https://DevOpsCloud.io -- Cloud Monk Losang Jinpa, Ph.D., MCSE/MCT, GitOps DevOps Engineer

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Cloud Monk is an MCSE, MCT, and Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) and a 3Com 3Wizard. He was hired by 3Com France in 1990 to teach 3Com 3+ Open (based on Microsoft OS/2 LAN Manager).

The 3Com EtherSeries was a family of networking products developed by 3Com Corporation during the early 1980s, designed to facilitate Ethernet-based networking for businesses of various sizes. This series included a variety of products such as Ethernet NICs (network interface cards), and related software, all aimed at making it easier to deploy and manage local area networks (LANs) using Ethernet standards. The EtherSeries helped establish 3Com as a leading player in the networking industry, contributing to the widespread adoption of Ethernet as the dominant technology for LANs. While there isn't a specific RFC dedicated to the 3Com EtherSeries, the products in this line adhered to the networking protocols defined in RFC 894 (standard Ethernet encapsulation) and other IEEE 802.3 standards.

At the heart of the 3Com EtherSeries was the goal of simplifying network implementation and making Ethernet accessible to more users. Before the development of products like the 3Com EtherSeries, networking was primarily the domain of large enterprises with the resources to implement complex and expensive network infrastructure. 3Com's focus on creating affordable, easy-to-install products helped small and medium-sized businesses establish reliable network connections, promoting productivity and efficiency in office environments.

One of the most notable products in the EtherSeries line was the 3Com EtherLink series of NICs, which allowed computers to connect to Ethernet networks using IEEE 802.3 standards. The success of the EtherLink cards was a driving force behind the broader success of the EtherSeries family, as these cards were highly reliable and became a staple in many business environments. 3Com EtherLink cards, first introduced in the early 1980s, supported both 10 Mbps Ethernet and later Fast Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet standards, keeping pace with the increasing demands for network speed.

In addition to NICs, the EtherSeries included hubs and switches designed for Ethernet networks. These products made it possible to connect multiple devices within a LAN, allowing data to be transmitted efficiently between computers, printers, servers, and other networked devices. The EtherSeries hubs and switches supported different network topologies, allowing businesses to scale their networks as needed. These devices adhered to standards such as RFC 826 for ARP (Address Resolution Protocol), which is essential for mapping IP addresses to MAC addresses in a LAN.

The 3Com EtherSeries also played a significant role in the development of Ethernet networking in personal computing environments. Before the widespread availability of EtherSeries products, many personal computers lacked the ability to connect to LANs, relying instead on direct connections or external storage devices for file sharing. By providing low-cost Ethernet solutions, 3Com made it easier for businesses to create networked environments where users could share resources, collaborate more effectively, and access centralized servers or printers.

From a technical perspective, the products in the EtherSeries were designed to be highly interoperable with other networking technologies, allowing businesses to integrate their existing infrastructure with new Ethernet networks. This focus on compatibility extended to the software solutions that accompanied the hardware, including network drivers and management tools that simplified the installation and configuration of Ethernet networks. As Ethernet standards evolved, the EtherSeries line evolved with them, incorporating advancements like Fast Ethernet (100 Mbps) and Gigabit Ethernet (1000 Mbps) to ensure that users could take advantage of increased network speeds.

The development of the 3Com EtherSeries was also significant in helping Ethernet compete against other networking technologies, such as Token Ring and FDDI. During the 1980s and early 1990s, these competing technologies offered different approaches to network communication, and the networking landscape was highly fragmented. However, the affordability, simplicity, and scalability of Ethernet—driven in part by the success of the EtherSeries products—helped Ethernet emerge as the preferred networking technology for LANs. This widespread adoption of Ethernet eventually led to the decline of competing technologies.

One of the factors that contributed to the longevity of the EtherSeries was its ability to adapt to changing networking needs. As businesses grew and required more sophisticated networking capabilities, 3Com introduced more advanced EtherSeries products, including managed switches with features like VLAN (Virtual Local Area Network) support and QoS (Quality of Service) capabilities. These advancements allowed businesses to prioritize certain types of traffic, such as voice or video, and improve network performance, making the EtherSeries an attractive option for a wide range of use cases.

While the 3Com EtherSeries was eventually phased out as networking technology advanced and other companies, such as Cisco, began to dominate the enterprise networking market, its impact on the development of modern networking is still recognized today. Many of the principles and technologies that were pioneered in the EtherSeries, such as easy-to-install Ethernet interfaces and scalable network switches, have become standard features in modern networking products.

Another notable aspect of the 3Com EtherSeries was its contribution to the development of network management and troubleshooting tools. As networking grew more complex, businesses required better ways to monitor and manage their networks. The EtherSeries included network management software that allowed administrators to monitor traffic, troubleshoot connectivity issues, and optimize network performance. These tools were critical for ensuring the reliability of Ethernet networks, especially as businesses became increasingly dependent on networked applications and services.

The 3Com EtherSeries was a transformative line of networking products that played a key role in promoting the widespread adoption of Ethernet technology. By providing affordable and reliable NICs, hubs, switches, and software, 3Com made it easier for businesses to implement and scale LANs, contributing to the dominance of Ethernet in modern networking. The success of the EtherSeries helped establish 3Com as a leader in the networking industry, and its influence can still be seen in the design and functionality of contemporary networking products.

Snippet from Wikipedia: 3Com

3Com Corporation was an American digital electronics manufacturer best known for its computer network products. The company was co-founded in 1979 by Robert Metcalfe, Howard Charney and others. Bill Krause joined as President in 1981. Metcalfe explained the name 3Com was a contraction of "Computer Communication Compatibility", with its focus on Ethernet technology that he had co-invented, which enabled the networking of computers.

3Com provided network interface controller and switches, routers, wireless access points and controllers, IP voice systems, and intrusion prevention systems. The company was based in Santa Clara, California. From its 2007 acquisition of 100 percent ownership of H3C Technologies Co., Limited (H3C) —initially a joint venture with China-based Huawei Technologies—3Com achieved a market presence in China, and a significant networking market share in Europe, Asia, and the Americas. 3Com products were sold under the brands 3Com, H3C, and TippingPoint.

On April 12, 2010, Hewlett-Packard completed the acquisition of 3Com. It was merged into HPE's Aruba Networks business unit following HP's acquisition of Aruba in 2015 and subsequent split into HPE later that same year.

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