Premium Stackable Switching for Advanced Enterprises Building a Secure Converged Network
The new 3Com® Switch 5500 family of premium stackable switches delivers maximum levels of security, convergence features, and intelligence required by the most demanding advanced enterprise networks.

These next-generation Layer 2/3/4, Fast Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet switches can be deployed at the network edge, for distribution, or small core switching. They offer flexible and scalable connectivity for a heterogeneous mix of data, voice, video, and other business-critical services and are particularly suited for building highly available and resilient architectures.

All 3Com Switch 5500 products share the same operating system as our premium modular switches and routers, including the 3Com Switch 8800 and 7700. This permits you to manage an entire distributed switching and routing infrastructure from a single CLI or SNMP management platform such as 3Com Enterprise Management Suite or 3Com Network Director.

Fast Ethernet Switches
Fast Ethernet 10/100 models are offered in Enhanced Image (EI) and Standard Image (SI) flavors to provide for the best fit for performance and budget requirements.

The 3Com Switch 5500-EI 28-Port and 3Com Switch 5500-EI 52-Port support 3Com's innovative XRN® Stacking Technology (a "masterless" resilient method of stacking) to eight units high, as well as advanced OSPF Layer 3 routing and rich security features.

The 3Com Switch 5500-SI 28-Port and 3Com Switch 5500-SI 52-Port come with resilient standard 3Com stacking and RIP-based Layer 3.

All Switch 5500 10/100 models have autonegotiating 10/100 ports, 4 active Gigabit SFP ports, multiple power modes, and eight-high stacking. Advanced QoS and application-aware filtering help optimize voice and video performance. Integrated security and management features protect data, users, and devices from unauthorized access and corruption.

Standards-compliant Power over Ethernet units are also offered: 3Com Switch 5500-EI 28-Port PWR and 3Com Switch 5500-EI 52 Port PWR.

An SFP-based 100 Mbps fiber version— the Switch 5500-EI 28-Port FX— is also available.

Gigabit Ethernet Switches
Gigabit 10/100/1000 models offer industry-leading stackable performance and features for Gigabit-to-the-desktop, distribution and stackable core deployments.

Choose from two non-Power over Ethernet 10/100/1000 models, the 3Com Switch 5500G-EI 24-Port and the 3Com Switch 5500G-EI 48-Port.

Also offered are two Power over Ethernet models, the 3Com Switch 5500G-EI PWR 24-Port and the 3Com Switch 5500G-EI 48-Port PWR.

A 24-port Gigabit SFP version— the Switch 5500G-EI 24-Port SFP— is also available.

All Gigabit models have Enhanced Image functionality, including XRN Stacking Technology up to eight units high, OSPF Layer 3 routing, and advanced management features. Non-PoE units are upgradeable to PoE with a field replaceable PoE-enabled power supply.

Features and Benefits:

• Scalable stackable design in both Fast Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet formats.
• Incorporates enterprise-class, high-end Layer 2/3/4 switching features.
• Resilient stacking up to eight units high, or 384 Fast Ethernet and 32 Gigabit ports for 10/100 models, or up to 448 Gigabit Ethernet ports on Gigabit models (when outfitted with optional 8-port SFP-based expansion module).
• 10-Gigabit Ethernet modules, available for Gigabit models, for interconnecting core and distribution switches.
• Wirespeed performance across all ports within the stack or fabric delivers optimal throughputs and bandwidth for business-critical data and high-speed communications.
• 240.0 Gbps switching capacity, 172.6 Mpps forwarding rate (maximum, 10/100/1000 models with optional 2-port 10-Gigabit module).
• 48 Gbps stacking bandwidth (96 Gbps full duplex) (10/100/1000 models).
• Load-sharing and cross-stack trunking features help eliminate dropped packets, clear up traffic bottlenecks, and improve server availability (EI models only).
• EI-models offer 3Com XRN® Stacking Technology: the creation of eight-unit stacks that offer chassis-like availability and resiliency over traditional aggregated-trunk configurations. The entire stack is managed as a single-IP management entity, with "masterless" sharing of critical routing information across all units for fast failure recovery.
• Integrated distributed security enforcement.
• Advanced, time-based Access Control Lists (ACLs) help safeguard key network resources from unauthorized access and data corruption (EI models only).
• User-based authentication and DES 56-bit or 168-bit encryption help secure Layer 3 protocols and management controls.
• Shared 3Com Operating System consolidates administrative control over the entire switching infrastructure—contributing to a more unified network environment and providing unparalleled edge-to-core visibility and control.
• Built-in support for AC- and DC-powered operations enables you to leverage existing power schemes and cost-effectively extend power to the edge of the network.
• Available DC Redundant Power Supply (RPS), designed by Eaton Powerware Corporation, a leading provider of integrated power systems.
  

3Com Switch 5500 Family

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