3Com Unified Gigabit Wireless PoE Switch 24... User manual

3Com®Unified Gigabit Wireless
PoE Switch 24
Quick Start Guide
Kurzanleitung
3CRUS2475
Copyright ® 2006 3Com Corporation. All rights reserved.
www.3Com.com
Part Number 10015246 Rev. AA
Published Se
p
tember 2006

About this Guide This guide is intended for use by those responsible for installing and
setting up network equipment; consequently, it assumes a basic working
knowledge of LANs (local area networks) and WLANs (wireless local area
networks).
Diese Anleitung ist fur die Benutzung durch Netzwerkadministratoren
vorgesehen, die fur die Installation und das einstellen von
Netzwerkkomponenten verantwortlich sind; sie setzt Erfahrung bei der
Arbeit mit LANs (Local Area Networks) und WLANs ( Wireless Local Area
Networks) voranus.

3
Get the latest documentation
and software for your
3Com switch
Thank you for purchasing a 3Com®Unified Gigabit Wireless PoE
Switch 24. As part of our commitment to help you get the most out of
your 3Com network equipment, we offer updated documentation and
software on our website.
In addition to this Quick Start Guide, a detailed User Guide and a
Command Line Interface Guide are also available on the 3Com website.
To obtain the most up-to-date user documentation and operating
software for the 3Com Unified Switch 24, point your web browser to:
www.3Com.com and select the “Support and Registration” link.
Please note that you must register your 3Com switch to receive software
upgrades. To register, point your web browser to eSupport.3Com.com.

4Get the latest documentation and software for your 3Com switch

5
Contents
About this Guide 2
Get the latest documentation and software
for your 3Com switch 3
1 Introducing the 3Com Unified Gigabit
Wireless PoE Switch 24 7
Overview of the Unified Gigabit Wireless PoE Switch 24 9
Unified Switching 9
Wired Features 10
Power over Ethernet (PoE) Features 10
Wireless Features 10
2 Installing the 3Com Unified Switch 24 11
Checking the Package Contents 11
Choosing a Suitable Location 11
Aufstellen des Switch 12
Free-Standing Installation 12
Placing Units On Top of Each Other 13
Rack-Mount Installation 13
Montagesatz Anweisungen 14
Supplying Power 15
Stromversorgung 15
Checking for Correct Operation 16
3 Connecting to the 3Com Unified Switch 24 17
Before you begin 17
Connecting your computer to the switch 17
Using the setup wizard 18
Preparing the wireless network 20
Activating the Managed Access Points 21

6
4 Preparing the Managed Access Points 23
Preparing the 7760 Access Point 24
Preparing the 8760 Access Point 25
Resetting Access Points 26
5 Upgrade your Switch to the Latest Software 27
Loading Software into the Switch 27
Running a New Software Image 28
6 Restoring the Factory Default Settings 29
7 Changing the Password 30
8 Using SFP Transceivers 31
Approved SFP Transceivers 31
Inserting and using an SFP Transceiver 31
Removing an SFP Transceiver 32
9 Troubleshooting 33
10 Technical Information 35
Related Standards 35
Environmental 35
Physical 36
Electrical 36
11 Obtaining Support for your 3Com Product 37
Register Your Product to Gain Service Benefits 37
Solve Problems Online 37
Purchase Extended Warranty and Professional Services 38
Access Software Downloads 38
Contact Us 38
Telephone Technical Support and Repair 39

7
1Introducing the
3Com Unified Gigabit
Wireless PoE Switch 24
Figure 1 Front and Rear Views of the Unified Switch 24
1& 2 3 5678
4
11910
Table 1 Features of the Unified Switch 24
Reference Description
110/100/1000 Mbps Network Ports (1–24): These autonegotiating ports determine the speed and
duplex mode based on the connected device. Each port supports automatic MDI/MDIX detection and
can be connected to a 10BASE-T, 100BASE-T, or 1000BASE-T device.
2LED Port Status Indicators: Each Network Port has a corresponding status indicator (1 to 24) that
shows the status of the port’s network connection or PoE status (depending on the LED Status Select
button).
Port Speed
■Green steady: 1000 Mbps link is present.
■Green flashing: 1000 Mbps traffic is present.
■Amber steady: 10/100 Mbps link is present.
■Amber flashing: 10/100 Mbps traffic is present.
■Off: Link is not present
PoE Status
■Green steady: PoE Power is being delivered to the port
■Off: No power is being delivered.

8Introducing the 3Com Unified Gigabit Wireless PoE Switch 24
3LED Status Select Button: This button sets the function of the Port LED indicators. When the button
is in the out position, the port LEDs show the port speed (see #2 above). When the button is pressed
in, the port LEDs show the PoE status.
4SFP Module Slots (21–24): The four Small Form Factor Pluggable (SFP) transceiver slots allow you to
install an SFP transceiver (purchased separately). These ports support fiber Gigabit Ethernet short-wave
(SX) and long-wave (LX) SFP transceivers in any combination.
When an SFP module is installed in a slot and is active, the associated RJ-45 port (21 to 24) of the
same number is disabled.
5SFP Module Status Indicator: The four SFP status LED indicators show the state of the SFP module
ports (21 to 24; see #4).
■Green: An SFP fiber module is present.
■Off: No fiber module is present.
When an SFP module is present, the fiber port activity is indicated by the corresponding LED over the
RJ-45 port (21 to 24):
■Green steady: Fiber link is present.
■Green flashing: Fiber link traffic is present.
■Off: Link is not present
6Fan Indicator: Shows the status of the internal fans.
Green steady: All fans are functioning properly.
Amber steady: The switch is too hot.
Amber flashing: One or more fans have failed
7System Indicator: Shows the overall status of the switch.
■Green steady: The switch is powered-up and operating normally.
■Green flashing: The switch is undergoing self test, initialization, or downloading.
■Amber steady: The switch has detected a hardware malfunction such as temperature, fan, or
voltage.
■Off: No power. The switch is off.
8Console Port: Allows you to connect a terminal and perform out-of-band management. The default
communications settings are 19200 bps, 8 data bits, no Parity, 1 stop bit.
9Reset Button: Use the reset button to restore the switch to its factory defaults. See “Restoring the
Factory Default Settings” on page 29.
10 AC Power Input: Accepts 100–240 Vac, 50/60 Hz input power. The switch automatically adjusts to
the input voltage.
11 Feet: These are self-adhesive pads. You do not need to install them if you are rack-mounting the
switch.
Table 1 Features of the Unified Switch 24 (continued)
Reference Description

Overview of the Unified Gigabit Wireless PoE Switch 24 9
WARNING: The Network Ports are shielded RJ-45 data sockets. They
cannot be used as standard traditional telephone sockets, or to connect
the unit to a traditional PBX or public telephone network. Connect only
RJ-45 data connectors, network telephony systems, or network
telephones to these sockets.
Either shielded or unshielded data cables with shielded or unshielded
jacks can be connected to these data sockets.
AVERTISSEMENT: Points d’accès RJ-45. Ceux-ci sont protégés par des
prises de données. Ils ne peuvent pas être utilisés comme prises de
téléphone conventionnelles standard, ni pour la connection de l’unité à
un réseau téléphonique central privé ou public. Raccorder seulement
connecteurs de données RJ-45, systèmes de réseaux de téléphonie ou
téléphones de réseaux à ces prises.
Il est possible de raccorder des câbles protégés ou non protégés avec des
jacks protégés ou non protégés à ces prises de données.
WARNHINWEIS: RJ-45-Porte. Diese Porte sind geschützte
Datensteckdosen. Sie dürfen weder wie normale traditionelle
Telefonsteckdosen noch für die Verbindung der Einheit mit einem
traditionellem privatem oder öffentlichem Telefonnetzwerk gebraucht
werden. Nur RJ-45-Datenanscluße, Telefonnetzsysteme or Netztelefone
an diese Steckdosen anschließen.
Entweder geschützte oder ungeschützte Buchsen dürfen an diese
Datensteckdosen angeschlossen werden.
Overview of the
Unified Gigabit
Wireless PoE
Switch 24
The 3Com® Unified Gigabit Wireless PoE Switch 24 is a versatile,
easy-to-use unified switch. It is shipped ready for use, and no
configuration is necessary for operation as a basic Layer 2 Gigabit PoE
switch. Additional features such as wireless can be configured easily using
the Web-based user interface and setup wizard. Support for PoE and
voice auto-prioritization makes the Unified Switch 24 a perfect starting
point for IP telephony solutions.
Unified Switching A unified switch is an all-in-one, fully-managed Ethernet switch
combining gigabit, wireless, and PoE connectivity in a single platform.
The Unified Switch 24 supports both wired Ethernet switching and
centralized control for up to 24 wireless access points.

10 Introducing the 3Com Unified Gigabit Wireless PoE Switch 24
Wired Features The switch has 24 shielded RJ-45, 10/100/1000 Mbps auto-negotiating
ports and four Small Form Factor Pluggable (SFP) transceiver slots on the
front panel.
The four SFP ports support fiber Gigabit Ethernet short-wave (SX) and
long-wave (LX) SFP transceivers in any combination. This offers you the
flexibility of using SFP transceivers to provide connectivity between the
switch and a 1000 Mbps core network.
When an SFP port is in operation, the corresponding 10/100/1000BASE-T
port (21 to 24) is disabled.
Power over Ethernet
(PoE) Features
The switch can provide Power over Ethernet (PoE) to 802.3af compliant
devices over a Category 5 or better Ethernet cable. The switch can supply
up to 15.4 Watts of PoE to each of the 24 gigabit ports simultaneously.
PoE (802.3af) is a self-configuring protocol. When you plug an 802.3af
device into one of the gigabit ports on the switch, the switch will supply
the required power to the device.
Wireless Features The 3Com Unified Switch 24 provides centralized control for up to 24
3Com 7760 or 8760 Access Points. Key wireless features include:
■Enterprise-grade WPA2/AES encryption
■802.1X authentication
■Centralized control for wireless security profiles
■Fast roaming
■Rogue AP detection and mitigation
■Multiple SSIDs per radio
■Traffic prioritization
■Load balancing

11
2Installing the 3Com Unified
Switch 24
Checking the
Package Contents
The Unified Switch 24 package includes the following items:
■One 3Com Unified Gigabit Wireless PoE Switch 24 unit
■One power cord
■Four standard height, self-adhesive rubber pads
■One mounting kit
■One warranty flyer and one safety flyer
■This Quick Start Guide
If any of the above items are damaged or missing, please contact your
network supplier immediately.
WARNING: Before installing this switch, please read the safety flyer
included with the unit.
GEFAHR: Lesen Sie bitte vor Installation des Switch das diesem Gerät
beiliegende Sicherheitsblatt durch.
Choosing a Suitable
Location
The switch can be free-standing (see “Free-Standing Installation” on
page 12), or it can be mounted in a 19-inch equipment rack using the
supplied mounting kit (see “Rack-Mount Installation” on page 13). When
deciding where to position the switch, ensure that:
■It is accessible and cables can be connected easily.
■Cabling is away from sources of electrical noise. These include elevator
shafts, microwave ovens, and air-conditioning units. Electromagnetic
fields can interfere with the signals on copper cabling and introduce
errors, and, consequently, slow down your network.
■Water or moisture cannot enter the case of the unit.

12 Installing the 3Com Unified Switch 24
■Air flow around the unit and through the vents on the side of the case
is not restricted. 3Com recommends that you provide a minimum of
25 mm (1 in.) clearance.
■The air is as free of dust as possible.
■Temperature operating limits are not likely to be exceeded. 3Com
recommends that you install the switch in a clean, air conditioned
environment.
When installing network equipment, it is always good practice to wear an
antistatic wrist strap that is connected to a ground point. If one is not
available, try to keep in contact with a grounded rack and avoid touching
the unit's ports and connectors. Static discharge can cause reliability
problems in your equipment.
Aufstellen des
Switch
Bei der Entscheidung wo Sie den Switch positionieren, stellen Sie sicher
das:
■Der Switch zugänglich ist und die Kabel leicht angeschlossen werden
können.
■Die Kabel nicht in der nähe von elektrischen Störquellen befinden. Das
schließt Aufzugsschächte, Mikrowellen und Klimaanlagen ein.
Elektromagnetische Felder können die Signale in den Kupferleitungen
stören, und Fehler verursachen, was die Verlangsamung Ihres
Netzwerkes zur Folge haben kann.
■Weder Wasser noch Feuchtigkeit in das Gehäuse eindringen kann.
■Die Luftzirkulation um den Switch und durch die Öffnungen des
Gehäuses nicht behindert wird. 3Com empfiehlt das Sie 25mm (1
Inch) Zwischenraum sicherstellen.
■Die Luft so frei wie möglich von Staub ist.
■Es unwahrscheinlich ist das die Betriebstemperatur überschritten wird.
3Com empfiehlt das Sie den Switch in einer sauberen, klimatisierten
Umgebung installieren.
Free-Standing
Installation
Place the switch on a stable, flat surface where it is not likely to be
disturbed. Do not place objects on top of the switch or on top of a stack
of switches. When locating the unit, you should take note of the
guidelines given in “Choosing a Suitable Location” on page 11.

Rack-Mount Installation 13
If you are installing the switch in a free-standing stack with other 3Com
equipment, arrange the smaller units above the larger ones. Do not have
a free-standing stack of more than four units.
Placing Units On Top
of Each Other
If the switch units are free-standing, up to four units can be placed one
on top of the other. If you are mixing a variety of 3Com equipment, the
smaller units must be positioned at the top.
If you are placing switch units one on top of the other, you must use the
self-adhesive rubber pads supplied. Apply the pads to the underside of
each switch, sticking one in the marked area at each corner.
Rack-Mount
Installation
The switch is one rack-unit (1U, or 1.75 in.) high and will fit in a standard
19-inch equipment rack. The supplied mounting kit includes two
mounting brackets and four screws. When rack-mounting the unit, you
should take note of the guidelines given in “Choosing a Suitable
Location” on page 11.
CAUTION: Disconnect all cables from the unit before continuing.
Remove the self-adhesive pads from the underside of unit, if already
fitted.
1Place the unit on a hard, flat surface with the front facing towards you.
2Position a mounting bracket over the mounting holes on one side of the
unit. Refer to Figure 2 “Attaching Rack-Mount Hardware” on page 14.
3Insert the screws supplied in the mounting kit and fully tighten with a
suitable screwdriver.
4Repeat the two previous steps for the other side of the unit.
5Insert the unit into the 19-inch rack and secure with suitable screws (not
provided).
6Reconnect all cables.

14 Installing the 3Com Unified Switch 24
Figure 2 Attaching Rack-Mount Hardware
Montagesatz
Anweisungen
Der Switch wird mit zwei Halterungen und vier Schrauben geliefert. Diese
werde für den Einbau in einen Baugruppenträger benutzt. Bei der
Montage der Baugruppe beachten Sie die Anweisungen aus “Aufstellen
des Switch“.
Der Switch ist eine Baueinheit hoch und passt in einen Standard 19'' (Zoll)
Baugruppenträger.
ACHTUNG: Entfernen Sie alle Kabel, bevor Sie fortfahren. Entfernen Sie
die selbstklebenden Polster (Füße) von der Unterseite der Baugruppe, falls
diese bereits angebracht sind.
1Plazieren Sie die Baugruppe aufrecht auf einer harten, ebenen Fläche mit
der Vorderseite zu Ihnen.
2Ordnen Sie eine der Halterungen über den Löchern an der Seite der
Baugruppe an.
3Stecken Sie zwei der mitgelieferten Schrauben in die Löcher und drehen
Sie diese mit einem geeigneten Schraubendreher fest.
4Widerholen Sie letzten beiden Schritte auf der anderen Seite der
Baugruppe.
5Führen Sie die Baugruppe in den 19" (Zoll) Baugruppenträger ein und
sichern sie die Baugruppe mit geeigneten Schrauben. (Nicht im
Lieferumfang enthalten.)
6Schließen Sie alle Kabel wieder an.

Supplying Power 15
Supplying Power Ensure that the power input to your system is clean and free from sags
and surges to avoid unforeseen network outages.
Before powering on the switch, verify that the power cable is securely
connected.
CAUTION: The switch has no On/Off switch; the only method of
connecting or disconnecting main power is by connecting or
disconnecting the power cord.
CAUTION: Connect the switch to a properly grounded electrical outlet
using only the supplied power cord.
1Plug the power cord into the power socket on the rear panel of the
switch. See page 8 for more information.
2Plug the other end of the power cord into a properly-grounded outlet.
When the switch is powered on, the System LED lights. If the System LED
does not light, see “Checking for Correct Operation” on page 16 for
more information.
Stromversorgung Stellen Sie sicher, dass der Stromeingang zum System frei ist und vor
Unter- und Überspannungen geschützt ist.
Bevor Sie den Switch mit Strom versorgen, stellen Sie sicher, dass das
Netzkabel sicher eingesteckt ist.
WARNUNG: Der Switch hat keinen Ein/Aus-Schalter; die einzige
Methode zum Verbinden oder Trennen vom Stromnetz ist es, das
Netzkabel ein- oder auszustecken.
WARNUNG: Verbinden Sie den Switch nur mit dem mitgelieferten
Netzkabel und einem ordnungsgemäß geerdeten Stromanschluss.
1Stecken Sie das Netzkabel in den Stromanschluss auf der Hinterseite des
Switch. Weitere Informationen finden Sie auf page 8.
2Stecken Sie das andere Ende des Stromkabels in einen ordnungsgemäß
geerdeten Stromzugang.
Wenn der Switch mit Strom versorgt wird, leuchtet die System-LED.
Wenn die System-LED nicht leuchtet, finden Sie unten weitere
Informationen unter “Checking for Correct Operation” on page 16.

16 Installing the 3Com Unified Switch 24
Checking for
Correct Operation
After you power-on the switch, it automatically performs a power-on
self-test (POST). During the POST, the System LED on the front panel of
the switch flashes green.
When the POST is complete, the System LED turns green. If the System
LED turns amber after the POST, it means that POST failed. Table Tabl e 2
summarizes the possible colors for the System LED after a POST.
If POST fails, try the following:
■Power off the Switch 24 and then power it on again by unplugging
and then plugging in the power cord.
■Check the System LED and determine if the POST was successfully
completed.
■Reset the switch to the factory defaults. See “Reset Button” on
page 8.
CAUTION: Resetting the switch to its factory defaults erases all your
settings. You will need to reconfigure the switch after you reset it.
If these do not resolve the issue:
■Check the 3Com Knowledgebase for a solution. To visit the 3Com
Knowledgebase Web site, start your Web browser, and then enter
http://knowledgebase.3Com.com
■Contact your 3Com network supplier for assistance.
Table 2 Possible System LED Colors After a POST
Color State
Green The unit is powered on and ready for use.
Amber Power-on self-test or loopback test failed. This indicates that
there is a hardware malfunction.
Off The unit is not receiving power:
■Verify that the power cord is connected correctly, and
then try powering on switch again.
■If the switch still does not operate, contact your 3Com
network supplier

17
3Connecting to the 3Com
Unified Switch 24
This section describes how to connect to the 3Com®Unified Switch 24
and interact with the Web-based user interface. The user interface allows
you to control the operation of the switch and configure its features.
Before you begin The following items are required before you can connect to your Unified
Switch 24:
■A Windows PC with Internet Explorer version 6.0 or greater is required
for using the Web-based user interface
■A DHCP server is required to use the wireless features of the switch.
The DHCP server is used to assign IP addresses to the managed access
points.
Connecting your
computer to the
switch
To configure your switch for the first time, you must connect your
computer directly to the switch.
1Make sure that the switch is powered on (see “Supplying Power” on
page 15).
2Connect a network cable from your computer’s Ethernet port to any
Ethernet port on the Unified Switch 24.
PC
UnifiedSwitch 24
Ethernet cable
169.254.2.200
169.254.2.100 = Default IP address

18 Connecting to the 3Com Unified Switch 24
CAUTION: Do not connect any network cable to the Console port on the
switch. Connect only to the Ethernet ports.
3Ensure that your computer is on the same subnet as the switch.
NOTE: The switch’s default IP address is 169.254.2.100.
aIf your computer is using static IP addressing, ensure that its address is
within the same subnet as the switch, for example 169.254.2.200.
bIf your computer is not using static IP addressing, Windows will
automatically assign an IP address in the correct subnet.
4Start your Web browser and type the switch’s IP address into the address
bar: http://169.254.2.100.
Using the setup
wizard
The Unified Switch 24 can be configured through its web interface using
either the feature menu items, or by using the Setup Wizard. This section
describes how to use the Setup Wizard to quickly configure your switch
for basic Layer 2 and wireless networking. The wizard guides you through
configuring the system settings, IP settings, wireless settings, and saving
your changes. For complete configuration information, refer to the User
Guide.
1If you have not done so already, access the switch’s Web user interface by
typing the switch’s IP address into the address bar of your Web browser:
http://169.254.2.100.
2Log onto the switch by entering the user name and password and
clicking the Login button.
■The default username is admin.
■The default password is blank (no entry).
3Launch the Setup Wizard by clicking the Wizard tab.
A welcome screen is displayed, showing the switch’s current
configuration. You will use the Next and Back buttons to navigate the
wizard and configure your switch.
4Use the Next button to access the System Setup page. If you want to use
wireless, you must check Master Radio Enable and select the
appropriate Country Code. This setting is used to determine the
allowable radio channels for your access points. The System Name,
Location, and Contact are optional.

Using the setup wizard 19
5Use the Next button to access the IP Configuration page and choose
either Static or DHCP addressing.
For most installations, 3Com recommends that you configure the switch
with a static IP address. This makes management simpler and more
reliable, as it eliminates the risk of the switch’s IP address changing.
Take a moment to record the IP settings you select.
IP Address: ______________________________
Subnet Mask: ______________________________
Default Gateway: ______________________________
6Use the Next button to access the Wireless Configuration page. Set the
default SSID and security that will be applied to all your access points.
This allows you to quickly setup a secure wireless network. You can
change these parameters later if you wish. For complete wireless
configuration information, refer to the User Guide.
Take a moment to record the wireless settings you select.
SSID: ______________________________
Security Type: ______________________________
Passphrase: ______________________________
VLAN ID: ______________________________
7Use the Next button to access the Wizard Summary page. Review your
settings and use the Back button if you wish to make any changes. When
you are satisfied with your settings click the Finish button to complete
the wizard and save your settings.
8If you have changed the default IP address of the switch, follow these
steps to log onto the switch:
aAfter you click Finish, click OK to confirm the changed IP address.
bConfigure your PC’s IP address to have the same subnet as the switch.
cLog onto the switch again using the new IP address.
9Select Save Configuration to store your switch settings to the startup
configuration.
10 The switch is now fully configured for basic Layer 2 networking. If you
wish to use the switch’s wireless features, continue with the steps in
“Preparing the wireless network” on page 20.

20 Connecting to the 3Com Unified Switch 24
CAUTION: When you make configuration changes to the switch, you
must select Save Configuration to store your settings to the startup
configuration. If you do not select Save Configuration, any modified
settings will be lost the next time the switch is restarted.
CAUTION: To protect your switch from unauthorized access, you should
change the default password as soon as possible. See “Changing the
Password” on page 35.
Preparing the
wireless network
To use the wireless features of your switch, you must first connect a
DHCP server to the switch. The DHCP server is required to assign IP
address to the managed access points. If you are already using a cable,
DSL, or traditional router to access the Internet, you may use this router’s
DHCP functionality to provide IP addresses to the access points.Refer to
the figure below.
PC
UnifiedSwitch 24
DHCP Server
AP 7760
Wireless Managed
Access Point
AP 8760
Wireless Managed
Access Point
Connect DHCP server first
Connect access points
after DHCP server
1
2