Other 3Com Routers

3Com (NASDAQ: COMS) is a manufacturer best known for its computer network infrastructure products. The company was co-founded in 1979 by Robert Metcalfe and is headquartered in Marlborough, Massachusetts. more...

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The name 3Com comes from the company's focus on "Computers, Communication and Compatibility".

History

Robert Metcalfe invented Ethernet at Xerox PARC, and subsequently co-founded 3Com in 1979. 3Com began making Ethernet adaptor cards for many early 1980s computer systems, including the LSI-11, IBM PC, and VAX-11. In the mid-1980s, 3Com would brand their Ethernet technology as EtherSeries, while introducing a range of software and PC-based equipment to provide shared services over a LAN using XNS protocols. These were protocols were branded EtherShare (for file sharing), EtherPrint (for printing), EtherMail (for email), and Ether-3270 (for IBM host emulation).

The company's network software products included:

3+Share file and printer sharing.; 3+Mail e-mail.; 3+Remote for routing XNS over a PC serial port.; NetConnect for routing XNS between Ethernets.; (MultiConnect?) was a chassis-based multi-port 10Base2 Ethernet repeater.; 3Server, a server-grade PC for running 3+ services.; 3Station, a diskless workstation.; 3+Open file and printer sharing (based on Microsoft's LAN Manager).; Etherterm terminal emulation.; Etherprobe LAN analysis software.; DynamicAccess software products for Ethernet load balancing, response time and RMON II distributed monitoring.;

3Com's expansion beyond its original base of PC and thin Ethernet products began in 1987 when it merged with Bridge Communications. This provided a range of equipment based on Motorola 68000 processors and using XNS protocols compatibly with 3Com's Etherterm PC software.

CS/1, CS/200 communication servers ("terminal servers"); Ethernet bridges and XNS routers; GS/1-X.25 X.25 gateway; CS/1-SNA SNA gateway; NCS/1 network control software running on a Sun2.;

Acquisitions

3Com came close to being acquired by UNIX workstation company, Convergent Technologies, abandoning the pact just two days before a vote was scheduled in March 1986. Later, 3Com went on to acquire the following:

Bridge Communications in 1987; BICC Data Networks in 1992; Star-Tek in 1993; Synernetics in 1993; Centrum in 1994; NiceCom in 1994; AccessWorks, Sonix Communications, Primary Access and Chipcom in 1995; Axon and OnStream Networks in 1996.; NBX in 1999; Kerbango in 2000; TippingPoint in 2005;

They merged with U.S. Robotics in 1997, which made Dial-up access and included Palm, Inc. The modem business was rapidly shrinking. 3Com attempted to enter the DSL business, but was not successful.

In August 1998, Bruce Claflin was named COO. In March 2000, with stiff competition with Cisco, 3Com exited the high-end router business, upsetting its larger corporate customers.

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