3Com

3Com (Computer, Communication, Compatibility) was a manufacturer of network equipment with headquarters in Marlborough, Massachusetts, USA.

History

The name 3Com was derived fro from the goal of the company "Computers, Communication and Compatibility " ( German computer, communication and compatibility). The company was founded in 1979 by Dr. Robert Metcalfe, who was previously involved in the Xerox PARC instrumental in the development of Ethernet technology. On 11 November 2009, 3Com and Hewlett -Packard announced that 3Com is to be bought by HP. For the acquisition HP invested 7.90 U.S. dollars per 3Com share, a total of 2.7 billion U.S. dollars (about 1.98 billion euros ). With the complete takeover on 12 April 2010 3Com ended up as an independent brand.

Products

3Com began with the marketing of Ethernet cards, for almost everyone in the early 1980s, conventional computer systems, there were matching models, such as the LSI -11, IBM PC and VAX - 11th Mid-1980s it introduced the brand name EtherSeries. Same time, a PC -based software product line was introduced. The software offered distributed services on the LAN and based on the XNS protocol. For example, there was a product called Ether ( for networked file access ), EtherPrint ( for network printing ), EtherMail ( as an e -mail solution ) and ether - 3270 ( for IBM host emulation).

The product range included, among others, the following hardware and software:

  • 3 Share, File and Printer Sharing
  • 3 Mail, e-mail
  • 3 Remote, XNS routing through a PC serial port
  • NetConnect, XNS routing for Ethernet
  • 3Server, PC servers for 3 Services
  • 3Station, diskless workstation
  • 3 Open, File and printer sharing ( LAN Manager - based )
  • Etherterm, terminal emulation
  • Etherprobe, LAN analysis software ( sample)
  • Dynamic Access software products for Ethernet load balancing, response time and RMON II monitoring

From 1987, following the acquisition of Bridge Communications, 3Com also developed products that were not intended for PCs and 10BASE2. Bridge Communications brought a number of XNS - compatible systems that worked on Motorola 68000 - based:

  • CS / 1, CS/200-Kommunikations-Server (Terminal Server)
  • Ethernet bridges and XNS router
  • GS/1-X.25, X.25 Gateway
  • CS/1-SNA, SNA Gateway
  • NCS / 1 for network monitoring to Sun2 base

Later Product Categories

  • Convergence / IP Telephony
  • LAN Switches ( IntelliJack ® switches)
  • LAN Switches ( Modular)
  • LAN Switches ( Stackable / Edge )
  • LAN transceiver / Cables
  • Maintenance Services
  • Network Interface Cards
  • Network Management
  • Professional Services
  • Router
  • Security
  • Wireless

Shares

On the NASDAQ, the company is listed under the symbol COMS.

Types of business entity Marlborough (Massachusetts) Hewlett-Packard IBM Personal Computer IBM 3270 Diskless node
13948
de