Typical cost
OEM support renewal
List renewal pricing, often rising with age
NETRAID
Typically about 70% below the OEM renewal
OEM vs third-party
OEM vs third-party maintenance cost.
Third-party maintenance usually costs far less than an OEM support renewal for the same hardware. NETRAID's pricing typically lands about 70% below the manufacturer's renewal. It covers servers, storage, network, and GPU gear, including equipment the OEM has already declared end of service life.
Why OEM renewals cost so much
Updated October 20, 2026
OEM renewal prices tend to rise as hardware ages, because the manufacturer would rather sell a refresh than keep supporting the old box. Once a model hits end of service life, the OEM often stops offering a contract at all.
Most teams do not find this in a spreadsheet. They find it when the renewal lands for hardware that is still running fine.
Side-by-side comparison
Exact OEM terms vary by vendor and contract. This is how the two models typically compare for the same serials.
EOSL and EOL hardware
OEM support renewal
Often unavailable, or limited
NETRAID
Covered
Mixed brands
OEM support renewal
One contract per manufacturer
NETRAID
One contract for Dell, HPE, IBM, NetApp, Cisco, Lenovo, Supermicro, Oracle, Pure Storage, Juniper, and more
Response
OEM support renewal
Per the OEM's tier
NETRAID
30-minute first response on production issues. 24×7×2 and faster service levels are available
Engineers
OEM support renewal
Dispatched by the OEM
NETRAID
Local engineers, usually within about 20 miles
Quoting
OEM support renewal
Per vendor, often over weeks
NETRAID
Same-day quote from an asset list or serials
Firmware and OS
OEM support renewal
New firmware releases stay on the manufacturer contract
NETRAID
Hardware support. New firmware stays with the manufacturer. OS support and managed IT are optional
Refresh pressure
OEM support renewal
The renewal is priced around the next product
NETRAID
You decide when to refresh
| OEM support renewal | NETRAID | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical cost | List renewal pricing, often rising with age | Typically about 70% below the OEM renewal |
| EOSL and EOL hardware | Often unavailable, or limited | Covered |
| Mixed brands | One contract per manufacturer | One contract for Dell, HPE, IBM, NetApp, Cisco, Lenovo, Supermicro, Oracle, Pure Storage, Juniper, and more |
| Response | Per the OEM's tier | 30-minute first response on production issues. 24×7×2 and faster service levels are available |
| Engineers | Dispatched by the OEM | Local engineers, usually within about 20 miles |
| Quoting | Per vendor, often over weeks | Same-day quote from an asset list or serials |
| Firmware and OS | New firmware releases stay on the manufacturer contract | Hardware support. New firmware stays with the manufacturer. OS support and managed IT are optional |
| Refresh pressure | The renewal is priced around the next product | You decide when to refresh |
What changes with third-party support
Your hardware stays exactly where it is. The main difference is that some software entitlements and new firmware releases are tied to a manufacturer contract. For most post-warranty and EOSL systems the firmware is already stable and mature, so day-to-day operations rarely change. It's worth a quick look at which OEM entitlements your team actually relies on, and we're happy to walk through it with you before you decide.
How to estimate your own savings
Start with the asset list or serial numbers from the current renewal. Send it for a same-day NETRAID quote and compare it line by line with the OEM number. Many teams keep OEM support on the newest gear and move post-warranty and EOSL systems to third-party maintenance. That mix is a normal quote.
FAQ
Common questions.
Is third-party maintenance really cheaper than OEM support?
Usually, yes. NETRAID's pricing is typically about 70% below a manufacturer's renewal for the same hardware. The exact savings depend on the asset mix, the service level, and the age of the hardware, so compare a quote with your actual renewal.
Does third-party maintenance void my warranty?
It is normally used after the warranty ends, or alongside it on systems you choose. It replaces the support contract, not the hardware. Check the OEM terms if a device is still under factory warranty.
Can I mix OEM and third-party support?
Yes. A common setup keeps OEM support on new systems and moves post-warranty and EOSL equipment to one NETRAID contract.
How fast is third-party support?
NETRAID gives a 30-minute first response on production issues. Service levels include 24×7×2 and faster, and local engineers are usually within about 20 miles.
What about hardware that is already EOSL?
That is where third-party maintenance helps most. NETRAID covers EOSL and EOL hardware the manufacturer no longer supports.
Same-day quote
Request a quote.
Serials, an export, or a photo of the rack. We return a scoped quote the same business day.
Request a same-day quote.
Tell us the service you need. Hardware quotes typically land 70% below the manufacturer.