Cisco Hardware Inspection and Software Re-Licensing Program

If you are interested in purchasing Cisco equipment, you have a number of options. You can purchase equipment directly from Cisco or from Cisco Certified Resellers. You can also choose to buy equipment new or used. Cisco hardware may be freely resold or leased, however there are issues to consider before you make a buying decision involving used equipment or "secondary-market" equipment (i.e., any equipment purchased from a seller that is not a Cisco Certified Reseller).

The embedded Cisco software that runs on the hardware—as well as Cisco standalone software—is not transferable. If you purchase used or secondary-market Cisco equipment, you must acquire a new license from Cisco before the software can be used.
Used and secondary-market equipment is not covered under the Cisco standard warranty, and you cannot place it under a Cisco service and support contract unless it is re-licensed by Cisco and has passed an inspection by Cisco

Cisco offers a program to re-license Cisco software and inspect used and secondary-market Cisco equipment. The program applies to both purchasers of used and secondary-market equipment and leasing companies that wish to re-lease a Cisco product to another customer after the original lease term has expired.

This process protects Cisco intellectual property, but it also protects your network. By re-licensing and inspecting used and secondary-market equipment, you can ensure that the equipment is in proper condition, is running the safest and most appropriate software, and can deliver the full value you expect. (If you do not wish to go through the process of re-licensing and inspecting used or secondary-market equipment, you can purchase refurbished equipment for 25 to 75 percent off the original list price through the Cisco Certified Refurbished Equipment Program.) For more information, visit: http://www.cisco.com/go/remarketing

This web site provides an overview of the Cisco policies governing used and secondary-market equipment and software re-licensing, and the steps you can take to re-license and inspect Cisco products.

To take advantage of the Cisco Hardware Inspection and Re-Licensing Program, purchasers of used and secondary equipment should contacts the Cisco Service Account Manager (SAM) or e-mails the request to tss-inspections@cisco.com. For more on how to use this program, please go to Using the Program.

Policy

Using the Program

Frequently Asked Questions

Cisco Policy on Software Re-Licensing and Used and Secondary Equipment

Cisco has specific policies governing the licensing of software and the operation and support of used and secondary-market equipment.

Software

Cisco software – whether embedded operating system software or standalone application software–is not transferable without Cisco's written consent and payment of a license fee. Following a transfer, the transferor's license to the software is terminated, and the purchaser's or lessee's use of the software is governed by the new license.

This policy applies to embedded software on hardware that is re-sold, as well as to software on equipment that is re-leased to a new customer after the original lease term has expired. Certain exceptions to this policy apply. Exceptions include:

Transfers of software bundled with hardware
Transfers to an affiliate
Transfers due to a merger or acquisition
Certain leasing situations, such as when an original lessee wishes to buy out equipment from the leasing company during or at the end of the lease term, or when a leasing company re-leases equipment for the remainder of a lease term after a default by the original lessee
Sale of Cisco customer premises equipment to an end user by a managed service provider (provided specific conditions are met)
Outsourcing arrangements

For more details visit the Cisco Software Transfer and Re-Licensing Policy.

Support of Used and Secondary Equipment

The Cisco standard warranty and Cisco service and support contracts are not transferable. That means that any used or secondary-market Cisco equipment purchase is not covered by the Cisco standard warranty and is not eligible for coverage by a Cisco support contract–even if it is purchased through a Cisco Channel Partner or Distributor. Before used or secondary-market equipment can be placed under a new support contract, the requester must show proof of a valid software license and must have the equipment inspected to confirm that it is in proper working order and has been maintained appropriately.

For more information about the Cisco Used Equipment Service Policy and details about the inspection process and fees, please contact your account manager or services account manager.

Policy Implications

Any used or secondary-market equipment is ineligible for any kind of Cisco service support unless it becomes eligible through Cisco’s inspection and re-licensing program.
Cisco assumes no obligation or liability for used or secondary-market equipment, except as detailed in service contracts written after such products have been inspected and appropriate software licenses have been purchased from Cisco.
Cisco may (a) invoice the customer for the then-current list price for the genuine Cisco replacement product; and (b) pursue other available actions, up to, and including, termination of the customer's support contract when:
- a customer receives a replacement product from Cisco and
- returns to Cisco an ineligible used or secondary-market product (one that has not been inspected or correctly licensed) instead of the actual defective Cisco product for which the advanced replacement product was provided.
Cisco encourages customers to check the source and quality of the products they purchase in order to reduce risks associated with using such used and secondary-market equipment in their networks. (Unknown origin may mean unknown quality, and hence, unknown risks.) In addition, Cisco encourages customers to check eligibility of used and secondary-market equipment for Cisco support and the validity of the applicable software licenses for those products.

Cisco Certified Refurbished Equipment

For customers who are interested in used or secondary-market Cisco equipment but do not wish to go through the process of re-licensing and inspection, Cisco offers refurbished products for sale through the Cisco Certified Refurbished Equipment Program. For more information, visit: http://www.cisco.com/go/remarketing/

Using the Program

To take advantage of the Cisco Hardware Inspection and Re-Licensing Program, purchasers of used and secondary equipment must follow these steps:

The customer contacts the Cisco Service Account Manager (SAM) or e-mails the request to tss-inspections@cisco.com .
The Cisco SAM or authorized Cisco partner provides the customer with a pre-inspection checklist, a description of the service, and additional information regarding the program.
The customer fills out the pre-inspection checklist and provides information about the product and the network.
The Cisco SAM or authorized Cisco partner provides a quote for both the hardware inspection and re-licensing.
The customer places the order for the hardware inspection and software re-license with the authorized Cisco partner or with Cisco.
The inspection is scheduled and takes place at the customer site.
Upon passing inspection, the equipment is licensed and becomes eligible for Cisco support and service.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Cisco definition of used and secondary-market equipment that qualifies for this program?
Is a Cisco software license transferable?
What if I do not wish to go through the re-licensing and inspection process. Do I have other options?
Is the Cisco product warranty transferable?
Are service maintenance contracts such as Cisco SMARTnet® contracts transferable?
Will Cisco support used and secondary-market equipment?
How does one show proof of a valid software license?
Does the equipment inspection process certify that the product is operating according to manufacturer specifications?
Does the equipment inspection come with a guarantee or additional warranty?
Is the equipment inspection service available globally?
Are equipment inspections available through all Cisco Authorized Channels?
How much advanced notice is needed to schedule an equipment inspection?
What if the equipment does not pass inspection? Do I still need to pay the inspection fee?
What products are eligible for equipment inspections?
Are the prices of inspections chassis-based?
If I have purchased used or secondary-market cards only, and not a used or secondary-market chassis, am I still required to purchase an inspection in order for the cards to be covered under a service contract?
If Cisco equipment has been declared permanently damaged, out of commission, or permanently non-useable, can it be inspected, and then be declared usable and serviceable?
Whom do I contact if I need further assistance?
If I purchase a service contract from Cisco for used or secondary-market equipment, what are the costs that I may incur?
If I have multiple pieces of Cisco equipment at a single location, is the inspection fee charged per site location or per chassis?

Q: What is the Cisco definition of used and secondary-market equipment that qualifies for this program?

A: Cisco defines used equipment, as previously owned equipment, now owned by a party other than the original customer. Secondary-market equipment is any Cisco equipment–whether represented as new, used, or refurbished–that is purchased from a seller that is not a Cisco Authorized Reseller or Distributor. This includes both opened and unopened equipment. Previously owned equipment purchased from an unauthorized reseller, cannot be placed under a service contract without being re-licensed and inspected.

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