A USB, 1 x RJ-45 Serial Management, 1 x RJ-45 10/100Base-TX Network Management.
- Forwarding/Filtering Rate: 65.5 Mpps, Switching Throughput: 160 Gbps, Number of Expansion Slots: 1, Expansion Slots: (1 Total) Network Module, Layer Support: 2, Manageable: Yes, Management: Command-line interface (CLI), DHCP, VLAN , QoS, SNMP v1,2c,3, RMON, Standard Memory: 256 MB, Memory Technology: DRAM, Flash Memory: 128 MB.
- Operating System: Cisco IOS Software, Power Description, Power Over Ethernet: Yes, Input Voltage: 110 V AC, 220 V AC, Input Voltage Range: 100 V AC to 240 V AC, Power Source: Power Supply, Dimensions 1.75" Height x 17.50" Width x 18" Depth, Weight 15.65 lb.
How to compare Cisco Refresh with a used listing
Cisco directs buyers to its Refresh inventory, sales team, or an authorized partner. For equipment bought on the secondary market, Cisco says proof of a valid software license and inspection may be required before it qualifies for a new support contract. Cisco’s policy also says secondary-market equipment is not covered by its standard warranty or eligible for a support contract absent applicable conditions. Ask Cisco about the particular device and region rather than assuming an exception applies.
- Model and configuration: Match the exact model, ports, modules, power supplies, and other hardware to your requirements.
- Compatibility: Check that the device works with your network design and required software.
- Certification and seller: Confirm that a Cisco Refresh offer is actually certified, or establish who is responsible for a third-party used device.
- License: Verify the license is valid and covers the intended use.
- Warranty and support: Read the warranty term and exclusions; separately confirm TAC or SMARTnet eligibility and entitlement.
- Lifecycle: Check end-of-sale and last-date-of-support status for the precise model.
- Total delivered cost: Compare the current price with new equipment, including support, licensing, shipping, and necessary accessories.
- Availability: Confirm current stock and lead time with the seller.
What to know about availability and sustainability claims
Cisco’s FAQ has also described availability in more than 70 countries, while another Cisco program page has described availability in more than 100. Because those figures differ and may not reflect current regional coverage, check availability for your market directly rather than relying on a global count.
Rank #4
- LOOKS & WORKS LIKE NEW - This Certified Refurbished product is tested and certified to look and work like new. The refurbishing process includes functionality testing, basic cleaning, inspection, and repackaging. The product ships with all relevant accessories, a minimum 90-day warranty, and may arrive in a generic box.
Cisco presents reduced resource use and waste as benefits of remanufacturing. The cited program materials do not establish a quantified environmental impact, so consider this a stated program benefit rather than a measured savings figure.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
