HPE Foundation Care Exchange - Extended Service (3 Year) with 4-Hour Replacement

Upgrade your IT resilience with HPE Foundation Care Exchange—a unified solution that blends reliable hardware exchange and proactive software support into a single, cost-efficient service. Designed for Hewlett Packard Enterprise products, this extended service helps maximize uptime, reduce unplanned downtime, and simplify support with fast turnaround and predictable costs. By combining remote software assistance and rapid hardware replacements, Foundation Care Exchange empowers your IT team to resolve issues quickly, keep systems current, and maintain peak performance across your network and data center infrastructure.

• Rapid 4-hour replacement response ensures you experience minimal downtime. When a fault occurs, HPE's service team targets a quick replacement window to keep mission-critical systems online and productive, aligning with demanding business schedules and SLAs.

• Hardware exchange with freight-included delivery delivers replacement products or parts to your location at no extra freight cost, helping you avoid hidden costs and simplify budgeting while maintaining continuity of operations.

• New or equivalent-to-new performance guarantees the replacement component meets or exceeds original specifications, preserving system reliability and data integrity across your environment.

• Remote software support for HPE Networking provides access to technical expertise, updates, patches, and reference manuals—keeping networking and software configurations secure, compatible, and up to date.

• Three-year service duration for predictable TCO offers long-term coverage that aligns with asset refresh cycles, delivering stable maintenance costs and reduced risk of unexpected expenditures.

Technical Details of HPE Foundation Care Exchange - Extended Service

HPE Foundation Care Exchange combines hardware exchange with software support to keep your IT infrastructure available and performing at its best. The service is specifically designed for Hewlett Packard Enterprise products that can be easily shipped and restored from backups, providing a practical, cost-efficient alternative to onsite support. The following technical details summarize the core capabilities and coverage of this extended service:

• Service Type: Hardware Exchange plus Software Support for eligible HPE products. Hardware exchange delivers a replacement part or product, while software support covers remote technical assistance, updates, and patches.

• Coverage Model: Remote hardware and software services designed to improve availability and reduce downtime, with a focus on products that are readily shippable and easy to restore from backup.

• Duration: 3-year service term, enabling long-term planning and budget predictability for IT operations.

• Response Time: 4-hour replacement service response, prioritizing quick remediation to maintain service levels and minimize disruption.

• Replacement Policy: Replacement products or parts are delivered to the customer location and are new or equivalent to new in performance. Freight charges are included in the service scope.

• Software Support: Remote technical support for HPE Networking products, including access to software updates, patches, and reference manuals as soon as they are released.

• Maintenance Benefits: Keeps systems optimally maintained with predictable costs, reducing the burden of unexpected repair expenses and facilitating easier capacity planning.

How to Install HPE Foundation Care Exchange

Activating and leveraging HPE Foundation Care Exchange is designed to be straightforward for IT teams. Follow these practical steps to ensure you maximize coverage and minimize disruption when you need a replacement or software update:

Step 1 — Confirm Eligibility and Activate Coverage: Verify that your eligible HPE devices are enrolled in the Foundation Care Exchange program. Reference the service SKU Exchvt26200f48gpoe370 Svc when coordinating with HPE support or your authorized reseller. Activation typically involves associating the devices' serial numbers with the Foundation Care Exchange contract and confirming the applicable 3-year term and 4-hour response commitments.

Step 2 — Prepare for Support and Data Integrity: Before initiating a hardware exchange, ensure you have validated backups of all critical data and documented current configurations. Create or update service tickets with device locations, recovery Procedures, and any site-specific access requirements. This preparation speeds the replacement process and reduces downtime during disruption events.

Step 3 — Initiate a Replacement Request: When a fault is detected or a hardware component requires replacement, contact HPE Support or your service administrator to open a replacement request. Provide the device model, serial number, symptom description, and any pertinent error codes. The 4-hour response window begins once the service request is logged and validated.

Step 4 — Receive and Install the Replacement: A replacement product or part is shipped to your location with freight charges included. Upon arrival, perform the standard installation procedures defined in your device documentation or the HPE service guide. Follow any on-site safety or handling guidelines and replace the failed component using your established change management practices.

Step 5 — Verify, Log, and Close: After installation, verify system functionality and confirm that software components are up to date. Update the service ticket with the outcome, including any test results and firmware or software revisions applied. Retain the replacement part for warranty validation and future reference, and ensure documentation reflects the asset's updated status.

Step 6 — Ongoing Support and Maintenance: Throughout the 3-year period, rely on remote software support for updates, patches, and manuals. Schedule routine health checks and firmware refreshes as recommended by HPE to sustain peak performance and minimize risk of legacy vulnerabilities.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is included in HPE Foundation Care Exchange? The service combines hardware exchange and software support. You receive rapid 4-hour replacement service for eligible hardware, replacement parts delivered with freight charges included, and remote software support that includes updates, patches, and access to manuals. This integrated approach helps you maintain high availability while keeping costs predictable.

• How long does the coverage last? Coverage extends for a full 3 years from the start of the contract. This duration is designed to align with typical asset refresh cycles and budget planning, helping organizations maintain consistent support levels without annual renegotiation.

• What kind of hardware is eligible for exchange? Hardware exchange targets Hewlett Packard Enterprise products that are readily shippable and can be restored from backups. Eligibility specifics are defined in the service contract and are typically based on the device class, compatibility with replacement parts, and the operational status of the equipment.

• What is the 4-hour replacement window? The 4-hour replacement window refers to the service response time for initiating a hardware replacement. In practice, HPE aims to provide a replacement product or part within four hours of a confirmed service request, subject to location, logistics, and availability constraints.

• Do I get remote software updates and patches? Yes. The software support component includes remote technical assistance, access to updates and patches, and reference manuals. This ensures your HPE Networking products stay current with security, performance, and feature improvements as they become available.

• How do I activate or extend this service on existing deployments? Activation typically involves coordinating with HPE Support or your authorized reseller, providing the SKU/Service Code (Exchvt26200f48gpoe370 Svc) and the device identifiers. To extend coverage, you would work with the provider to renew the 3-year term and confirm continued eligibility and pricing under the Foundation Care Exchange program.

• What happens if a replacement part cannot be shipped immediately? HPE aims to minimize downtime through rapid replacement, but if logistical constraints prevent an immediate shipment, you will be guided by the service team on the next best available option, including temporary workarounds or staging a planned replacement within a defined maintenance window.