Following ratification of the IEEE's 802.3af standard, Power over Ethernet (PoE) is common in devices such as wireless access points. But for these to get their power from the local area network (LAN), it is necessary to route it through standard Ethernet cabling using a separate mid-span hub or an end-span switch, like the SuperStack Switch 4400 PWR from 3Com, which combines PoE and Layer 2 switching.

The 4400 PWR has 24 auto-sensing 10/100Mbit/s ports at the front plus two slots at the back. These accommodate optional expansion modules able to support either fibre or copper Gigabit Ethernet connectivity. They also allow up to eight 4400 PWR or other, non-PoE, SuperStack switches to be stacked together.

A growing number of peripheral devices are now being adapted to draw power from Ethernet cables, including IP telephones and security cameras. The 4400 PWR can provide power for up to 24 IP telephony handsets. This, combined with support for Layer 4 traffic classification and prioritisation, and Radius security network login and accounting, makes it suitable for firms looking to support voice over IP on their networks.

The switch features an Asic-based switching fabric with a bandwidth of 8.8Gbit/s. Capable of switching up to 6.6 million packets per second, the 3Com fabric can support up to 8,000 MAC addresses, making it suitable for LAN backbone as well as edge deployment. It provides QoS (quality of service) facilities with four priority queues per port.

Management interfaces include a command line interface accessible via a local console port or remotely via Telnet. SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) support is built in and there is an integrated web server for browser-based setup and monitoring. This has facilities to monitor and manage ports in terms of data and power transmission. How much power each port handles can be fixed and guaranteed. Ports can be disabled and access restricted via Radius authentication.

A built-in AC adapter powers the switch, and connecting to a 3Com SuperStack Advanced Redundant Power System stops disruption in a power failure.

Price: £1,048 + VAT

Contact: 3Com 01442 438 000