When the warranty on server, storage, or network hardware expires, manufacturers such as Dell EMC, HPE, Cisco, or NetApp push customers toward expensive maintenance contracts or even urge them to buy new equipment. Technically, the hardware often continues to function for years. This is exactly where third-party maintenance—TPM for short—comes in: vendor-independent maintenance. ProLicense, the independent licensing consultancy, breaks down the difference between TPM and OEM.
Where OEM maintenance gets expensive
Once the warranty expires, OEM maintenance costs rise significantly. Added to this are enforced end-of-life dates, at which point the manufacturer discontinues support and recommends a new purchase—often long before the hardware is truly at the end of its useful life. Support tiers are bundled, even if a company only needs a portion of them, and there is little room for negotiation. The result is a maintenance bill that is out of proportion to actual needs.
What sets TPM apart
A TPM provider maintains servers, storage, and networks from all major manufacturers, regardless of the logo on the device. For multi-vendor environments, this means having a single point of contact instead of many. Depreciated hardware can continue to be operated beyond its official end-of-life, service levels match those of OEMs, and response times are often faster. The price is typically 30 to 40% lower than OEM maintenance. The savings can be invested in new technology or other projects.
What TPM does not provide
Honesty requires clarity. TPM does not provide new firmware or software releases from the manufacturer and does not replace the warranty period of a new device. Its focus is on post-warranty operation: hardware that is no longer under warranty, legacy systems, and devices that the manufacturer has discontinued. For new systems still under warranty, the OEM is the right choice; for everything beyond that, TPM really shines.
“Manufacturers use the end of the warranty as a sales pitch. Yet the hardware technically continues to function. With third-party maintenance, companies save 30 to 40% and can keep their systems running as long as they want, instead of being pressured into buying new ones.”
Markus Oberg, partner at ProLicense
TPM vs. OEM maintenance
| Criterion | OEM maintenance | Third-party maintenance |
|---|---|---|
| Costs after warranty | High, little flexibility | 30 to 40% cheaper |
| Hardware lifespan | ends with the EOL date | Operation beyond EOL and EOSL |
| Multi-vendor | One contract per manufacturer | One point of contact for all |
| Service level | Depending on the level | OEM level, often faster response |
| New firmware/releases | Included | not included |
| Best use | New device under warranty | Post-warranty, legacy, EOL |
When the switch pays off
The switch is particularly worthwhile when OEM maintenance is expiring, when legacy or end-of-life hardware is in use, during data center consolidation, or in established multi-vendor environments. In all these cases, OEM maintenance is expensive or no longer available, while TPM keeps the systems running reliably.
The bridge to third-party software support
TPM is the hardware equivalent of a principle that ProLicense has long pursued at the software level. There, ProLicense helps companies exit expensive Oracle support contracts and transition them to third-party support. At the hardware level, this is handled by a specialized maintenance partner. As a partner of Park Place Technologies, the world’s largest TPM provider, ProLicense establishes the connection and integrates hardware maintenance into the overall strategy. This creates a seamless third-party support concept spanning both software and hardware.
“We consider software and hardware together. Get out of expensive Oracle support, get out of expensive OEM maintenance—in both cases without any loss of quality. For the hardware, we bring Park Place, the world’s largest provider, to the table.”
Markus Oberg, partner at ProLicense
The goal remains the same in every case: minimal costs with full compliance. Anyone who wants a TPM cost assessment for their own hardware can reach ProLicense via the contact page or at +49 (0) 40-228 6828-0.
