What to Do With Old Network Hardware: Sell, Trade, or Recycle?
Your business just upgraded its switches. Or maybe a data centre refresh left you with a stack of routers nobody needs. Now what?
Most businesses default to one of two options. They let old gear sit in a storage room. Or they throw it in general waste. Both choices cost you money. Both create unnecessary risk too.
There's a better option. XS Network Tech buys back new, used, and end-of-life network hardware from businesses across Australia. This guide explains why selling makes sense, and exactly how our process works.
Is your old network gear actually worthless?
No. Many people assume end of life (EOL) hardware has no resale value. That's a misunderstanding of what EOL actually means.
EOL means the manufacturer stopped selling the product. Eventually, they'll stop issuing patches and support too. It doesn't mean the hardware stopped working. It doesn't mean nobody wants to buy it.
A large secondary market exists because of this. EOL hardware still performs reliably in production. Many businesses prefer it for good reason. It's a known quantity. It's compatible with existing fleets. It's available without the lead times of new equipment.
In short, your old Cisco Catalyst switch can still carry real value. The same goes for a decommissioned Meraki access point or a rack of old Dell servers. This is true even if they're well past their original sale date.
Three options when decommissioning network hardware
1. Sell for cash or trade credit
Does your hardware still work? Is it a recognised brand like Cisco, Meraki, Arista, Juniper, HPE, Aruba, Dell, or Lenovo? Then it likely has resale value, regardless of EOL status. XS Network Tech buys used and excess networking and server hardware directly. We offer fast valuation, EFT payment, or trade credit. Pickup is arranged Australia-wide.
2. Trade toward new or refurbished stock
Are you decommissioning hardware as part of a refresh? Trading it in is usually faster than selling separately. Then you buy new stock through a different process. This makes sense if you're upgrading within the same brand family. For example, trade older Cisco switches toward current-generation Catalyst or Nexus stock. Or trade older Arista hardware toward a newer 7000 series model.
3. Responsible recycling or e-waste disposal
Sometimes hardware is genuinely beyond use. It might be physically damaged or missing key components. Maybe it's from a brand with no resale market. In these cases, responsible e-waste disposal is the right path. Network hardware contains materials that shouldn't go to landfill. Not sure if your hardware still has value? Request a quote and we'll tell you which category it falls into.
What's actually worth something right now
Resale value depends on category and current demand. Here's what's moving as of 2026.
Cisco Catalyst and Nexus switches. This includes the Catalyst 9000 series and Nexus data centre switches. Even older Catalyst 2960 and 3850 units still hold value. This applies especially for businesses maintaining legacy environments.
Cisco Meraki hardware. MX security appliances, MS switches, and MR access points all retain resale value.
Arista data centre switches. The 7050 and 7280 series units see strong demand right now. AI infrastructure buildout keeps driving demand for data centre switching.
GPUs and AI compute hardware. NVIDIA GPUs like the A100, A6000 Ada, and RTX series are in high demand. AI infrastructure investment is accelerating fast across enterprises in 2026. If you're decommissioning GPU compute hardware, this is one of the strongest categories right now.
Enterprise servers. Dell PowerEdge, HPE ProLiant, and Lenovo ThinkSystem servers all hold value. This is especially true for rack-mounted units in good condition with documented specs.
Juniper and HPE Aruba networking gear. Switches, routers, and access points from both brands retain value. This applies especially to current-generation or recent EOL models still widely deployed.
Don't see your hardware listed above? That doesn't mean it's worthless. Request a quote and we'll assess it directly.
When Selling to Us Makes the Most Sense
Selling your old hardware to us makes the most financial sense in a few common scenarios.
You're upgrading network infrastructure and replacing switches, routers, or access points that still work. You're decommissioning a data centre and need to clear a large volume of equipment quickly. You're consolidating offices and have surplus gear from a site that's closing. Or you simply have hardware sitting in storage that's been there for over six months with no plan.
In each case, your equipment retains value today that it won't retain in another year. Hardware depreciates the longer it sits unused.
How the process works
- Submit your hardware list. Share the brand, model, condition, and quantity via the Sell to Us page.
- Receive a valuation. We provide a fast, no-obligation quote based on current market demand.
- Choose your payment method. Pick EFT payment or trade credit toward stock from our full product range.
- Arrange pickup. We collect Australia-wide, so you skip the freight and logistics hassle.
- Once your gear arrives, it goes through lab testing in our Sydney facility to confirm it works as described. This step also includes secure data wipe.
Get a Quote on Your Old Gear
If you've got surplus switches, routers, firewalls, servers, or other network hardware sitting unused, find out what it's worth. Don't recycle or store it further until you know.
XS Network Tech buys new, used, and end-of-life network hardware from businesses across Australia. We handle valuation, free courier pickup, secure data wiping, and payment. The whole process takes the hassle out of clearing old infrastructure.
Browse our current switches and servers ranges if you're planning a hardware refresh too.