3complete viewpoint

Switch range

The OfficeConnect switches are not manageable, and in some circumstances medium or larger-sized organisations have need of a 10/100 managed switch which they can deploy in the work area to service a small workgroup.  Unfortunately, the Superstack units are fairly large, and their fans are a bit loud in an office environment.  3complete have suggested to 3Com that a low-cost managed OfficeConnect switch could be a useful addition.  New additions to the Network Jack range include managed 'Switch in the wall' products.

In the mid-range, the Superstack product set just keeps on growing.  The long-in-the-tooth 1100/3300 products are gradually giving way to 4400s, and new Baseline and 4900 series devices widen out the range enormously.  The 4200 range and new 3200 switches increase options in the 10/100 Layer 2 and Layer 3 market, and price/performance on the fixed format units is impressive.  The 3800 and 3870 ranges are now pushing into the high end, offering multi-gigabit switching in a lower cost, Superstack format.  The 3870 units are stackable, allowing up to 384 10/100/1000 ports in a single stack.

At the high end, 3com are beginning to re-address the bigger enterprise sites.  The 4007 chassis switch is now on the way out, replaced by a widening range of 7700 switches.  The 7700 family has been expanded to offer increased resilience and a range of chassis sizes, and ideally suits the Corporate, Government and Education markets.