Long known for their quality and reliability, IBM servers can also be somewhat costly, so it's no surprise that the market for used IBM servers has boomed in recent years. Dozens of online companies offer used and refurbished IBM servers for sale, at a substantially lower price than new IBM servers.

However, should you buy used IBM servers for your business? What are the advantages of used or refurbished IBM servers versus a new IBM server? Fortunately, there are some easy ways to answer these questions.

You should know:

1. Used and refurbished IBM servers usually come with either a limited warranty or no warranty at all.

2. Be aware that when you buy used IBM servers, they are often missing things such as hard drives or processors.

3. When you buy refurbished IBM servers or when you buy used IBM servers, know that the newer the model the more likely it supports existing operating systems and technology.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Know what kind of refurbished or used IBM servers you will need

When looking at a refurbished IBM server or a used IBM server, make sure it fits your requirements for the hardware you are running.

I recommend: IBM offers a good support website for older IBM server models that can help determine the best used IBM server for your needs. Another handy guide is Jim Hoskins' recently published book on Exploring IBM Server and Storage Technology, available from Amazon.

Determine where to go for used IBM servers

There are many providers of used IBM servers on the web. Here are some of the biggest.

I recommend: Vibrant.com claims to be the largest seller of second-hand IBM servers in the United States. Another one of the big sellers of used IBM servers is Atlantix Global, which has been around for over 30 years as one of the top used IBM server providers. Both of these companies offer advice as to the best server to fit your needs. In addition, go right to the source: IBM is itself one of the suppliers of used IBM servers.

Be aware of how to troubleshoot a used IBM server

When you buy used IBM server technology, be aware of where to go when the warranty runs out and things go wrong.

I recommend: The technical support website FixYa offers an entire section devoted to IBM servers, including an invaluable knowledge base. Data Systems International (DSI) is another place to go for IBM server support.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Remember to ask the seller of the used IBM server or refurbished IBM server what their return policy is, in case something goes wrong.
• •  Providers of used IBM servers or refurbished IBM servers should provide some sort of limited warranty, unless there is a trade off for not providing one (i.e., low price).
• •  If you're planning to buy a used IBM server, you should buy from an established seller rather than just an individual offering an IBM server for sale.