Do Hardware EOL and EOSL Matter? Here’s What to Know

If your enterprise heavily relies on IT equipment, you’ll often come across the terms EOL and EOSL. These terms are somewhat controversial but essential nonetheless. After all, much may depend on these terms, which are essentially just dates. 

When it comes to maintaining, updating, or refreshing equipment, EOL and EOSL play an essential role. These are issued by the original equipment manufacturer (OEM).

In this article, we will:

• Briefly explain what EOL and EOSL mean.
• Outline how important they are for your enterprise’s asset management. 
• Discuss how you can extend your equipment's life beyond EOL and EOSL with the help of OneCall, PivIT’s maintenance offering.

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Understanding End of Life (EOL)

End of Life, or EOL, indicates that the OEM has stopped the production of the equipment. If an OEM announces EOL for a specific equipment, for example, a server or storage array, it will stop producing that model from that date. 

This means that customers cannot buy that model from the OEM directly. However, it may still be available with third parties in new or used conditions. 

Typically, EOL duration ranges from three to six years. Most OEMs issue notices of EOL around five years after the initial release and start of the sale. Then, it may take up to five years for the equipment to phase out. 

Before OEMs announce the EOL, they typically announce the new model to replace the equipment.

Understanding End of Service Life (EOSL) 

End of Service Life (EOSL), also called End of Support Life, indicates the end of OEM support for a device. After this point, the OEM will no longer provide maintenance and support or may provide it separately at premium prices. 

At this point, the equipment is considered legacy. The OEM would cease releasing firmware updates. 

In other words, this is the equipment's final stage as far as the manufacturer's support is concerned. 

EOSL period can range from five to ten years. EOSL is typically announced a few years after the EOL. 

What Happens After EOL and EOSL? 

When equipment reaches EOL, it simply means that the manufacturer is launching a new model to replace it. 

The manufacturers typically promote newer models as better and safer at this point. However, they have only stopped production of the model. It would continue to work. 

At EOL, enterprises such as data centers or service providers can upgrade or continue using existing equipment with OEMs' support. 

On the other hand, EOSL is a more serious deadline. Beyond this period, the OEM would stop updating operating systems and firmware or renew maintenance agreements. Regardless of the condition of the equipment, whether it’s working or not, it will not have the necessary support from the OEM that may ensure it continues to work properly. 

While you may continue to have maintenance support after EOL, you must either upgrade or look for alternatives once the OEM announces EOSL. 

Is Upgrading Equipment Necessary When It Reaches EOSL? 

Upgrading equipment is expensive, and with EOSL durations getting increasingly shorter, it’s becoming even more costly for IT enterprises to catch up. So do you need to upgrade once your equipment reaches EOSL? Not always. 

OEMs have significantly reduced the time for updating models for IT equipment, including servers, storage, and other network devices. Their business model hinges on the old equipment going out of service. So they announce EOSL in a bid to push customers to upgrade. 

Also, some OEMs may offer maintenance at premium rates considering the legacy equipment. 

While the new equipment may be better than its predecessor, the old equipment may still have a few good years left. Still, enterprises are forced to pay to upgrade to newer models simply because the manufacturer has stopped support.  

Whether you should upgrade to newer equipment after EOSL also depends on the equipment's role in your infrastructure ecosystem. Is critical equipment necessary for delivering high availability and near-perfect uptime? Is it important from a security standpoint? 

Answering these questions may help you decide whether updating after EOSL makes business sense. 

If the equipment runs fine, you can extend its life, but with maintenance. As OEMs stop providing care after EOSL, your only other option is to seek maintenance from a third-party maintenance (TPM) provider. 

The Solution: Third-Party Maintenance

Once the equipment reaches EOL and EOSL, you can consider moving maintenance to a TPM. Many TPMs can provide maintenance for the so-called legacy equipment beyond its EOSL. Depending on the TPM, you may get coverage for different brands/manufacturers if you have a multi-vendor infrastructure. 

With TPM-provided maintenance, you can continue to use the equipment until it becomes necessary to upgrade. The third-party will take care of updates and patch issues to ensure that the device keeps running smoothly. 

As opposed to maintaining or running the equipment without support, going with a third party is much more cost-effective and reliable. You may not have the technical expertise on your team to provide necessary maintenance.

Consider OneCall for Maintenance After EOL and EOSL

If your network or data center equipment has reached EOSL and is no longer covered by the OEM, OneCall can be your maintenance partner and help extend the life of your equipment. 

With high-skilled engineers, millions in inventory, and a global footprint, OneCall has all the ingredients to provide the same support level as an OEM. 

OneCall is also different from most TPM providers, as it allows for a hybrid maintenance strategy that offers flexibility and savings. 

OneCall uses a ranking methodology for digital assets to determine which maintenance option is best suited for them. 

Rank 1: These are legacy equipment no longer supported by OEM and can be covered with OneCall. 

Rank 2: This equipment is nearing EOL or EOSL and may require third-party maintenance in the near future, depending on your use. 

Rank 3: This equipment is new and can be maintained with the OEM. 

Thanks to the proprietary OneHub dashboard, you can manage maintenance for all your equipment in one place based on the ranking system, including Rank 3 devices that the OEM maintains. 

Try OneCall to avoid unnecessary, expensive upgrades and get the most out of your equipment!