End-of-Life IT Hardware Replacement
Most enterprise hardware has 4-7 year vendor-supported life, then 5-10 years of operational viability if you have spares. When OEMs declare end-of-life (EOL) or end-of-service (EOSL), you have three options: (1) extend life with spares inventory, (2) buy refurbished EOL units to extend, (3) migrate to current generation. Pro Disk Network supports all three.
Common EOL Migration Paths
| From (EOL) | To (Current) | Typical Cost (refurbished target) |
|---|---|---|
| Dell PowerEdge R720 | Dell PowerEdge R740 or R750 | $1,800-3,200 |
| Dell PowerEdge R730 | Dell PowerEdge R740 or R750 | $2,500-3,500 |
| HPE ProLiant DL380 G8/G9 | HPE ProLiant DL380 Gen10/Gen11 | $2,000-3,500 |
| Cisco Catalyst 3750-X | Cisco Catalyst 9300 | $900-1,500 |
| Cisco Catalyst 4500 chassis | Cisco Catalyst 9400 chassis | $3,500-6,500 |
| Windows Server 2012 R2 | Hardware to run Windows Server 2022+ | varies |
EOL Extension via Refurbished
Migration Planning Support
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can I run hardware after EOL?
Operational life is typically 10-15 years total for enterprise hardware; OEM support ends at 4-7 years. With a spare-parts inventory, you can run another 5-10 years past EOL safely. Pro Disk Network supplies the spare parts inventory.
What happens when vendor stops supporting my hardware?
No more firmware updates, no security patches, no warranty support. You can still run the hardware, but you accept the risk. Most enterprises migrate within 2-3 years of EOL declaration; some extend up to 5 years with proper spares planning.
Can I migrate from VMware to alternative platform on existing hardware?
Yes — Proxmox, Microsoft Hyper-V, Nutanix AHV all run on existing Dell/HPE/Lenovo platforms. We help with the platform selection and any hardware additions needed (RAM, NVMe, NICs).