Security Offloads and Fiber-Optic Throughput Designed for Windows, Linux, and NetWare environments, the 3Com® 100 Secure Fiber-FX NIC hardens at-risk systems without impacting performance. It combines an embedded security processor with the outstanding signal quality of fiber-optic cabling. This innovative 100BASE-FX connection offloads encryption, authentication, and other cycle-intensive tasks from the host CPU—resulting in optimal system and application response. The lack of electrical resistance makes fiber-cabled infrastructures particularly useful for reducing line interference or "noise", extending connection distances over 100 meters, or delivering the highest-quality voice and video transmissions. Intelligent management and server features help improve network performance, reduce administration time, and lower support costs. * Works with fiber-optic cabling to extend operating distances, lower electrical interference, and resist packet sniffing * Secures sensitive data at wire speeds—with DES/3DES encryption, MD5 and SHA-1 hashing, RFC 2402 authentication, and up to 75 Security Associations * Hardware-enforced security features meet FIPS 140-2 criteria; NIST approval pending * Supports larger packets—segments TCP frames for the Ethernet MAC and adds TCP sequence numbers to each packet * Uses flow control to reduce lost packets and retransmissions for more efficient data transfer between the NIC and switch * Responds to router-based management requests from sleep mode to help resolve IP address-aging issues * Includes 3Com Managed PC Boot Agent for pre-OS management, including installation, recovery, and network boot * Multipacks available; click on Pricing & Availability or Other Places to Buy for more information Product Specifications * Media: 100BASE-FX * Connector: SC * Bus: 32-bit, 33 MHz PCI * Cabling: long-wavelength fiber-optic cable (1300 nm), 50 µ/125 µ or 62.5 µ/125 µ multimode fiber * Operating distance: full-duplex up to 2,000 m (6,560 ft), half-duplex up to 412 m (1,351 ft) * Onboard processor: ARM9 security processor, 100 MHz RISC * Security offloads: 168-bit 3DES, 56-bit DES, SHA-1, MD5, RFC 2402; up to 75 security associations * Other offloads: TCP segmentation, TCP/UDP/IP checksum * Network protocols: TCP/IP, ISO 8802-3 * Standards compliance: PC 99, WfM 1.1a/2.0, ACPI 1.0, DMI, PXE 2.0, RIS, IEEE 802.3, PCI 2.2, FIPS 140-2 (pending) * Drivers: Linux 2.4; Microsoft Windows 2003 Server, 2000, XP, NT 4.0; Novell NetWare 5.x, 6.x * Management: SNMP manageable; 3Com Managed PC Boot Agent * Safety, electromagnetic compatibility: Meets FCC requirements, FCC B, CE, C Tick * Dimensions: length: 13.34 cm (5.25 in); width: 6.35cm (2.50 in) * Power: +5V +/- 5% @ 1.26 A max. * Temperature: 0o to 70o C (32o to 158o F) operating, -30o to 90o C (-22o to 194o F) storage * Humidity: 10% to 90% noncondensing, operating/storage System Requirements * PCI-2.2 compliant systems * 5 V or 3.3 V signaling environments * Fiber-optic cabling and switching Package Contents * NIC * CD-ROM with 3Com Connection Assistant, Managed PC Boot Agent, and user guide Please Note * Windows 2003 Server, 2000, or XP operating system required for offload capabilities. * Windows 2003 Server or XP operating system required for TCP segmentation. * Remote wake up operates in systems from standby mode only; it is not supported in shutdown or sleep modes.