DATA SHEET Gigabit Server Network Interface Cards Copper and Fiber Key Benefits Tenfold Throughput Boost Accelerate your Fast Ethernet server connection to 1000 Mbps. 3Com gigabit server network interface cards (NICs) and switches give you room for future growth. 3Com gigabit server NICs also provide a cost-effective, instant performance boost over your existing Category 5 UTP copper cabling. Automated Link Failover Link aggregation and failover allow you to install multiple NIC connections, boosting server availability and bandwidth. Faster Throughput 64-bit 133 MHz PCI-X bus mastering and support for Jumbo Frames deliver faster transmissions with lower CPU utilization. Advanced Server Features Server-enhancing capabilities help maximize the availability, scalability, and fault tolerance of your businesscritical servers. Cost-Effect, Scalable Migration The gigabit server NICs for Category 5 cabling support variable-speed autonegotiation, providing a scalable upgrade from Ethernet and Fast Ethernet without replacing your existing network infrastructure. Centralized Standards-compliant remote management including WfM, DMI, PXE, EFI, and remote wake up helps lower network administration time and total cost of ownership (TCO). Compatibility and Reliability 3Com gigabit server NICs are fully compliant with global Ethernet standards and backed by our Lifetime Limited warranty. Increase Network Performance and Availability with Gigabit Ethernet It s frustrating enough that your employees face traffic jams on their way to the office. They shouldn t have to deal with the aggravation of a congested network, too. Chances are, your enterprise LAN provides a vast array of network services e-business transactions, database processing, group messaging, and Web hosting to an ever-growing user group. But if your server link is limited to 100 Mbps, you re risking an access bottleneck that slows down server access, restricts user bandwidth, and hurts overall productivity. Migrating to 1000 Mbps Gigabit Ethernet is a simple and cost-effective upgrade that significantly improves application and system performance across the network. If your future plans include organizational expansion, Gigabit Ethernet is a necessary investment. Best of all, with our gigabit server NICs both copper and fiber versions you get 3Com advanced server features that boost system performance, improve network manageability, improve link fault tolerance, and reduce application response times.
3COM GIGABIT SERVER NETWORK INTERFACE CARDS COPPER AND FIBER End-to-End Gigabit Networking 3Com gigabit server NICs accelerate network performance to 1000 Mbps. Like our 10/100 Mbps server NICs, our 1000 Mbps NICs are built to industry standards so they ll work seamlessly with your Fast Ethernet hardware and cabling*. Designed for enterprise servers and backbones, they deliver outstanding throughput, renowned reliability, and timesaving management capabilities. 3Com Gigabit Ethernet solutions include NICs and switches, over copper or fiber cabling. Get in-depth information about our end-to-end Gigabit solutions, by visiting www.3com.com. Processing Offloads These server NICs offload cycle-intensive processing, reducing the burden imposed on the host CPU by TCP/UDP/ IP checksum and TCP segmentation tasks. They ll help your server perform better and last longer. Faster, More Reliable Transmissions High-performance capabilities include 64-bit 133 MHz PCI-X bus mastering, interrupt coalescence, Jumbo Frames, Microsoft large send, deep packet buffer, and flow control. These features help speed data transmissions through the server, with fewer errors and lost packets. Advanced Server Performance 3Com gigabit server NICs include innovative features designed to optimize server performance and bandwidth: Link Aggregation lets you install multiple NICs in a single server for increased throughput, automatic link failover, and maximum availability. Bidirectional load balancing distributes data traffic across multiple NICs and switches. Support for multiple VLANs lets your security administrators monitor and secure traffic streams without relying on traffic-slowing router hops. Advanced PCI-bus support includes PCI Hot-Plug, which lets you hotswap NICs without taking the server Copper vs. Fiber 3Com s family of gigabit server NICs deliver the fastest throughput available, standardsbased compatibility, and innovative management support. But which version, copper or fiber, is the right choice for your enterprise? Gigabit Over Copper The simplest and most cost-conscience way to migrate to Gigabit Ethernet is by installing a 3Com gigabit server NIC. This multi-speed, autonegotiating NIC lets you keep your existing Category 5 UTP backbone. The only other hardware you ll need to modify is the backbone switch. 3Com SuperStack 3 Switch 3300, for example, is easily upgraded with a simple gigabit plug-in module. Or upgrade to a gigabit-ready SuperStack 3 Switch 4900. Gigabit Over Fiber Building a fiber-optic backbone is a bigger investment because it requires special switches and cabling, but the rewards are numerous. Fiber cabling is highly resistant to electromagnetic interference, packet snooping/ sniffing, and signal degradation making it ideal for longer cabling distances, high-security LANs, and electrically noisy environments. For growing companies, consider this fiber optic cabling supports unlimited throughput (copper cabling s limit is 1000 Mbps). You ll have room to grow your business, and plenty of bandwidth when the 10-Gigabit Ethernet technologies arrive. offline; PCI 2.2-compatible remote wake up over the bus; and PCI-X for a wider, faster data path. Centralized for Lower TCO Standards-based remote management helps reduce the single biggest cost of running your LAN configuring and troubleshooting all those PCs. Centrally controlled capabilities such as remote wake up, DMI, and SNMP MIB help you manage networked systems without having to physically visit each machine. It saves your precious time as well as some big TCO expenses. Choose 3Com for Effortless Connections 3Com has the most experience in delivering network connections that access your network s increasingly complex infrastructure. Reliable, open standards-based 3Com server NICs work within your existing environments to help ensure network availability and high-speed performance, while lowering your TCO. 2
3COM GIGABIT SERVER NETWORK INTERFACE CARDS COPPER AND FIBER 3Com Service and Support 3Com offers the support options you need anytime, anywhere. The 3Com Knowledgebase Web service is a complimentary, interactive tool that gives you around-the-clock access to proven solutions and technical information. Explore our Knowledgebase, as well as product information, technical tips, and FAQs, by visiting www.3com.com. Lifetime Limited Warranty 3Com backs gigabit server NICs with a Lifetime Limited warranty. For details, refer to the product manual or visit www.3com.com. Feature Performance Affordable gigabit over copper Benefit Relieves network congestion and improves application response times over existing Category 5 UTP cabling. Scalable gigabit over fiber Delivers a tenfold increase over Fast Ethernet; fiber-optic cabling offers unlimited throughput potential. TCP/UDP/IP checksum offloads Offload cycle-intensive checksum processing from the host CPU to the NIC for improved system response and longer CPU life. TCP segmentation offloads Reduce host CPU load for improved system performance. Interrupt coalescing Groups packets and reduces interrupts for faster host processing and application response. Bus mastering DMA Provides more efficient I/O-bus data transfers for lower CPU utilization. 9 KB Jumbo Frames Speed data transfer rates, further improving throughput. Deep packet buffer Maintains wire-speed throughput by using 96 KB deep packet buffer memory and adaptive interrupt frequency. Flow control Reduces the number of lost packets and retransmissions between the NIC and switch for optimal performance. Traffic prioritization Efficient multicast control Installation CD-ROM Remote wake up Managed Boot Agent (MBA) Uses IEEE 802.1p/Q-compliant multiple queues to give time-sensitive data and critical applications top priority. Controls multicast flooding in switched LANs for improved performance across the network. Includes graphical user interface for installation, configuration, and diagnostics, reducing installation time. Wakes PCs from sleep mode, enabling network administrators to manage servers after hours from a central console; works over the PCI bus (PCI 2.2-compatible or later computers only). Provides pre-os management capabilities, including booting server from network; supports Remote Program Load (RPL), NetWare Core Protocol (NCP), BootP, Pre-boot Execution Environment (PXE), and Boot Integrity Services (BIS), and EFI. 3
3COM GIGABIT SERVER NETWORK INTERFACE CARDS COPPER AND FIBER 10/100/1000 autonegotiation Automatically senses and configures NIC (copper NIC only) speed to the hub or switch port connection 10, 100, or 1000 Mbps. DMI 2.0, WfM 2.0 compliance Allows managers to inventory servers and NICs from a remote location, ensures compatibility with leading desktop management applications. ACPI compliance Reduces power consumption and enables remote wake up through the PCI bus. CMOS power saver Conserves power usage by system memory and extends CMOS battery life. IPv6 support (optional) Supports increased number of IP addresses and Layer 3 data security protocols, such as IPSec. Advanced Server Features Link Aggregation Supports redundant network connections (up to eight) for an aggregate bandwidth of up to 8,000 Mbps; automated, mixedspeed link failover delivers maximum server availability. Bidirectional load balancing Spreads incoming/outgoing server traffic across multiple NICs and switches; works in the transmit direction across Layer 3 devices. 802.1Q multiple VLANs Assign multiple subnets (up to 64 VLANs) to each server and isolates devices within each VLAN from the rest of the network for better traffic control and security. PCI Hot-Plug Enables replacement/removal of server NIC for upgrades or installation of additional NICs without taking the server offline. Compatibility and Reliability IEEE 802.3 compliance Supports global Ethernet standards; fully backwards compatible with 802.3 Ethernet and 802.3u Fast Ethernet networks; works with third-party NICs and LOMs. IEEE 802.3ad compliance Supports link aggregation and link trunking in IEEE802.3ad-compliant switches and hardware. Lifetime Limited warranty Backed by 3Com s world-class service and support. 4
3COM GIGABIT SERVER NETWORK INTERFACE CARDS COPPER AND FIBER Specifications Media Copper: 10BASE-T/100BASE-TX/1000BASE-T Fiber: 1000BASE-SX Connectors Copper: RJ-45 Fiber: SC Bus Interface 32-/64-bit, 33/66 MHz PCI 32-/64-bit, 66/133 MHz PCI-X Cables and Operating Distances 10BASE-T: Category 3, 4, or 5 UTP up to 100 m (328 ft) 100BASE-TX/1000BASE-T: Category 5 UTP up to 100 m (328 ft) 1000BASE-SX: 1300 nm multimode up to 412 m (1,351 ft) half-duplex, up to 2,000 m (6,557 ft) full-duplex System Requirements Hardware: PCI 2.2- or PCI-X 1.0-compliant server Software: Linux 2.2, 2.4; Microsoft Windows XP, 2000, Windows NT 4.0 ; Novell NetWare 4.x, 5.x, 6.x; SCO UnixWare 7, OpenServer 5; Sun Solaris X86 Works with any SNMP-compliant management application including 3Com Managed PC Boot Agent, 3Com Network Supervisor, 3Com Boot Services Standards Compliance PC 99, WfM 1.1a/2.0, ACPI 1.0, DMI 2.0, WBEM, CIM, WMI, PXE 2.0, BIS, RIS, EFI, SDG 3.0 IEEE: 802.3, 802.3ab (copper), 802.3u (fiber), 802.3x, 802.1p, 802.1Q, 802.3ad PCI: PCI 2.2, PCI-X 1.0, PCI Hot-Plug 1.0 Safety and Electromagnetic Compatibility Meets FCC requirements, FCC Part 15, Class B, CE Physical Dimensions Length: 16.5 cm (6.6 in) Width: 6.4 cm (2.5 in) Power Requirements +5 volts +/- 5% Operating Ranges Temperature: 0 to 70 C (32 to 158 F) Humidity: 10% to 90% noncondensing Ordering Information 3Com Gigabit Server Network Interface Card Single NIC 3C996B-T Five-pack 3C996B-T-5 3Com Gigabit Fiber-SX Server Network Interface Card Single NIC 3C996-SX Five-pack 3C996-SX-5 * Gigabit Fiber-SX Server NICs require multimode fiber-compatible cabling and switches. Gigabit Fiber-SX Server NICs transmit/receive at 1000 Mbps only and do not support autonegotiation. Software compatibility based on testing with the latest available Windows XP beta software. This server NIC is not compatible with Microsoft desktop operating systems, such as Windows Me, 9x, or 3.x. 3Com Corporation, Corporate Headquarters, 5400 Bayfront Plaza, P.O. Box 58145, Santa Clara, CA 95052-8145 3Com simplifies how people connect to information and services through easy-to-use connectivity products and solutions for consumers and commercial organizations. The company also provides access infrastructures and IP services platforms for network service providers. For further information, visit www.3com.com or the press site at www.3com.com/pressbox. Copyright 2001 3Com Corporation. All rights reserved. 3Com and SuperStack are registered trademarks and the 3Com logo is a trademark of 3Com Corporation. Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds. Microsoft, Windows, and Windows NT are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Novell and NetWare are registered trademarks of Novell, Inc. SCO OpenServer and Unixware are registered trademarks of The Santa Cruz Operation, Inc. Sun is a registered trademark and Solaris is a trademark of Sun Microsystems, Inc. All other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective companies. Printed in the U.S. on recycled paper 400702-001 07/01