Upgrading older networking products to greener, more efficient equipment can cut costs, but administrators should take a close look at total savings from switching out energy hogs like gigabit Ethernet switches for new, greener models.

A report by Scottsdale, Ariz.-based research firm In-Stat found that the worst offenders and early candidates for green networking equipment upgrades were gigabit Ethernet switches.

"When I look at port shipments, it's fixed gigabit. That's where the replacement is happening," said Scott Scherer, a research analyst with In-Stat who authored the report, entitled "