3Com knows jack - Network Jack

SANTA CLARA - 3Com this week is releasing an SNMP-manageable version of its Network Jack that is intended to increase the number of Ethernet ports in cubicles or office faceplates while not requiring company's to pull costly new wires to desktops.

The network faceplate replacement product is an upgrade to the NJ100, released earlier this year. The new version can be managed via SNMP-based tools such as Hewlett-Packard's OpenView, CiscoWorks or 3Com's Network Manager Solution software. SNMP also can be used to deactivate ports on an NJ200 deployed in a common area, such as a conference room or school classroom, after business hours to prevent unauthorized network access. The NJ200 Network Jack has four 10/100M bit/sec ports.

The NJ200 can save users money in the area of cable installations, 3Com says. Instead of pulling more network lines to support more ports for desktop LAN phones or other devices, the NJ200 can be used to link up to four devices to a LAN over a single cable from the desktop to the wiring closet.

In addition to providing four switched LAN ports, a single port on the device also supports the proposed IEEE 802.3af inline power standard, which could be used to power voice-over-IP phones, wireless LAN access points or other devices that can be powered over Ethernet connections. The NJ200 can be powered over an 802.3af-based switch, supported by companies such as Avaya, Nortel and Cisco, or via Cisco's proprietary in-line power technology on its Catalyst switches.

About a dozen NJ200 devices are slated for installation at Atlantic Union College in Lancaster, Mass., where IT staff will connect groups of three and four PCs in offices and student PC labs to the LAN.

"Before, we just had dumb hubs on desks, which took up a lot of room," says Peter Conrad, an IT technician at the school. "Now we'll have managed switch ports down to each PC."

The NJ200s will connect back to HP Procurve switches in the wiring closets and LAN backbone, Conrad says. He adds that he is looking into powering the school's 3Com wireless LAN access points over the NJ200 devices.

The NJ200 Network Jack is available for $220 for a single unit and $4,075 for a pack of 20.