In the second half of that year, another software update will follow, and support for a two-port ATM 155 module and a one-port ATM 622 module will fill out the roster. With support for ATM, the CoreBuilder 3500 becomes a natural Multiprotocol Over ATM (MPOA) client; 3Com plans to implement MPOA client support for its scheduled summer 1998 code release.

Rounding the Bases Don't be fooled by the CoreBuilder 3500's low profile--this product is a heavy hitter. 3Com has packed full packet-by-packet wire speed Layer 3 IP and IPX routing into this box, making it ideal for corporate intranets. The CoreBuilder 3500 isn't an IP switch wrapped up in a marketing blanket either. It feat ures full RIP I functionality, and OSPF support will be added next spring.

The CoreBuilder 3500 I tested came fully popu lated with 24 ports of 10/100BASE-TX Fast Ethernet. In our labs, I tested the CoreBuilder 3500 using two Netcom Systems' Smartbits analyzers. Using Smart Windows software, I generated 24 streams of fully meshed Layer 2 traffic. Each port sent traffic sequentially to every other port on the system. I tested 64-byte and 1,518-byte packets at wire speed, and the CoreBuilder 3500 never dropped a packet.

I then reconfigured the switch to make each port a logical IP interface. Using the Smartbits analyzer, I simulated 24 streams of meshed IP traffic, with each packet destined for a different IP network. In this instance, the CoreBuilder 3500 routed both 64-byte and 1,518-byte packets at wire speed, and not a single packet was dropped. I tried throwing a curve ball at the switch--a mix of 11 bridged and 12 routed streams in a meshed fashion--and it was high and wide. The CoreBuilder 3500 forwarded and routed every packet at wire speed without blinking an eye. Finally, I tested broadcast performance. I sent broad cast packets at wire speed in one port and observed wire-speed broadcasts on every other port. In addition, I sent a second stream back to the originating broadcast port--no packets were lost.

3Com doesn't stop with IP functionality, however. I also tested the beta IPX routing code, which is due to ship next spring. I set up 24 IPX subnets and used the Smartbits analyzer to simulate IPX routed traffic in a fully meshed topology. Again, not a single packet was dropped during the wire-speed tests of 64-byte and 1,518-byte packets.