"Unfortunately, no matter how well a piece of equipment is designed, it will eventually fail or suffer from performance issues. These may be related to power fluctuations, faulty components, user errors, or bad design. Being aware of this is the first step to preventing it. I incorporate several steps into my designs to minimize the chance of failures. These include using intelligent and proven design methodologies, sourcing components from well-established suppliers with good reputations, accounting for uncontrollable events such as power surges, environmental issues, user error, submitting the equipment to extensive testing before, and being released into production. I would also work closely with the Cisco support team to develop documentation to help resolve issues when they occur."
