When OEM Support Ends, Third Party Begins Blog
Don’t Replace Your Hardware — Extend It: How to Stay Productive After EOSL
When OEM support ends (EOSL), your systems don’t have to. Here’s how to keep reliable gear in service safely — without a costly rip-and-replace.
Most OEMs frame End-of-Support Life (EOSL) as a dead end. In reality, many servers, storage arrays, and network devices can run years longer with the right parts strategy, SLAs, and expert support. At Extended Technical Solutions (ETS), we help you keep what works — and invest only where it matters.
What EOSL Really Means (and Doesn’t)
When a manufacturer ends support, you’ll typically lose OEM firmware releases and official helpdesk coverage. But EOSL doesn’t mean your equipment must be scrapped. With third-party maintenance (TPM), you can continue operating safely by pairing proven hardware with the right parts availability, engineering expertise, and SLAs.
Want to confirm your models? Check ETS’s EOSL Product List covering Dell, HPE, IBM, Cisco, Lenovo, Supermicro, and more.
4 Steps to Safely Keep Hardware After EOSL
1) Validate the exact EOSL status
Model-specific dates matter. Use the EOSL list to verify timelines and plan proactively.
2) Compare risk vs. replacement cost
Identify the workload’s criticality, uptime needs, and replacement budget. ETS customers routinely see up to 70% savings versus OEM renewals by choosing TPM with the right SLA.
3) Deploy TPM coverage aligned to role
- Multi-vendor support (Dell, HPE, IBM, Cisco, Lenovo, Supermicro)
- Flexible SLAs (8×5 NBD to 24×7×4) and onsite parts logistics
- Access to L3 engineers and proactive monitoring via XTEKPROTECT™
- Full visibility in the ETS Partner Portal for tickets, assets, spares, and renewals
4) Monitor & refresh on your terms
Keep firmware baselines documented, track parts inventory, and review SLA performance. Refresh when the business case says so — not because a date on a PDF arrived.
Why Many Teams Refresh Too Soon
- OEM pressure and bundling tactics around new licenses/appliances
- Assumptions about parts scarcity that no longer hold true
- CapEx cycles that reward large refreshes over targeted optimization
A smarter lifecycle keeps reliable assets in service and shifts spend to where it moves the needle — applications, data protection, and growth.
Get Started: Free EOSL Savings & Risk Assessment
- Lookup your models on the EOSL Product List.
- Send ETS your asset list (make, model, locations, SLA needs).
- Review a side-by-side savings and risk profile with recommended SLAs.
- Go live with TPM coverage and track everything in the Partner Portal.
Check Your Model on the EOSL List Request My Free Assessment
Keywords: end-of-support life, EOSL hardware, third-party maintenance, TPM, extend hardware life, server maintenance, storage maintenance, network maintenance, OEM support ends, multi-vendor maintenance, XTEKPROTECT, ETS Partner Portal.