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Learn about the lifecycle of data center hardware and the difference between End of Life (EOL) and End of Service Life (EOSL).
EOL stands for End of Life and means that the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) will no longer produce, market, or sell a specific type of hardware..
The updates and official maintenance will start to see a significant reduction, although the company could still offer some kind of support.
Businesses and consumers can start to consider transitioning to newer versions of the product, at this point, or to alternative solutions like support from third-party companies to uphold functionality and security.
In other contexts, End Of Life could have slightly different meanings.
For example, in data management, EOL denotes when data becomes obsolete or irrelevant, encouraging archival or deletion. In software, EOL marks the conclusion of the app’s life, raising potential security concerns and compatibility challenges for users.
EOSL stands for End of Service Life and means the complete end of support from the OEM.
This is the final stage in the lifecycle of data center hardware.
All services, updates, and general support from the original vendor are discontinued for those network, server, or storage items.
As a result, businesses and consumers are obliged to opt between replacing their hardware with newer versions of the product or trusting third-party companies to provide services and support to their out-of-warranty equipment.
The biggest difference between End of Life (EOL) and End of Service Life (EOSL) phases, is the maintenance support customers can get.
While the Original Company might still offer some support for EOL products, once they reach the EOSL date the support will come to an end.
Usually, OEMs stop supporting older products because they want to focus their attention on making and selling new equipment.
Their business model is to constantly manufacture newer versions of hardware, which is why they can’t keep their support services long-term. They need customers for the newer items.
| EOL End of Life | EOSL End of Service Life |
|---|---|
| The hardware equipment is no longer produced, sold, or marketed. | The hardware equipment is no longer produced, sold, or marketed. |
| The OEM could still make updates. | There are no more updates for the product. |
| Extended support from the OEM is still offered, but often at a premium price. | The support from the OEM is discontinued. |
| Third-party maintenance begins to be a reasonable option to reduce costs. | Customers must choose between buying new equipment or hiring aThird-Party company to take care of the support. |
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Understanding the hardware equipment lifecycle is essential for effective management and decision-making in IT infrastructure.
| GA General Availability (0-3 years) | EOL End of Life (3-6 years) | EOSL End of Service Life (6 years or more) |
|---|---|---|
| The hardware product available for purchase in the market. | EOL signifies the OEM’s decision to discontinue production of the hardware product. | EOSL marks the end of official support and maintenance services provided by the OEM. |
| OEMs actively promote and distribute the product to meet consumer demand. | Support for the product may start to decline with fewer updates and patches released. | Customers should begin considering third-party maintenance providers (TPM) or newer hardware solutions as support for the EOL product diminishes. |
| Support and maintenance services are typically robust, with frequent updates and patches provided by the manufacturer. | The product is no longer actively supported, and firmware updates or patches cease. | Customers should rely on third-party support or consider hardware upgrades to ensure continued functionality and security. |
As data center hardware reaches the end of its useful life, they continue to exist and may still serve a purpose within organizations.
The equipment could be still usable and performing at full capacity, but the lack of support from the OEM poses significant risks, including increased security vulnerabilities and the potential for system failures.
Some of risks associated with using unsupported hardware can be:
To address these problems companies can go the OEM way and upgrade the IT equipment to newer models or purchase new hardware to replace the outdated systems.
However this option could be costly and very inefficient because it means getting rid of perfectly usable hardware.
A clever way to deal with EOSL devices is to hire third-party companies like Relutech that offer hardware maintenance services.
These kinds of companies can extend the life of servers, network, and storage devices by offering customized and flexible plans that fit any need.
Opting for this solution can avoid premature hardware replacement squeezing the most out of every data center equipment.
Jason Figliolini | Marketing Director
Jason Figliolini is our Marketing Director here at ReluTech. His top priorities are content creation for articles, blogs, and collateral to educate customers about cloud, hardware, and maintenance solutions. Outside of work, he enjoys reading books, attending concerts, and exploring Atlanta’s hidden gems.
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EOSL, or End of Service Life, denotes the phase in a hardware’s lifecycle where the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) ceases providing support and maintenance services.
EOL indicates the phase in a IT asset’s lifecycle when the manufacturer ceases production.
On the other hand, EOS (End of Service) marks the cessation of support and maintenance services provided by the manufacturer, leaving users to seek alternative solutions for continued functionality and support.
After EOSL, the manufacturer typically discontinues all support and maintenance services for the product.
This means users must rely on alternative maintenance solutions, such as third-party maintenance providers, or consider upgrading to newer hardware versions to ensure continued functionality and support.
EOSL stands for End of Service Life, which refers to the stage in a product’s lifecycle when the manufacturer discontinues support and maintenance services.
EOL stands for End of Life, meaning the conclusion of a product’s lifecycle, typically marked by the manufacturer ceasing production.
EOS stands for End of Sale, which refers to the point in a product’s lifecycle when the manufacturer discontinues the sale of the product, typically preceding its End of Life (EOL) phase.
EOA stands for End of Availability, which refers to the stage in a product’s lifecycle when it is no longer available for purchase in the market.
