3Com SA has introduced the 3Com Switch 8800 family of terabit switches - announcing a major leap forward in providing superior choices to large enterprise customers. The 3Com Switch 8800 series now anchors the company`s broad LAN switch product portfolio.
"With the Switch 8800 large enterprise platform, 3Com is proving its commitment to the enterprise market," says Peter Hulleman, senior research analyst, IDC. "The LAN switch market is getting more mature, and this creates opportunities for a company like 3Com to offer customers more choice."
To further its commitment to the enterprise market, 3Com has also launched the 8800 Service Package, which combines implementation services, a year of high availability on-site support, and multiple days of post-installation consultation.
Complementing 3Com`s high performance - specifically, 10Gb - networking solution, the company has extended the reach of its Switch 7700 and SuperStack 3 Switch 3780 from the network edge to the core with new 10Gb modules.
"Our approach is to apply advanced engineering to reduce complexity, innovate in a standards-based framework for optimal customer flexibility and support the choice of best-of-breed applications and services," says Wolfgang Held, network consultant at 3Com SA.
"The new 3Com Switch 8800 rigorously adheres to these objectives and is the terabit switch that gives large enterprise customers superior high density 10Gb and Gigabit at line rate performance."
Adds Ray Mota, chief analyst for Synergy Research Group, Inc: "The 8800 Service offering differentiates 3Com from the competition by providing a unique combination of services that complement enterprise IT resources and assist with a smooth deployment and maximum performance."
3Com has steadily been developing new enterprise-class solutions and investing in the capabilities to offer business value and differentiated products and services. The Switch 8800 and the 10Gb uplinks for the Switch 7700 and Switch 3870 are significant aspects of 3Com`s long-term enterprise strategy to compete at the highest levels.
The Switch 8800
Indeed, 3Com has applied innovative technology intended to give a long investment life to the Switch 8800. It uses dual load-sharing switch fabrics, therefore, adding resiliency doubles the switch performance.
Also, the Switch 8800`s 1.44 terabit backplane delivers outstanding speed and port density - up to 24 10Gb wirespeed ports and 288Gb wirespeed ports - but can support a second generation fabric and modules to double the switch`s performance yet again.
"With the 3Com Switch 8800, we have a solution that system integrators and gold partners worldwide can use to win major large enterprise deals, supporting thousands of users on a voice/data converged network platform," says Held.
"Enterprise customers can efficiently integrate the Switch 8800 into multi-vendor networks, such as a Cisco-heavy network, and gain application optimisation and enhanced productivity."
The new secure, converged Switch 8800 platform will also allow enterprise-wide applications, such as new enterprise-scalable Internet Protocol (IP) telephony services and Session Initiation Protocol (SIP)-based converged applications to work with the 3Com VCX V7000 IP telephony system, which scales to ten of thousands of users.
The Switch 7700 remains an integral piece of the 3Com enterprise offering, and is further strengthened by its new 10Gb uplink that makes it ideal for switch distribution in an enterprise, with high capacity downlinks to the network core.
The SuperStack 3 Switch 3870 is 3Com`s most advanced Gigabit-to-the-desktop switch family. With a 10Gb expansion slot, it is an ideal future-proof solution for new enterprise workgroup installations.
In addition to its products, 3Com enhances the enterprise customer experience through advanced large enterprise services that ease deployment and give customers more control of their networks. A new Switch 8800 Service Package has been developed to support the new high-end enterprise LAN infrastructure solution.
Additional 3Com service offerings available to support the Switch 8800 include a Network Health Check, and in-depth training on switch architecture and troubleshooting. The company also offers certification programmes through 3Com University.
"The Network Health Check is an indication that 3Com is serious about the enterprise because this professional service provides customers with a detailed analysis of network performance and the opportunity to evaluate the various optimisation opportunities as they relate to the customer`s specific situation," adds Mota.
"Services like this can put the customer in control by providing them with the information they need to avoid surprises and plan ahead."
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3Com is a leading provider of converged voice and data networking solutions for enterprises of all sizes. 3Com offers a broad line of innovative products backed by world-class sales, service and support, which excel at delivering business value for its customers. When customers exercise choice, their choice is 3Com.
For further information, please visit www.3com.com, or the press site www.3com.com/pressbox.