3COM

ENERGY-
EFFICIENT
NETWORKS
2 3COM® DS:DOCUMENT HEADER

The network is the backbone of your business, so

your need for faster and smarter communications
is never-ending. Increasing network functionality
while reducing energy consumption is a significant
challenge, but it’s typical of the complex issues
that 3Com research and development teams
address every day.

3Com is committed to helping businesses do more

with less by delivering high-quality, standards-
based converged networking solutions that provide
exceptional business value. That commitment
includes our dedication to developing products
that use less electricity, are cost-effective to
operate and have the lowest possible negative
impact on the environment.

We see that as good for your business and ours.

1 3COM® ENERGY-EFFICIENT NETWORKS
THE GROWING
NEED FOR ENERGY
EFFICIENCY
Businesses are increasingly concerned about how much
energy their network infrastructures use. Energy costs are an
ever-increasing component of overall operational expenses,
and they adversely affect the bottom line. Deploying more
energy-efficient technologies would seem to be a simple
decision. But companies must weigh energy savings against
performance and productivity requirements.
Businesses want to support the environment, but they know
that ensuring the integrity of their networks and keeping the
total cost of ownership low is vital to staying competitive. They
want products that not only deliver power savings, but also the
best performance and reliability. Controlling energy use is
critical to meeting these requirements, particularly given the
estimate from IDC, a global provider of market intelligence,
that the cost of powering and cooling data centers will increase
from $26 billion in 2007 to $44 billion globally by 2010.
3Com is committed to
maximizing customers’
productivity while mini-
mizing the environmental
impact of their networks.
As a member of The Green Grid, a global consortium that promotes
energy efficiency in data centers and business computing eco-
systems, we are actively involved in efforts to standardize ways
of measuring energy efficiency. Through our membership, we
influence and vote on initiatives that complement our participation
in the IEEE 802.3 Ethernet working group’s activities, especially
its P802.3az Energy-efficient Ethernet Task Force.
DELIVERING ON THE
GREEN CHALLENGE
3Com helps customers realize the financial benefits of updating
their systems to more energy-efficient models that deliver out-
standing reliability and performance. Our current generation of
switches use up to 78 percent less power than previous versions.
Independent research by In-Stat found that 3Com’s local area
network (LAN) switches are up to 60 percent more energy
efficient, or “green,” than competitors’ products. The report,
“Green Networking Equipment: Who Leads and Who Lags,”
finds that in addition to being the most energy-efficient, 3Com’s
switches far outpace the rest of the industry by delivering more
fabric capacity—Gigabits per second—per watt of electricity used.
Industry research firm In-Stat found
that 3Com’s local area network
switches are up to 60% more energy
efficient than competitors’ products.
The report says there are “significant differences in the energy
efficiency of similarly equipped switch equipment” and that “as
many businesses develop ‘green’ initiatives ... IT managers will
be forced to absorb some degree of responsibility for their
organization’s power usage.”
With the introduction of the 3Com Switch 7900E / H3C S7500E,
which according to public data is up to 75 percent more energy
efficient than the equivalent Cisco Catalyst 6500 switch, 3Com
has further enhanced its green credentials.
The 3Com Switch 7900E / H3C S7500E
is up to 75% more energy efficient than
the equivalent Cisco Catalyst 6500 switch.
Product Life Cycle Processes for Reducing
Energy Consumption
According to industry research, slightly more than 1 percent of
the electricity consumed by commercial buildings is used by
networking equipment.
As network energy consumption grows, our engineers continue to
develop innovative methods for reducing power usage without
impacting operational performance or functionality. For our
customers, this means transporting more data for less money.
Some 3Com- and H3C-branded products even feature hybrid
electrical and optical interfaces on a single circuit board to reduce
customers’ investment in hardware and related system power
consumption. And we are working on ways to detect the length of
network cables so only the amount of power required is actually
supplied and used.
2 3COM® ENERGY-EFFICIENT NETWORKS

are alert to the consumption of raw materials such as plastics, reduce the typically large amounts of energy that fans consume.
metals, water and other key resources. And we avoid using To further reduce power use, 3Com offers fanless products,
excess material that adds to a product’s weight to help reduce including the OfficeConnect®, Baseline and Switch 4200 families.
shipping-related CO2 emissions.

We focus on ensuring resilience and minimizing environmental

contamination. These efforts include the work of a specialized
team dedicated to advancing product reliability and energy-
saving thermal design. Early in the development cycle, strict
reliability specifications are defined and procedures such as
failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA), highly accelerated
life test (HALT), thermal emulation and thermal testing are used
to improve product reliability and thermal performance. In the
manufacturing phase, a highly accelerated stress audit (HASA)
is used to further enhance product reliability and strength.
Thermal Controlled and Fanless Cooling
In addition to reducing power use, heat generation and cooling
requirements, our innovations let systems dynamically detect
when fans can run at lower speed. In periods where ambient
temperature is low or network traffic is light, these systems
Leveraging Advanced Silicon Technology
Most 3Com and H3C products use 90-nanometer silicon
technology (90-billionths-of-a-meter transistors) to deliver
highly advanced functionality without increasing power usage.
Innovations in reducing leakage current let the most recent 90-
nm processors deliver a 35 percent increase in speed while
cutting active power needs by 60 percent. We also produce an
increasing number of products that use even more energy-
efficient 65-nm silicon, and we have plans to take advantage
of 45-nm technology, which will reduce power consumption
by an additional 30 percent.
Increasing Power Supply Efficiency
Inefficient computer power supplies waste approximately 30 to
40 percent of the electricity consumed. Much of this wasted
energy is converted into heat, requiring larger cooling fans.

POWER SAVINGS DELIVERED BY THE 3COM AND H3C SWITCHING PORTFOLIOS

Fast Ethernet Products
PREVIOUS GENERATION MAX. POWER1 CURRENT GENERATION MAX. POWER1 SAVINGS (W) SAVINGS (kwH/yr)
Switch 1100-24P 49.3W Switch 4210-26P 13.3W 36W 315.36 kwh
Switch 4500-26P
Switch 3300-24P 40.50W 24.0W 16.5W 144.54 kwh
H3C 3600-28P-SI
Switch 5500-28P
Switch 4400-24P 40.30W 36.0W 4.3W 37.67 kwhs
H3C 2600-28P-EI

Gigabit Ethernet Products

Switch 4500G-24P
Switch 3870-24P 66.50W 57.5W 9.0W 78.84 kwh
H3C 5500-28C-SI
Switch 5500G-24P
Switch 4900 165.20W 74.0W 91.2W 798.91 kwh
H3C 5600-26C
Switch 4800G-24P
Switch 4924 114.3W 66.5W 47.8W 418.72 kwh
H3C 5500-28C-EI

As seen in this comparison chart, moving to newer technology can provide significant savings for an organization with a typical network (100
Ethernet switches and approximately 2,000 networked nodes). For example, by replacing an older 3Com switch such as the Switch 4900 with the
3Com Switch 4500G/5500-SI, an organization could realize savings that correspond to:
› 79, 890kwh, the equivalent of lighting 62 homes for one year—Based on EPA date indicating 1,250 kwh per year for lighting an average home
› 78% or $7,770 per year on electricity costs—Based on 9.73 cents/kwh (Nov 2008 US Average, Energy Information Administration)
› Reduction of 56 tons of CO2 into the atmosphere—Based on the conversion of 1.43 lbs CO2 per kwh (Energy Information Administration
› Removal of 10 cars for a year from the roadways—Based on using the conversion of 11,560lbs CO2 emitted per year by one car (EPA data)
› Planting 15 acres of trees—Based on the conversion of 7,333lbs CO2 sequestered by acre of trees (EPA Data)

1
Max. power represents power consumption running traffic on all links at a load of 90-95% of capacity
3 3COM® ENERGY-EFFICIENT NETWORKS
3Com- and H3C-branded switches use power supplies with 80
percent or better efficiency under full load. A number of our
switches also support DC connections to dedicated power racks,
which are an even more energy-efficient option.
Power Savings from Control of Port Modes
and Power over Ethernet
Ethernet ports on some of our switches can adopt a sleep mode
in which they automatically shut down if there is no data link.
When there is data transmission, the ports automatically resume
normal activity.
The technology we use enables customers to take advantage of
intuitive Power over Ethernet management where full power on
each port is not required. Network managers can determine
the total power budget by setting a switch’s maximum power
output based on what is connected to a port. These initiati ves
enable the design of smaller and more efficient internal power
supplies. And for customers who need full power, the external
DC system offers a highly resilient and, most importantly, 90-
percent efficient electrical conversion.
MAKING A DIFFERENCE
Regulatory Compliance
3Com-branded and H3C-branded products comply with or exceed
the European Union’s RoHS Directive (the restriction of the use
of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equip-
ment), which bans sales into the EU of new equipment containing
excessive levels of lead, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent
chromium, polybrominated biphenyl (PBB) and polybrominated
diphenyl ether (PBDE) flame retardants. And shipments of our
products to China comply with “China-RoHS”—the China
Ministry of Infor- mation Industry Order #39, “Administrative
Measures on the Control of Pollution Caused by Electronic
Information Products.”
We enforce guidelines for removing hazardous substances and
comply with the WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment)
directive, which makes producers responsible for disposal and
recycling of their products.
As an ENERGY STAR partner, 3Com is part of a global effort to
help customers save money and protect the
environment through energy-efficient
products and practices. For example, the
power adapters we design to be ENERGY
STAR compliant are lighter, smaller and on
average 30 percent more efficient than
conventional models.
Manufacturing Processes
3Com’s engineering teams minimize the discrete component
count on printed circuit boards to reduce the raw materials
consumed and save power. We also use texture mapping rather
than printing, electroplating or bronzing to reduce materials
use. And we use recyclable materials whenever possible in
component manufacturing.
To limit waste, we minimize the physical dimensions of our
products. Simple package design further reduces materials
use and facilitates recycling activities. And sea rather than air
transport is the preferred choice for global distribution of 3Com-
and H3C branded products for additional energy savings and
reduced environmental impact.
Product documentation is published online, which eliminates
printed materials, reduces shipping weight and saves an average
of 10,000 trees a year. This calculation is based on a standard
stack of wood that measures 4 feet wide x 4 feet high x 8 feet
long, that can produce 90,000 sheets of paper and 1.8 million
product shipments per year with 500 pages per document pack.
Safety and Recycling Design
Because recycling is such a critical environmental issue, our
New Product Introduction Process requires the selection of
materials that can be effectively recycled. The company’s
recycling and anti-pollution initiatives include:
› Eliminating added SCCP flame retardants and plasticizers
› Eliminating in large plastic product parts certain flame
retardants classified under European Council Directive
67/548/EEC
› Eliminating lead, cadmium and mercury from batteries
› Eliminating PVC from large plastic product parts
› Identifying materials with special handling needs
› Eliminating paints or coatings that are not compatible with
recycling or reuse
› Identifying and removing components with hazardous
materials
› Eliminating or removing molded/glued-in metal
› Eliminating intentionally added toxins in packaging
› Enabling easy disassembly of external enclosures
› Allowing manual separation of plastics
› Reducing the number of plastic material types
› Ensuring separability of packing materials
› Using a standard minimum 65 percent reusable/recyclable
materials
4

Working Green
Our commitment to the environment extends beyond our
products. We strive daily to put ideals into action, consider-
ing environmental impact as we plan and design company
facilities and operations. We use energy efficiently and work
to preserve and protect our air, water and land by reducing
waste, pollution and water usage.
Our accomplishments include:

› Best-in-class recycling and waste reduction programs that

reduce, reuse and recycle everything from batteries and
light bulbs to computer monitors

› Eco-friendly offices where local flora and fauna are pre-

served and the impact on surrounding woodlands and
bodies of water is minimized

› Intelligent energy management systems for controlling light

and heat, including motion sensors in meeting rooms and
cubicles to control lights and shut them off when not in use

› Use of Magic Salt at corporate headquarters in the U.S. as

a less corrosive, biodegradable and environmentally friendly
solution for de-icing and melting snow

› An environmentally friendly EMEA headquarters in the UK,

featuring intelligent low-energy lighting that adjusts its in-
tensity based on external conditions and automatic exterior
visors that track the sun to maintain a constant internal
temperature

› An environmental management system at our R&D facility

with ISO 14001:2004 Det Norske Veritas (DNV) certification
and an occupational health and safety system with OHSAS
18001:1999 DNV certification

› A global print-on-demand system for marketing and sales

materials that eliminates waste and uses a worldwide net-
work of printers to reduce long-distance shipping

› We leverage our own technologies to enable 3Com employees

to work remotely, reducing travel
5 3COM® ENERGY-EFFICIENT NETWORKS

3Com in Action
Boosting Energy Efficiency by 25%
GTower Sdn Bhd of Malaysia combines solid
business strategies with 3Com’s green tech-
nologies. Its soon-to-be-completed 30-story
GTower is touted as Malaysia’s first “carbon-
positive” building. By reducing CO2 emissions,
it is expected to be up to 25 percent more
energy-efficient than similar structures.
3Com Intelligent Building Solutions (3CiBS) will
integrate with GTower’s fiber-optic and cable
connections to reduce energy consumption and
carbon emissions while optimizing power and
networking capacity. The energy savings and
plug-and-play infrastructure offer tenants a
pay-per-use model with substantial savings.

“For GTower tenants, the energy-

saving measures and plug-and-play
infrastructure of the 3Com Intelligent
Building Solutions pay-per-use
model ultimately results in greater
savings.”
Colin Ng, Director, GTower Sdn Bhd
While there is still more work to be done, 3Com is
committed to providing energy-efficient solutions
that help reduce costs and minimize negative impact
on the environment.

Visit www.3com.com/gogreen for more information about energy-efficient networks from 3Com.

3Com Corporation, Corporate Headquarters, 350 Campus Drive, Marlborough, MA 01752-3064

3Com is publicly traded on NASDAQ under the symbol COMS.
Copyright © 2009 3Com Corporation. All rights reserved. 3Com, the 3Com logo and OfficeConnect are registered trademarks of 3Com Corporation in various
countries worldwide. ‘The Green Grid’ and The Green Grid logo are licensed trademarks of The Green Grid Association in the U.S. and other jurisdictions.
The Energy Star logo is a licensed trademark of Environmental Protection Agency in the U.S. All other company and product names may be trademarks of their
respective holders. While every effort is made to ensure the information given is accurate, 3Com does not accept liability for any errors or mistakes which may
arise. All specifications are subject to change without notice. 600549-006 04/09