Smartnet

Quick question...I'm purchasing 25 access points (1242's). Do I need a smartnet contract on each one? I already have like 16 of these things

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malcybood

hypnotoad wrote:

Quick question...I'm purchasing 25 access points (1242's). Do I need a smartnet contract on each one? I already have like 16 of these things

How much are the access points and what's the annual smartnet contract for these devices?

hypnotoad

APs are about ~650 USD each (without radios) and the smartnet is about ~70 USD each.

tiersten

You're supposed to have one each...

malcybood

I would say yes if you have it in the budget. If you are being pressurised to cut costs for a device of that cost you could probably get away with leaving it, always good to have though.

If you were putting in a Catalyst 6500 or ASA device it would be a no brainer as they're business critical and bloomin expensive. With the AP's it may be worth spending 650 on a spare unit for hot swap, even if you buy 2 spares still saving around 300 - 400 on 25 smartnet contracts @ $1750, although depending on the size of your company this may be peanuts!

The other way to look at it is if you have 16 already how many have ever failed on you? Do you require upgrading / patching vulnerabilities on them often? Do you log many TAC cases for the existing AP's

+

Remember there is a manufacturers warranty on these things but you'd need to check what that covers and for how long!

Really your call if you think you'll get the value out of it!

astorrs

I'm with malcybood here, it kind of depends on your situation. Do you plan on upgrading the firmware to get the latest features down the road? Are you going to be changing the configuration regularly where you might need to escalate to TAC? If not I think I would just buy one or two spares and be done with it. Remember security fixes to IOS are *almost* always free from Cisco. But its really up to you.

hypnotoad

Frankly, they just sit out there and run and we don't worry too much about them. Never had one fail or had problems. Never called TAC on one.

astorrs

Buy two extras (don't forget the spare POE modules if you're using them too) and stick them in the storage closet and I would skip the smartnet on all of them.

dtlokee

I would say it's worth it. I have more issues with wireless and the vast number of clients out there. If you're running a basic setup with basic authentication and encryption it may not be needed. If you are going beyond that, using WLC/WCS/location, you need it. Last thing you want is to call TAC when the thing isn't working and have them tell you there is no maintenece on it and they won't support it until you have it.