3Com has announced the product details of its new wireless switch solutions for enterprise customers, which form part of the company`s wireless "blueprint".
The new offerings include an enterprise-class wireless switch, a large enterprise wireless controller, mobility system software, mobility management software and new managed access points (APs).
These products provide higher levels of wireless security and mobility, simplified and centralised management of complex wireless LAN environments, higher network availability, fast roaming with quality of service (QoS) and class of service (CoS), standards-based deployment flexibility, and "pay as you grow" network scalability.
"Our new 3Com wireless switch products represent compelling new choices in the enterprise wireless market by addressing virtually all the issues that CIOs and IT managers face in planning for wireless and wired integration to support mobile users," says Wolfgang Held, network consultant at 3Com SA.
3Com new enterprise switch solutions include:
* User and mobility-aware wireless LAN switch - 3Com Wireless LAN Switch WX1200;
* User and mobility-aware wireless controller that enables any Layer 2 switch to be a wireless switch - 3Com Wireless LAN Controller WX4400;
* 802.11a and b/g "Fit" managed access points with AES encryption - The new access points, called "Fit" access points, are different from the existing access points deployed in today`s enterprise because the Fit access points off-load the major processing to the wireless switch for centralised control;
* Wireless mobility system operating system - Mobility System Software (MSS); and
* 3Com`s Wireless switch management software - 3Com Wireless Switch Manager (3WXM).
The new wireless switch products are well suited for enterprises both with central wireless campuses and managed wireless branch offices; higher education with increasing capacity requirements; healthcare institutions with increasing capacity requirements and public access environments with both public and private access opportunities.
The planning for enterprise wireless is easier with these products as, for example, the switch manager software can do customised, pre-deployment site plans based on a floor plan. Then an IT manager can install and manage the wireless switch-based network from a centralised desktop computer.
"The automated and centralised tools help the IT manager reduce operational costs, such as reducing costly upgrades that was previously done upgrading each access point one-at-a-time in a distributed environment," says Held.
The 3Com wireless switch products are compatible with any Layer 2 or Layer 3 wired network. Furthermore, customers of new 3Com wireless switch solutions can reduce ongoing administrative costs of managing a wireless network without compromising product features.
The 3Com wireless switch works 3Com`s Power over Ethernet products, including the SuperStack3 Switch 4400PWR, and complements 3Com`s infrastructure products, featuring the enterprise-class Switch 7700, Switch 3870 and XRN technology-enabled products.
Like 3Com`s XRN products, the wireless switch solutions offer resiliency, redundancy and scalable "pay-as-you-grow" options. 3Com`s recent advancements in network management will also contribute to giving enterprise customers more control of their network, bolstered by the company`s new security products.
Share
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.
Editorial contacts