Warranties Exclusive

marked on the outside of the package, and sent prepaid and packaged appropriately for safe shipment, and it is recommended that they be insured or sent by a method that provides for tracking of the package. The repaired or replaced item will be shipped to Customer, at 3Com's expense, not later than thirty (30) days after 3Com receives the defective product.

Dead- or Defective-on-Arrival. In the event a product completely fails to function or exhibits a defect in materials or workmanship within the first forty-eight (48) hours of installation but no later than thirty (30) days after the date of purchase, and this is verified by 3Com, it will be considered dead- or defective-on-arrival (DOA) and a replacement shall be provided by advance replacement. The replacement product will normally be shipped not later than three (3) business days after 3Com’s verification of the DOA product, but may be delayed due to export or import procedures. When an advance replacement is provided and Customer fails to return the original product to 3Com within fifteen (15) days after shipment of the replacement, 3Com will charge Customer for the replacement product, at list price.

3Com shall not be responsible for any software, firmware, information, or memory data of Customer contained in, stored on, or integrated with any products returned to 3Com for repair, whether under warranty or not.

ADDITIONAL SERVICES:

Telephone Support. This OfficeConnect® product comes with telephone technical support for ninety (90) days. The ninety (90) day period begins on the date of Customer's product purchase.

The telephone technical support is available from 3Com from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., local time, Monday through Friday, excluding local holidays. Telephone technical support is limited to the 3Com products designated above and may include assistance with installation, product specific configuration, and identification of equipment problems. Please refer to the Technical Support appendix in the User Guide for telephone numbers.

Response to requests for telephone technical support will be in the form of a return call from a 3Com representative by close of business the following business day.

To qualify for this 90 days of telephone technical support, you must register on the 3Com Web site at http://support.3Com.com/index.htm, and provide your date of purchase, product number, and serial number. 3Com reserves the right to modify or cancel this telephone support offering at any time, without advance notice. This offer is not available where prohibited or restricted by law.

3Com’s Web and Bulletin Board Service are available at no charge, and provide software and firmware upgrades, a bug list, and technical information about 3Com products.

IF A 3COM PRODUCT DOES NOT OPERATE AS WARRANTED ABOVE, CUSTOMER'S SOLE REMEDY FOR BREACH OF THAT WARRANTY SHALL BE REPAIR, REPLACEMENT, OR REFUND OF THE PURCHASE PRICE PAID, AT 3COM'S OPTION. TO THE FULL EXTENT ALLOWED BY LAW, THE FOREGOING WARRANTIES AND REMEDIES ARE EXCLUSIVE AND ARE IN LIEU OF ALL OTHER WARRANTIES, TERMS, OR CONDITIONS, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, EITHER IN FACT OR BY OPERATION OF LAW, STATUTORY OR OTHERWISE, INCLUDING WARRANTIES, TERMS, OR CONDITIONS OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, SATISFACTORY QUALITY, CORRESPONDENCE WITH DESCRIPTION, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT, ALL OF WHICH ARE EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMED. 3COM NEITHER ASSUMES NOR AUTHORIZES ANY OTHER PERSON TO ASSUME FOR IT ANY OTHER LIABILITY IN CONNECTION WITH THE SALE, INSTALLATION, MAINTENANCE OR USE OF ITS PRODUCTS.

3COM SHALL NOT BE LIABLE UNDER THIS WARRANTY IF ITS TESTING AND EXAMINATION DISCLOSE THAT THE ALLEGED DEFECT OR MALFUNCTION IN THE PRODUCT DOES NOT EXIST OR WAS CAUSED BY CUSTOMER'S OR ANY THIRD PERSON'S MISUSE, NEGLECT, IMPROPER INSTALLATION OR TESTING, UNAUTHORIZED ATTEMPTS TO OPEN, REPAIR OR MODIFY THE PRODUCT, OR ANY OTHER CAUSE BEYOND THE RANGE OF THE INTENDED USE, OR BY ACCIDENT, FIRE, LIGHTNING, OTHER HAZARDS, OR ACTS OF GOD.

LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

TO THE FULL EXTENT ALLOWED BY LAW, 3COM ALSO EXCLUDES FOR ITSELF AND ITS SUPPLIERS ANY LIABILITY, WHETHER BASED IN CONTRACT OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE), FOR INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, INDIRECT, SPECIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES OF ANY KIND, OR FOR LOSS OF REVENUE OR PROFITS, LOSS OF BUSINESS, LOSS OF INFORMATION OR DATA, OR OTHER FINANCIAL LOSS ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SALE, INSTALLATION, MAINTENANCE, USE, PERFORMANCE, FAILURE, OR INTERRUPTION OF ITS PRODUCTS, EVEN IF 3COM OR ITS AUTHORIZED RESELLER HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES, AND LIMITS ITS LIABILITY TO REPAIR, REPLACEMENT, OR REFUND OF THE PURCHASE PRICE PAID, AT 3COM'S OPTION. THIS DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY FOR DAMAGES WILL NOT BE AFFECTED IF ANY REMEDY PROVIDED HEREIN SHALL FAIL OF ITS ESSENTIAL PURPOSE.

Hub specifications

3Com Hub: A Cornerstone of Early Networking Technology

The 3Com Hub represents one of the pioneering devices in the realm of computer networking. Developed by 3Com Corporation in the late 1980s, it played a significant role in facilitating communication within local area networks (LANs). As an essential component during the rise of networked computing, the 3Com Hub laid the groundwork for the development of more advanced networking technologies that followed.

One of the main features of the 3Com Hub is its ability to connect multiple devices within a network in a straightforward manner. Operating primarily at the data link layer (Layer 2) of the OSI model, the hub allows for the interconnection of computers, printers, and other network devices using twisted-pair Ethernet cables. Typically available in 8, 16, or 24 ports, it offered scalability to organizations as they expanded their networks.

The hub operates using Ethernet technology, which was evolving rapidly at the time. It effectively transmitted data packets by broadcasting signals to all connected devices. While this method is simple and efficient for smaller networks, it also means that bandwidth is shared among all devices. This mechanism could lead to collisions when multiple devices attempted to send data simultaneously, a common limitation during the era of hubs.

In terms of characteristics, the 3Com Hub is a plug-and-play device, meaning it requires no complex configuration. This ease of installation was particularly advantageous for organizations that were just beginning to adopt networking technologies. The hub also supported a variety of Ethernet standards, including 10BASE-T and 100BASE-T, allowing for flexible implementation as network requirements evolved.

3Com hubs were designed with durability in mind, with a robust chassis that could withstand the rigors of office environments. They typically featured LED indicators for power and link status, providing users with immediate feedback about the operation of the network. Although modern networking has moved toward switches and routers that provide greater efficiency and intelligence, the 3Com Hub remains an iconic representation of early networking solutions.

In conclusion, the 3Com Hub played a vital role during the formative years of computer networking, providing the foundation for many of the technologies that dominate today’s networks. While it may seem primitive in the context of advanced networking options available today, its influence on the development of LAN technologies is undeniable. As organizations continue to navigate the evolution of networking, the legacy of the 3Com Hub endures.