Small and Medium BusinessSwitching Guide

Choosing a secure,

easy-to-operate

network switch that is

best for your business

Table of Contents

2 The Truth about Networking

3 Why Do You Need a Network Switch?

4 How to Select A Switch: 7 Decision Factors

14 3Com® Unmanaged Switches

15 3Com OfficeConnect® Unmanaged Switches

16 3Com Baseline Unmanaged Switches

17 3Com OfficeConnect Managed Switches

18 3Com Baseline Plus Managed Switches

19 3Com Wireless and Wired Unified Switches

20 3Com IntelliJack® Switches

21 3Com Switch 42xx Families

22 Feature Charts: Unmanaged Switches in Desktop, In-the-Wall and Rack-Mount Formats

23 Feature Chart: Managed Switches in Desktop and Rack-Mount Formats

24 Feature Chart: Managed Switches with In-the-Wall and Stackable Formats

24 3Com Contact Information

The Truth about NetworkingNetwork technology, and in particular, the network switch, are essentialto running an efficient, competitive, cost-effective business.

They let your business instantly CONNECT employees, customers, suppliersand other partners to current information.

They allow your organization to COLLABORATE using a range of media

—voice, data, and video—to share knowledge and coordinate projects,

leading to greater productivity and customer satisfaction.

They help your business be more efficient, have workforce flexibility,perform professionally 24/7 and GROW.

Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) like yours tend to require aunique set of information technology (IT) requirements. Their networksneed to be:

• Easy to set up and use, whether wired or wireless

• Secured against external and internal vulnerabilities

• Affordable without reducing quality

• Simple to integrate into your business

• High performance, whether with data, voice, or video applications

• Reliable and backed by strong warranties and service

• Flexible and based on open standards, so you optimize the invest-

ment of existing equipment

3Com® networking products, including a broad range of network switches,ease business change and growth by meeting all these requirements. Theyalso offer a:

• Subset of large-enterprise features at small-business prices

• 3Com Secure Converged Network architecture that lets an SMB

combine, protect and manage all its wireless, wired, voice, video

and data traffic on a single network

Use this switching guide to help you make educated decisions on which

products best fit your business. Read how 3Com switches meet business

needs today—right away—and how innovative 3Com technology and open

services also prepare you for the changes of tomorrow.

With 3Com, IT just works.

Small and Medium Business Switching Solutions from 3Com

2

3

Why Do You Need a Network Switch?A fundamental component of any business network, a switch allows users

to communicate and share information with each other over a local area

network (LAN). LANs connect the people and devices in a local geography

such as an office, department or building.

LANs today are based on Ethernet (referred to as IEEE 802.3), a widely

adopted standard for wiring, signalling and addressing. Every device on

the LAN has a unique address, just like your business does. An Ethernet

LAN readily connects a variety of products, including wireless fidelity

(Wi-Fi) devices and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) devices such as IP

phones. These connections involve a variety of speeds, signals and/or

cables, and are made possible by a network switch.

The switch uses its physical connection points (ports) and software intel-

ligence to transmit information as “data packets” between client devices,

including PCs, printers, IP cameras, IP phones and LAN devices such as

servers, wireless access points, other switches and routers. Data packets

actually carry digital voice, video or data.

The switch inspects the packets as it receives them. It determines the

source and destination of each packet, sets up the best network path to

get it to its port or destination, and forwards it appropriately. Speed and

coordination are essential, otherwise the packets collide or get dropped.

Some switches can be configured and managed so that certain traffic is

segmented—transmitted only through specific ports for performance or

security reasons. Packets from a payroll application, for instance, should be

segmented to pass only through ports that connect the authorized users in

Finance or Human Resources. And because packets from voice applications

are latency-sensitive (delays cause the data to decompose; voice “breaks

up”), they should be partitioned and prioritized over other applications.

The switch receives and sends packet traffic outside the LAN through a

router or gateway. This edge device connects the LAN to external wide

area networks (WANs) such as the Internet, using a broadband service

(such as public DSL or cable, or private T1 or E1).

Now that you know “why” a switch, how can you decide what is the best

one for your business?

Small and Medium Business Switching Solutions from 3Com

4

DID YOU KNOW?

3Com customers span the globe and range of businesses—from retail, professional services, hospitality and media,to transportation, government, education and healthcare. 3Com has been a technology innovator since the creation ofEthernet, the widely adopted networking standard. We have more than 1800 issued patents and more than 300 pendingU.S. and foreign patents.

Small and Medium Business Switching Solutions from 3Com

How to Select a Switch: 7 Decision Factors

This is a function of the number of devices to be connected. Here is an

easy way to identify how many switch ports you need:

• Count the number of user devices to be physically connected (by

cables) on your LAN. Include PCs, laptops, printers, scanners, fax

machines, IP video surveillance cameras and IP phones, etc.

Remember to include those in conference rooms, reception areas,

stock rooms or warehouses. Do not count wireless user devices;

they connect to your LAN through a wireless access point, a net-

work device that is included in the next bullet.

• Count the number of network devices to be physically connected

on your LAN. Include routers, servers, wireless access points (each

of which typically supports 20 or more wireless users), IP-PBXs and

security devices such as firewalls, etc.

• Add ports to accommodate the growth that you anticipate in user

and network devices within a few years.

The sum of these numbers is the minimum number of switch ports you

need; a rubric often used by technical experts is that the number of ports

should be about 15% greater, to accommodate unforeseen needs. 3Com

switches range from just a few ports to dozens of ports. Switches can often

be connected to each another to multiply the number of available ports,

and some higher-end switches can be “stacked” (combined to operate as

a single entity, as if all their ports are in one very large switch).

1

NUMBER OF PORTS

Small and Medium Business Switching Solutions from 3Com

5

Speed is sometimes referred to as “bandwidth”, which is the amount ofdigital data that can pass through a network connection in one second.Speed is measured in megabits (millions of bits) per second (Mbps).

WHAT IS YOUR NEED FOR SPEED? Although the LAN connection capability in newer computers transfersdata packets at close to 1000 Mbps (one Gigabit per second), many businessLANs still transfer packet traffic at 10 Mbps or 100 Mbps.

A “10/100” LAN (which uses the 10BASE-T and 100BASE-TX

Ethernet standards) supports both 10 Mbps and 100 Mbps

(“Fast Ethernet” or “FE”) speeds; the switch port matches

the speed of the device connected to it. 10/100 LANs most often use

twisted-pair (copper) cable, which allows the physical connection (between

a switch and device) to be up to 100 meters long. Some 10/100 LANs also

use fiber-optic cable, which allows connection lengths up to 2 kilometers.

Although 10 Mbps technology is over 25 years old, and 100 Mbps is over

10 years old, 10/100 LANs are fine for most data applications and many

web and graphics applications. Most computers have a built-in Ethernet

interface, a network interface card (NIC), for network connections. The

NIC provides a unique media access control (MAC) address that enables

the computer to send and receive data packets. In computers made prior

to 2006, this interface typically supports data transfers at 10 Mbps or

100 Mbps.

A Gigabit Ethernet LAN switch (which uses 1000BASE-T

and/or 1000BASE-X standards) actually supports all three

speeds—10/100/1000 Mbps—making it an ideal solution

for computers of various ages. A business with a Gigabit LAN can use

twisted-pair cable, which allows physical connections up to 100 meters

long, or fiber-optic cable (1000BASE-X), which allows higher quality data

signals, greater speed and longer connection lengths. A switch that is

equipped with a small form-factor plugable (SFP) optical transceiver can

connect to either twisted-pair or fiber-optic cabling; this lets the SMB

select the appropriate cabling for each link.

Gigabit connectivity is important for applications that use video, voice or

complex digital images (including Web 2.0 applications). LAN ports that

can deliver Gigabit speed are also best for connecting wireless devices

that use the new high-performance IEEE 802.11n standard, because its

data rate exceeds 100 Mbps.

2

NETWORK SPEED

6

The 3Com SMB switching portfolio offers extensive Gigabit and 10/100

port options. 3Com also offers enterprise-class switches with 10 Gigabit

ports for larger networks and especially demanding applications such as

video broadcasting, digital imaging, real-time financial transactions, large

database access and data backup.

This option determines the level of control you can have over your net-

work, including the degree of security that your business wants for its

networked data and communications. Managed switches offer more control;

they also usually require more technical expertise. A network can be a

mixture of managed and unmanaged switches.

Unmanaged switches are preconfigured entirely by the

manufacturer based on industry-standard best practices for

security and performance. This makes setup quick and easy,

and reduces the price. You cannot use an unmanaged switch to segment

one group from another or give priority to certain users; however, many

3Com unmanaged switches have a feature—support of the IEEE 802.1p

standard—that can prioritize voice or video traffic higher than data traffic.

Unmanaged switches are appropriate for many businesses. They satisfy

most small business needs and can be quickly set up.

Managed switches provide control capabilities that can

increase LAN security and performance, and let you seg-

ment traffic. For example, you could allow only certain

employees to have access to your financial applications. You could also

give some applications more bandwidth, or ensure that video and voice

communications take priority over data.

Managed switches are typically required—for performance or security

reasons—for business-critical applications such as Customer Relationship

Management (CRM), Sales Force Automation (SFA), video surveillance,

digital medical images and regulatory compliance, as well as for real-time

applications such as audio/video streaming, distance learning, sales demos

and VoIP. Many businesses that have multiple switches prefer the managed

versions because they can configure them for consistency.

Small and Medium Business Switching Solutions from 3Com

DID YOU KNOW?

3Com holds multiple patents for delivery of Power over Ethernet (PoE), the now-standard technology that makes itso much easier to connect devices such as wireless access points, IP phones and cameras.

3

SWITCH MANAGEMENT

Some managed switches are “plug and play”, meaning that they work out

of the box using the manufacturer’s configuration, without any need for

technical expertise. You, your value-added reseller (VAR) or IT consultant

can implement more of the switch’s management capabilities later, as

needed. Managing a switch beyond its plug-and-play settings requires

some technical expertise, which can be obtained through the user guide,

training, or a VAR.

You have several options in user-interface formats for switch management.

Most SMBs prefer management that is “centralized” (vs. local) because it

eliminates the need to physically travel to a switch to adjust, monitor or

restart (reboot) it. IT staff can manage the switch remotely, using a number

of user interfaces. Centralized management is available in these formats:

• Smart web-managed. This simplified format requires little or no

expertise. It provides a select set of management features (such as con-

figuration of port speed and traffic prioritization) for a price much lower

than a fully managed switch. 3Com smart web-managed switches are plug

and play; they also can be easily configured and operated without any

need for a lot of technical expertise, using the built-in online help for

each of the features. Web-managed switches are configured through a

browser instead of a desktop utility; managing over the web can be

secured by using HTTPS.

• Command-line interface (CLI) management. This type of management is

convenient for quick set up and configuration, and provides more control

than the web-managed format. It also requires more technical expertise.

• SNMP management. The Simple Network Management Protocol format

offers the highest degree of control and the most comprehensive man-

agement, including automatic monitoring, reporting and correlation. It

requires the most technical expertise. It is the basis of most network

management applications software. 3Com Network Supervisor and 3Com

Network Director applications use SNMP to manage 3Com devices.

Small and Medium Business Switching Solutions from 3Com

7

Web-based graphical userinterface (GUI) for the 3ComBaseline 2900 Plus switch.

8

Small and Medium Business Switching Solutions from 3Com

DID YOU KNOW?

3Com technology solutions have been industry-pacesetters for more than a decade. 3Com products were part of thefirst networked laboratory system on the space shuttle in 1997, supporting data-intensive, zero-G experiments.

Managed switches are required whenever network

security is essential. Why? Because LAN security

occurs primarily at the switch.

You can use a switch’s management interface to

implement three major types of security control:

• Define the users who can access your LAN

and/or the settings of the switch itself

• Define the devices (such as the PCs, laptops,

IP phones, wireless access points, etc.) that

can access your LAN

• Control addresses trying to access your LAN

• Enable tracking LAN access and logging

changes to satisfy audit requirements

The security features in a managed switch may

include any or all of these technical capabilities:

• Protecting sensitive data (such as payment

transactions) that a switch port sends over the

web from eavesdropping and man-in-the-middle

attacks, by using HTTPS

• Securing the LAN by controlling port access with

technologies such as MAC filtering (which checks

a device’s Ethernet hardware address), 802.1X

login (which ensures users are authorized before

granting access to any network resource) and

access control lists (ACLs, which filter by MAC

and IP addresses)

• Controlling access to network resources by

requiring user login through a RADIUS server,

and/or by using RADIUS Authenticated Device

Access (RADA). The 3Com RADA feature enforces

MAC-based login and policies to provide agent-

less access control that automatically permits

or denies network access

• Creating an IEEE 802.1Q virtual LAN (VLAN)

for security purposes (see “Do You Need

Management?”)

• Using Auto Virtual LANs (VLANs) to automati-

cally place certain users into a specific VLAN,

controlling their access to data

SECURITY AND MANAGED SWITCHES

DO YOU NEED MANAGEMENT? If you want any of the following technical capabilities, your business

does need a managed switch:

• Turning a port on or off, or enabling and disabling a port’s full

duplex mode (simultaneous two-way data transfer for greater

speed) to control port security or performance

• Securing access to your LAN, switch, and/or transmissions over

the web

• Prioritizing applications traffic, for example, by using Differentiated

Services (DiffServ and DSCP) or IEEE 802.1p to provide Quality of

Service (QoS) for voice or video packets

• Creating a IEEE 802.1Q VLAN to place users who are on different

LAN segments or in different locations on the same LAN, and/or

to increase security and performance

• Using Auto VLANs to automatically place authenticated users into a

specific VLAN, controlling their access to data and/or the perform-

ance of their application transmissions. (Some 3Com switches

include auto-voice VLANs; see Decision Factor 5, Voice-Ready)

• Increasing bandwidth and network availability by using IGMP

snooping, the Spanning Tree Protocol, Rapid Spanning Tree

Protocol (RSTP) or Multiple Spanning Tree protocol (MSTP); or

Link aggregation (either manually or automatically with LACP)

• Using SNMP to monitor device connections and performance for

the purpose of tracking and reporting, diagnostics or regulatory

compliance

A BRIEF TUTORIAL ON LAYER 2/3/4 SWITCHING, OR L2/L3/L4Switching and switch management occur at several layers of the OSI Model

(Open Systems Interconnection Reference Model) and TCP/IP Model

(Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol Model). Both models

are abstract network architecture standards for computer and communi-

cations protocols.

The OSI model defines seven major functions, or layers, needed for net-

work communications. Identifying a switch by its OSI layer helps explain

the functions that the switch is capable of performing.

Small and Medium Business Switching Solutions from 3Com

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10

Layer 2 switches keep it simple: they look only at MAC addresses when

deciding where to forward packets. Layer 2 switches tend to be the least

expensive and good for local workgroup switching. However, they cannot

forward traffic across VLANs or to external networks such as the Internet;

they have to send this traffic through a router or Layer 3 switch.

Layer 3 switches also look at IP addresses. Forwarding based on Layer 3

is called routing (Layer 3 switches are also known as switch/routers). They

are good when traffic must be forwarded across VLANs. Layer 3 switches

can increase LAN performance by offloading some of a router’s tasks.

Layer 4 switches also look at applications when deciding where to forward

packets. They are good for prioritizing applications traffic such as VoIP,

video streaming, Lotus Notes or Microsoft Outlook packets.

Small and Medium Business Switching Solutions from 3Com

DID YOU KNOW?

3Com voice-ready networks let you easily and cost-effectively converge your voice and data networks. Having a singlecommunications network provides state-of-the-art voice services that increase productivity. It also reduces long-distancetelephone expenses and, of course, eliminates the need to install and maintain two separate networks.

4

POWER OVER ETHERNET With this option, a switch port provides electrical power

through the Ethernet cable to the attached device. Industry-

standard (IEEE 802.3af) PoE ports eliminate the need to

install (“run”) and operate separate electrical and network wiring: the

inline power from a PoE switch port allows a PoE-compatible device to be

placed anywhere there is a twisted-pair Ethernet cable (CAT5 or better).

PoE switch ports are especially useful for connecting devices such as

wireless access points, IP security cameras and IP phones.

PoE technology provides three major benefits:

• Flexibility. PoE increases the placement options for devices. For

example, you can place a wireless access point up high on a wall or

on the ceiling to get optimum RF coverage. All you need is one

Ethernet cable, there’s no need for another power source.

• Cost savings and time savings. You save the labor and materials

costs—and delay—that otherwise would be incurred to have an

electrician run more electrical wiring and install outlets. The lower

voltage of PoE means that the twisted-pair Ethernet cabling can safely

be installed in many locations by anyone. For example, you could

quickly place and connect a video surveillance camera yourself.

• Non-Stop business. Devices (such as wireless access points, IP phones

and IP cameras) that are connected to the switch’s PoE ports can

continue operating after a power failure if you have provided your

PoE switch with redundant power circuits connected to an unin-

terruptible power supply.

Different devices draw different amounts of power. IEEE 802.3af PoE

switches offer a range of internal power supplies and number of PoE

ports that let them support a variety of device power requirements and

peak usage loads, up to 15.4 watts per port.

By choosing a voice-ready switch, your business can run

voice traffic over your LAN, and replace a traditional PBX

or other telecommunications service, now or in the future.

With an IP telephony system and IP phones (wired or wireless phones

that act like specialized computers), you can combine or “converge” your

data and voice services into one secure digital network that interoperates

Small and Medium Business Switching Solutions from 3Com

11

5

VOICE-READY SWITCHING

12

with the public telephone system (PSTN) or a contracted VoIP service.

The benefits of doing this are cost savings, greater user and IT staff

productivity, and improvements in customer service and sales. For

example, convergence can reduce toll call charges and conferencing service

charges, unify voicemail and email messaging, and allow a phone to be

moved to another location or port and retain the same extension, owner

recognition and settings. A business can also take advantage of commu-

nications applications such interactive voice response (IVR) and auto-

dialing customers or employees from a database.

Because voice traffic is delay-sensitive (“low latency”), the network switch

must have technology features that make it voice-ready. All 3Com switches

that are voice-ready include:

• IEEE 802.1p QoS, which expedites and filters traffic. This standard

allows the switch to reorder packets based on their priority value

so that voice calls get adequate bandwidth to ensure voice clarity.

Some 3Com voice-ready switches also include these voice support features:

• DiffServ, DSCP and IEEE 802.1Q VLANs, which help to process

voice and video traffic

• Auto-voice VLAN, which automatically detects and connects any

standards-based IP phones and assigns VoIP traffic to a voice-

dedicated VLAN with appropriate QoS. This advanced feature

optimizes delay-sensitive traffic.

Your choice of switch format depends on the layout of your work environ-

ment, your desire for quiet operation or physical security, and the number

of switch ports you require. (Note: the following are the design differen-

tiators, but both formats may be placed on a desk or in a rack.)

Desktop switches are designed to sit atop a desk or table.

They are often the choice for conference rooms and smaller

offices. They are generally smaller and quieter with a lower

port count and cost than other switches.

Small and Medium Business Switching Solutions from 3Com

DID YOU KNOW?

Best-in-class resellers—such as systems integrators and VARs—and IT consultants partner with 3Com to provide SMBswith integrated solutions that are easy to buy and install, easy to use and highly reliable. Participants in the award-winning 3Com Focus Partner Program daily provide technical expertise and personalized customer attention.

6

FORM FACTOR

Rack-mount switches are designed to be placed in a rack

that is located in a wiring closet or other enclosed, physi-

cally secured room that typically houses other network

devices, such as servers and telephony equipment. Rack-mount switches

are often the choice of small and midsize businesses, as well as larger

enterprises. Rack-mount switches often have fans, mounting brackets

and a higher port count.

It may be last in the list, but this decision factor is certainly the most

important when choosing a switch or other network equipment. You are

the one who knows which of these product requirements are priorities

for your business:

• Easy to set up and use, whether wired or wireless

• Secured against external and internal vulnerabilities

• Affordable without reducing quality

• Simple to integrate into your business

• High performance, whether with data, voice or video applications

• Reliable and backed by strong warranties and service

• Flexible and based on open standards, so you can take advantage

of valuable new business technologies

ON THE FOLLOWING PAGES, FIND THE NETWORK SWITCHES THATBEST FIT YOUR NEEDS ››

Small and Medium Business Switching Solutions from 3Com

13

7

REQUIREMENTS OFYOUR BUSINESS

14

Begin with the basics. Silent, fast and reliable. These streamlined switches automatically configure themselves and matchthe speeds of your network cabling. Just plug one in, and forget it.

› Installation in 5 minutes or less. Simply plug in the internal powersupply, and then plug your Ethernet cables into the switch ports—theswitch automatically adjusts its ports to the cable’s connection speed.

› No configuration needed. The switch automatically supports multiple PCoperating systems. No need for an IT expert or any specialized training.

› Silent operation and high reliability. Enjoy the peace mind that comesfrom using these switches.

Small and Medium Business Switching Solutions from 3Com

3Com Unmanaged Switches3Com Switch 53Com Switch 8

3Com Gigabit Switch 5 3Com Gigabit Switch 8

UNMANAGEDSWITCHES

DESIGNED FOR conferencerooms, branch offices and work-groups that require a quiet andprofessional-looking device, veryfast deployment and peace-of-mind reliability.

Set up your LAN in minutes

Connect PCs, servers, print-ers, routers

Support workgroups with 2 to 8 devices in conferencerooms, small offices andbranch offices

Locate where a compact,noiseless desktop design is needed

Plug-and-play management;no management expertiserequired

IEEE 802.1p offers VoiceReadiness for the Gigabitversions

Small and Medium Business Switching Solutions from 3Com

15

UNMANAGEDSWITCHES

DESIGNED FOR branch offices,small businesses or workgroupsrequiring superior performance:non-blocking and full wirespeedconnectivity, very fast deployment,peace-of-mind reliability androom to grow.

OfficeConnect Gigabit Switch 5OfficeConnect Gigabit Switch 8

OfficeConnect Gigabit Switch 16

OfficeConnect Dual Speed* Switch 5 OfficeConnect Dual Speed Switch 8OfficeConnect Dual Speed Switch 16

Connect PCs, servers, print-ers, routers

Support workgroups with 2 to 16 users and/or devices insmall office settings

Locate where a compact,desktop design is needed

No management (or manage-ment expertise) required

16-port voice-ready (IEEE802.1p) models ensure thatreal-time programs such as video and audio get the network traffic priority theyneed

Keep it simple. These switches are speedy, sure and simple to use. They automaticallyincrease applications performance, adjust their ports to match the speedsin your cabling, and configure themselves. Enjoy simplicity and value, atsome of the market’s best prices per port.

› Installation in 5 minutes or less. Do zero configuration with automaticintegration of multiple PC operating systems.

› Proven reliability. With over 50 million OfficeConnect ports in business-es worldwide, you can be assured of worry-free product performance.

› Compact design. The form factor of this switch allows it to fit well inmost office environments.

* Dual Speed refers to the ability to support both Ethernet and Fast Ethernet (10/100) connectivity.

3Com OfficeConnect®

Unmanaged Switches

UNMANAGEDSWITCHES

DESIGNED FOR growing smalland medium-sized businessesthat require a simple-to-deployand highly reliable switch withbuilt-in advanced capabilities.

Baseline Switch 2816Baseline Switch 2824

Baseline Switch 2126-G

Baseline Switch 2016 Baseline Switch 2024

Connect PCs, servers, printers,routers and other switches

Support workgroups with 16 to24 devices in small to mediumsize office settings

Locate where a rack-mountedinstallation is preferred (mount-ing kit included)

Enjoy standards-based, Layer 2switching without managementrequirements; best practicesincorporated into the switch

3Com Baseline Unmanaged Switches

Small and Medium Business Switching Solutions from 3Com

Build connections quickly and directly. These easy-to-setup switches offer great price performance for seriousbusinesses that also want simplicity and basic connectivity. Set one up inrecord time: the switches configure themselves, are compatible with multi-ple PC operating systems, and automatically increase applications perform-ance, adjusting to the fastest available device connection speed.

› Deliver critical business applications with confidence. Support largedata files, graphics and web browsing with non-blocking, full wire speedconnectivity .

› Do zero configuration. Simply remove your new switch from its packag-ing, connect the power and Ethernet cables, and immediately enjoy yourdevices’ high-speed connections.

16

Small and Medium Business Switching Solutions from 3Com

MANAGEDSWITCHES

DESIGNED FOR small andmedium-sized offices and branchoffices that require a versatile,cost-effective switch with PoE onall ports simultaneously (totalpower budget of 62 W) andautosensing gigabit connectivity.

OfficeConnect Managed Gigabit PoE Switch

Connect with PoE flexibilityPCs, servers, IP cameras, IPphones, printers, APs, routersor other switches

Support workgroups with up to 10 users and/or devices insmall and medium-sizedoffice settings

Locate where a compactdesktop design and the silentoperation of a fanless switchis preferred

Deliver with ease voice andvideo over IP, including salesdemos, CRM, SFA, supply chainmanagement, multimedia,graphics large data files, videosurveillance, webcasts, dis-tance learning and medicalimages

Provides total power budgetof 62 W that can be used tosupply a full 15.4 W of powerto 4 ports simultaneously

Make it smart, easy and secure. These intelligent, fanless switches provide worry-free product reliability,robust built-in security, Power over Ethernet for easy and affordableexpansion of networked services, and both plug-and-play settings andenterprise-level management controls—including SNMP—to support yourimmediate and future businesses needs.

› Built-in security. Built-in authentication and access control featuresinclude VLANs, HTTPS encryption and IEEE 802.1X login; the Gigabitmodel also offers access control lists (ACLs).

› Choice of management tools. Select the tool easiest for you: a smart andintuitive web browser, CLI or SNMP tools.

› PoE deployment flexibility and economy. PoE ports let you quickly adddevices (including wireless APs and IP phones) and save the costs ofpower supplies, electrical wiring and its installation.

› QoS for real-time applications. Increase QoS with DSCP (DiffServ) andIEEE 802.1p traffic prioritization via four queues per port; the Gigabitmodel also offers auto-voice VLANs.

3Com OfficeConnect®

Managed Switches

17

Small and Medium Business Switching Solutions from 3Com

Baseline 2916-SFP PlusBaseline 2924-SFP PlusBaseline 2948-SFP Plus

Baseline 2924-PWR Plus

Baseline 2226 Plus Baseline 2250 Plus

Baseline 2426-PWR Plus

Build smart and secure connections.Built-in intelligence and easy-to-use graphical user interface let youaffordably control your network with these switches. Use plug-and-playsettings until you want to configure ports, and then use the intuitive web-based management tool to apply port control and security features forauthentication and access control, including VLANs and IEEE 802.1X login.

› Manage with ease. Even the most novice users can configure theswitch during initial setup and monitor it during normal operation.

› Connect for present and future needs. Get up to 96 Gbps switchingcapacity with several models and be prepared for economical VoIPimplementations with auto-voice VLANs, and IEEE 802.1p traffic prioritization with four queues per port.

3Com Baseline Plus Managed Switches

MANAGEDSWITCHES

DESIGNED FOR growing smalland medium-sized businessesthat need advanced control ofuser configurations and theability to scale while maintainingmanagement ease.

18

Connect PCs, servers, IP cam-eras, IP phones, printers, APs,routers or other switches

Support workgroups with 16to 48 users or devices insmall to medium size officesettings

Non-blocking, full wirespeeddelivers bandwidth-hungryapplications such as voice andvideo over IP, sales demos,CRM, SFA, supply chain man-agement, multimedia, largegraphics and data files, videosurveillance, webcasts, dis-tance learning or digitalmedical images

Model options offer PoE, Fastand Gigabit Ethernet, includ-ing Gigabit uplinks for serversor backbone links to anotherbuilding

Small and Medium Business Switching Solutions from 3Com

Unified Gigabit Wireless PoE Switch 24

3Com Wireless and WiredUnified Switches

MANAGEDSWITCHES

DESIGNED FOR organizationsthat need wired and wirelessconnectivity while maintainingsimple, yet powerful manage-ment capabilities of a largewireless network.

19

Meet the needs of a dynamic workforce.This switch is the “Best Value” [Information Week November 5, 2007] wayto increase workers’ access and mobility. Users enjoy seamless wirelessroaming between APs. Administrators gain the performance boost of APload balancing and link aggregation, as well as the resource-stretching andcost-saving efficiency resulting from having one easy web-based interfacefor managing both networked wired and wireless devices.

› Centralize management. Eliminate the need to individually configureeach device’s SSIDs, VLANs, access control lists and security settings,and ease port and RF administration with single-IP-address manage-ment and an intuitive browser interface.

› Deploy with PoE-enabled flexibly. Save the costs of power supplies,electrical wiring and its installation when adding network devices suchas APs, IP cameras and IP phones.

› Boost support of mobile workers. Support wireless laptops, PDAs and IPphones using a single platform that integrates a Layer 2 switch, 24-APwireless controller and 24 PoE ports, and also provides auto-voice VLANs,IEEE 802.1p traffic prioritization, and wireless multimedia (WMM).

› Secure network traffic. Ensure enterprise-class security with wirelessencryption (including WPA/WPA2 and WEP), rogue AP detection and miti-gation, and built-in capabilities for LAN and WLAN authentication andaccess control.

Connect 20 to 250 users(each switch can connect acombination of up to 250wireless or 24 wired clients)

Centrally manage APs, PCs,servers, IP cameras, IP phones,printers, routers or otherswitches

Full PoE (15.4W on each portsimultaneously) supportshigh-performance for real-time inventory and transac-tions, voice and video over IP,wireless VoIP, sales demos,CRM, SFA, supply chain man-agement, multimedia, largegraphics and data files, videosurveillance, webcasts, dis-tance learning and digitalmedical images

Small and Medium Business Switching Solutions from 3Com

UNMANAGEDAND MANAGEDSWITCHES

DESIGNED FOR organizationsthat need to support additionalconnections in difficult-to-wire orin-the-wall locations to avoidaccidental loss of connectivity,removal or damage.

20

Connect wireless accesspoints, IP phones, PCs andlaptops, printers and otherdevices

IEEE 802.1p traffic prioritiza-tion for real-time applicationssuch as voice, video and mul-timedia

Enjoy the option of managedor unmanaged switching

IntelliJack Switch NJ2xx

IntelliJack Switch NJ1xx

IntelliJack Switch NJ1000*

More for less is possible.These unique in-the-wall “network jacks” quadruple connections in virtual-ly any business environment: on various copper and fiber-optic cables, andin a range of country-standard wall-cutout formats. By converting a single-port LAN connection into four Layer 2 switched LAN ports they help easilyand economically extend connectivity. Their compact in-wall design reducesworkspace clutter and safeguards network connectivity.

› Save the cost of adding cabling. Single ports are converted into fourports without the need for additional wiring, and power options includePoE or locally available AC power.

› Easily expand connectivity and services. Support real-time applicationssuch as voice, video and multimedia services with voice-ready QoS from802.1p traffic prioritization. And conveniently extend the number of usersand devices that can be connected, even in hard-to-wire facilities suchas older buildings, crowded office spaces, conference rooms, labs, class-rooms, dormitories, hospitals and public areas.

* North America only.

3Com IntelliJack® Switches

Small and Medium Business Switching Solutions from 3Com

Switch 4210

Switch 4210PWRSwitch 4200G PWR

Grow with stacking.These enterprise-class Layer 2 switches build bandwidth and simplify own-ership by stacking up to four high. They are an affordable way to increasecapacity and achieve enterprise-class security features.

Clustered stacking of up to 32 switches supports a large number of networkusers and devices: switches range from 9 to 52 ports each, and can connecta wide range of devices, from routers and firewalls to IP security camerasand IP phones.

Power over Ethernet models are ideal for voice and wireless installations;non-PoE models provide simple port expansion. All models offer advancedQoS, security and management.

3Com Switch 42xx Families

MANAGEDSWITCHES

DESIGNED FOR mid-sizedorganizations that need to con-sider the possibility of significantgrowth without the requirementof considerable IT expertise.

21

Visit www.3com.com for more details about thecomplete portfolio of 3Com SMB switches and forinformation about the comprehensive selection of3Com enterprise switching solutions.

Connect hundreds to thou-sands of users and devices

Support large work groupsusing clustered stacking thatenables management ofmultiple switches from onemanagement interface (IPaddress)

Economical edge switchingwith a variety of models thatoffer from 9 to 52 ports each

PoE and Fast Ethernet orGigabit model options tomeet specific business needs

UNMANAGED SWITCHESDesktop Formats

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NUMBER AND TYPES OF PORTS10/100/1000 Mbps (Gigabit) copper: Adjusts automatically 5 8 5 8 16to a device's speed 10/100 Mbps: Automatic adjustment to a device's speed 5 8 5 8 16Auto MDI/MDIX: Simplifies port setup, eliminates crossovers � � � � � � � � � �

Total Switching Capacity (Gbps) 10 16 1 1.6 10 16 32 1 1.6 3.2

FORM FACTORDesktop: Compact, space saving with wall-mount option � � � � � � � � �

Fanless: Silent operation ideal for small or shared offices � � � � � � � � �

QUALITY OF SERVICE (QOS) / VOICE READINESSIEEE 802.1p: Expedites traffic for jitter-free VoIP and video, � � �and lag-free network gamingQueues per Port: Traffic prioritization via IEEE 802.1p 2 2 2

SETUP AND PERFORMANCEPlug and Play: Zero configuration, simply plug in cables � � � � � � � � � �

FCC Class B Certified: Meets stringent emmisions requirements for home/office use � � � � � � � � � �

IEEE 802.3x Flow Control: Improves performance by reducing link overload � � � � � � � � �

SERVICE AND SUPPORTWarranty 2 Yrs 2 Yrs 2 Yrs 2 Yrs 3 Yrs 3 Yrs 3 Yrs 3 Yrs 3 Yrs 3 Yrs

Small and Medium Business Switching Solutions from 3Com

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NUMBER AND TYPES OF PORTS10/100/1000 Mbps (Gigabit) copper: Adjusts automatically 2 16 24to a device's speed 10/100 Mbps: Automatic adjustment to a device's speed 5 5 16 24 24Power Forwarding: Forwards AC or PoE (up to 7.0 W) to IEEE 802.3af devices, such as � �IP phones, wireless access pointsPass-through Ports: Adds RJ-11 or RJ-45 connectors for LAN links � �

Auto MIDI/MDIX (optional): Simplifies port setup, eliminates crossovers � � � � � � �

Total Switching Capacity (Gbps) 1 1 3.2 4.8 8.8 32 48

FORM FACTORIn-the-Wall: Quickly replaces an existing 1-port LAN wall outlet with 4 switched ports; � �ideal for small or hard-to-wire locationsRack-Mount: Space saving use; includes kit � � � � �

QUALITY OF SERVICE (QOS) / VOICE READINESSIEEE 802.1p: Expedites traffic for jitter-free VoIP and video, � � � �and lag-free network gamingQueues per Port: Traffic prioritization via IEEE 802.1p 4 4 4 4

SETUP AND PERFORMANCEPlug and Play: Zero configuration, simply plug in cables � � � � � � �

IEEE 802.3x Flow Control: Improves performance by reducing link overload � � � � � � �

SERVICE AND SUPPORTWarranty Limited Limited 3 Yrs 3 Yrs 3 Yrs 3 Yrs 3 Yrs

Lifetime Lifetime

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UNMANAGED SWITCHESIn-the-Wall and Rack-Mount Formats

Small and Medium Business Switching Solutions from 3Com

23

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NUMBER AND TYPES OF PORTS10/100/1000 Mbps(Gigabit) copper: Automatic adjustment 10 1 16 24 24 48 24to a device's speed Gigabit Combo (copper or SFP fiber) uplink 1 1 SFP 4 4 4 4 2 2 2 410/100 Mbps: Automatic adjustment to a device's speed 8 8 8 24 24 48 24Power over Ethernet (IEEE 802.af PoE, max 15.4 W): Time and 10 4 4 24 24 24money savings by connecting devices without electrical wiring Total Switching Capacity (Gbps) 20 26 26 32 48 48 96 8.8 8.8 11.6 48

FORM FACTORDesktop: Compact, space saving with wall-mount option � � �

Rack-Mount: Space saving, uses only one rack unit; includes kit � � � � � � � � �

QUALITY OF SERVICE (QOS) / VOICE READINESSIEEE 802.1p: Expedites traffic for jitter-free VoIP and video, � � � � � � � � � � �and lag-free network gamingQueues per Port: Traffic prioritization via IEEE 802.1p 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4DSCP (DiffServ): Traffic prioritization � � � � � � � �

Auto-Voice VLAN: Improves voice quality by automatically � � � � � � � � �assigning voice traffic to dedicated VLANs

MANAGEMENT AND SECURITYIEEE 802.1X Network Login: Authorizes access by user � � � � � � � � � � �

MAC Filtering: Authorizes access by Ethernet address � � � � � � � �

Access Control Lists: Authorizes access by MAC and IP addresses � � � � � � � �

RADIUS: Requires logon for security � � � � � � � � � � �

HTTPS: Protects sensitive data sent over the web � � � � � � � �

Application Blocking: Allows blocking of select applications � � � � � �

SSH v2: Secure configuration � � �

VLANs (IEEE 802.1Q): Increases security and performance 256 60 60 256 256 256 256 64 64 64 256or conjoins segmented users by creating virtual LANsLink Aggregation: Adds bandwidth by trunking ports together � � � � � � � � �

LACP (IEEE 802.3ad): Supports Apple servers � � � � � �

Multicast Filtering: Prevents multicast network storm from � � � � � � � � � � �taking network down

SERVICE AND SUPPORTWarranty � � � � � � � � � � �3 years; plus services such as 90 days free phone support

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SMART WEB-MANAGEDSWITCHES Desktop and Rack-Mount Formats

3Com Corporation, Corporate Headquarters, 350 Campus Drive, Marlborough, MA 01752-3064.

Copyright © 2008 3Com Corporation. All rights reserved. 3Com, the 3Com logo, IntelliJack and OfficeConnect are registered trademarks of 3Com Corporation. Allother company and product names may be trademarks of their respective companies. While every effort is made to ensure the information given is accurate, 3Comdoes not accept liability for any errors or mistakes which may arise. All specifications are subject to change without notice. 101993-001 03/08

NUMBER AND TYPES OF PORTS10/100/10 00 Mbps(Gigabit) copper: Automatic adjustment to a device's speed 12,24,48 24Gigabit copper and/or SFP fiber uplink(s): Extends distance of network 1,2,2,2 1,2,2 4 410-Gigabit uplink slots 1, 2, 2 210/100 Mbps: Automatic adjustment to a device's speed 5 5 4 8,16,24,48 8,16,24100 Mbps copper and/or fiber uplink(s) 1 1,2,2,2 1,2,2,2Power over Ethernet ports (IEEE 802.af PoE, max 15.4 W): Time and money savings 1 1 4,8,24 24by connecting devices without electrical wiringPower Forwarding: Forwards AC or PoE (up to 7.0 W) to IEEE 802.3af devices, � �such as IP phones, wireless access pointsPass-through Ports (optional): Adds RJ-11 or RJ-45 connectors for LAN links � �

Auto MDI/MDIX: Simplifies port setup, eliminates crossovers � � � � � � �

Total Switching Capacity (Gbps) 1 1 1 3.6,7.2, 3.6,7.2, 44,88, 888.8,17.6 8.8 136

FORM FACTORIn-the-Wall: Quickly replaces an existing 1-port LAN wall outlet � � �with 4 switched ports; ideal for small or hard-to-wire locationsRack-Mount: Space saving use; includes kit � � � �

Stackable: Clustering simplifies setup, operation, management and expansion � � � �

QUALITY OF SERVICE (QOS) / VOICE READINESSIEEE 802.1p: Expedites traffic for jitter-free VoIP and video, and lag-free � � � � � � �network gamingQueues per Port: Traffic prioritization via IEEE 802.1p 4 4 4 4 4 8 8DSCP (DiffServ): Traffic prioritization � �

Auto-Voice VLAN: Improves voice quality by automatically assigning � �voice traffic to dedicated VLANs

MANAGEMENT AND SECURITYIEEE 802.1X Network Login: Authorizes access by user � � � � � � �

MAC Filtering: Authorizes access by Ethernet address � � � � �

Access Control Lists: Authorizes access by MAC and IP addresses � �

RADA/RADIUS: Requires logon for security �1 �1 �1 � � � �

SNMP v3: Higher level of switch access security � � � �

Application Blocking: Allows blocking of select applications � �

SSH v2: Secure configuration � � � �

IEEE 802.1Q VLANs: Increases security and performance or conjoins � � � 256 256 256 256segmented users by creating virtual LANsLink Aggregation: Adds bandwidth by trunking ports together � � � �

LACP (IEEE 802.3ad): Automatically trunks ports together � � � �

IGMP Snooping: Speeds packets (such as video) to devices in a multicast � � � �group without adding broadcast congestion

SERVICE AND SUPPORTWarranty Limited Limited 3 Yrs Limited Limited Limited Lifmited

Life Life Life Life Life LifeOptional Express Service: Extends service, adds software upgrades � � � �

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MANAGED SWITCHESIn-the-Wall and Stackable Formats

Small and Medium Business Switching Solutions from 3Com

1 3Com IntelliJack switches use RADIUS; the other switches in this table use RADA.

3Com offers the broadest and deepest product lines available for smaller businesses today.To learn how 3Com products can help your business, contact 3Com at 1-800-NET-3COM(1-800-638-3266) or one of our authorized resellers or consultants.