30 models · 5 brands · 2005–2018
Enterprise switches and routers for a home lab, for far less than new. Here's which ones to buy used and what to check first.
The switches, routers and firewalls offices ran for years turn up used, and they’re the same boxes cert courses teach on. A listing rarely says which license it runs, whether the maker still ships updates, how loud the fans are or whether the last owner’s password is still on it. Each page covers one model, with its story, what to check in the listing and the eBay listings we’d buy.
A checklist for all 30 modelsFacts checked, sources listedNo affiliate links
Know the model? Start there.
model indexNetwork gear sells by model number. Tap one to go straight to its page, or read how to check used network gear first.
Cisco
Juniper
Aruba and HP
Ubiquiti
Find yours
browse byBy brand
The boxes home labs are built on
Cisco
SwitchCisco Catalyst 3750X-48P-S
- Launched
- Launched 2010
- Ports
- 48 × gigabit PoE+, module slot
- Features
- PoE · 10G SFP+ · Routing
$90–$200 typical ask
Cisco
SwitchCisco Catalyst 2960-24TT-L
- Launched
- Launched 2005
- Ports
- 24 × 10/100, 2 × gigabit
$50–$100 typical ask
Ubiquiti
RouterUbiquiti EdgeRouter X
- Launched
- Launched 2015
- Ports
- 5 × gigabit
- Features
- Fanless
$80–$190 typical ask
MikroTik
SwitchMikroTik CRS326-24G-2S+RM
- Launched
- Launched 2017
- Ports
- 24 × gigabit, 2 × SFP+
- Features
- 10G SFP+ · Fanless · Routing
$210–$360 typical ask
Juniper
SwitchJuniper EX2200-24T-4G
- Launched
- Launched 2010
- Ports
- 24 × gigabit, 4 × SFP
$65–$270 typical ask
Aruba and HP
SwitchHP 2530-24
- Launched
- Launched 2013
- Ports
- 24 × 10/100, 2 × gigabit, 2 × SFP
- Features
- Fanless
$55–$120 typical ask
From our latest eBay check
MikroTik hAP ac²MikroTik hAP ac² Enterprise Router 5-Port LAN Dual Band WiFi Gigabit Ethernet
$50.00 deliveredCheapest
Checked Oct 15, 2026
MikroTik CRS328-24P-4S+RMMikroTik CRS328-24P-4S+RM 24-Port Gigabit PoE+ Switch 4x 10G SFP+ Managed
$299.00 deliveredCheapest
Checked Oct 15, 2026
MikroTik CCR1009-7G-1C-1S+MikroTik CCR1009-7G-1C-1S+ 1000 Mbit/s Cloud Core Router - White
$195.58 est. deliveredCheapest
Checked Oct 15, 2026
MikroTik CRS326-24G-2S+RMMikrotik CRS326-24G-2S+RM Cloud Router Switch 1GbE/10GbE Ethernet USED
$106.40 est. deliveredCheapest
Checked Oct 15, 2026
Buying guides
5 guides- Guide
How to check a used switch, router or firewall, from the listing photos to the first console session
7 min read → - Guide
Licenses and software updates on used network gear, and what transfers to you
7 min read → - Guide
Quiet network gear for a home lab, with fanless models, noise figures and power draw
6 min read →
Questions buyers ask
FAQCan I learn for the CCNA on used Cisco gear?
Yes. The commands on a decade-old Catalyst or ISR are the ones the courses teach. A Catalyst 2960-24TT-L covers VLANs and trunks at layer 2, a 3560CG-8PC-S or 3750X-48P-S with IP Base adds routing, and an ISR 2921 is a real router with module slots. Cisco has ended support on all of them, so keep them on a lab network and don't count on new software.
Does the license come with a used switch or router?
It depends on the maker. Cisco's transfer policy says software rights only move to a new owner with Cisco's consent and a fee equal to a new license, so plan on the feature set the unit already runs, shown in show version or show license. Juniper binds licenses to the chassis serial number. MikroTik's RouterOS license is stored on the device and stays with it, even through Netinstall. Ubiquiti sells no licenses at all.
What's the quietest gear for a home office?
Anything fanless. The Cisco 3560CG-8PC-S and Juniper SRX300 are listed at 0 dB, the HP 2530-24 and ProCurve 2610-24 have no fans, and the UniFi US-8-60W, EdgeRouter X, EdgeRouter 4, MikroTik hEX, hAP ac², RB4011 and CRS326 are all passively cooled. Rack switches with PoE+ almost always have fans, and the 2530-24G-PoE+ is rated at 43.9 dB.
How do I get into a used switch with someone else's password?
Reset it. On a Catalyst, hold the Mode button while you power it on and follow Cisco's recovery steps over the console. On an HP or Aruba switch, the Reset and Clear buttons restore factory defaults, unless the last owner disabled them. Ubiquiti and MikroTik boxes have a reset button, and MikroTik's Netinstall reloads RouterOS if that fails. Ask the seller to reset it before it ships, and keep a console cable handy.
Do used switches come with SFP optics?
Usually not, and the listing photos should show you. Look into the SFP or SFP+ cages for the metal modules, and check whether the photos show one you'd actually get. The Catalyst 3750X has no SFP ports of its own, just a slot for an optional network module, so check which module is fitted. Budget for optics or direct-attach cables if you want the uplinks.
Is it safe to use gear past its end of support?
In a lab, yes. It still switches and routes, but the maker won't fix new security problems, so don't put it on the edge of your home network facing the internet. Each model page shows the maker's end-of-sale and end-of-support dates where they're published. Juniper supports the EX2300 until September 2031, while Cisco's support for the 2960-24TT-L ended in 2019.
Do you make money from these links?
No. We earn nothing when you click or buy. We don't use tracking links, so every link goes straight to the eBay listing. There are no analytics or tracking cookies on this site. You buy from the seller on eBay, at the price they list. We only recommend gear we'd buy ourselves, and we'd rather you buy used.
Sell to us
Got a switch humming away in a closet?
Tell us what you have, with a photo of the front and the label on the back, whether it’s been reset, what comes with it (power supplies, rack ears, optics) and your price. Our networking gear expert will get back to you quickly with a cash offer if it’s a fit. No listing to write, no fees.