3Com Launches New Switch, Unveils 10 Gigabit Ethernet Plans

3Com

3Com debuted the XRN Interconnect Kit and said it has begun shipping its Switch 4060, unveiled in March. The 4060 will be the first LAN core product that supports 3Com's new XRN technology when the interconnect kit ships later this year, said Jeff Garner, director of modular LAN products for 3Com Business Networks.

XRN, for expandable resilient networking, is 3Com's new technology for the LAN core. The interconnect kit comprises software, modules and cabling to connect switches together. The technology enables a group of switches to act as a single Layer 3 switched distributed fabric. With XRN, businesses can scale their LAN core as they grow by adding new switches, Garner said. The XRN kit also is compatible with 3Com's SuperStack 3 Switch 4900 family, Garner said.

3Com also is developing a 10 Gigabit Ethernet LAN switch and uplink module for enterprise LAN, Garner said. The company expects to begin shipping 10 Gigabit Ethernet switches in 2003, he said.

Priced at $17,995, the switch 4060 is a 24-port Layer 3 Gigabit Ethernet switch with hot swappable fan and power supply capabilities.

The XRN interconnect kit, slated to ship by the end of the year, will be priced not to exceed $9,995, Garner said.