Larch Computer Services is a 3Com Partner

Larch Computer Services and 3Com are committed to helping customers achieve their business goals with a broad range of networking solutions that provide a more rewarding experience for end users and a more productive and cost-effective IT organisation.

Build a Small Business Solution

3Com has a range of networking solutions that are purpose built for small offices.
Click on one of the solutions below to find out how you can enhance your business.

Basic Wired Network

Basic Wireless Network

Connecting to the Internet

Call our 3Com Sales Team on 0845 260 9050 to discuss your requirements, or to send an email, click here. 

 

Building a Basic Wired Network

Businesses must communicate and share information effectively to be competitive. Connecting individual PCs using a wired local area network (LAN) is a first step toward obtaining the many networking benefits.

The Solution
3Com has all the components needed to build a wired Ethernet network to meet the needs of your small office. For a network of eight or fewer PCs, to share files and access common resources such as printers, use a 3Com OfficeConnect Dual Speed Switch 8 Plus and 3Com OfficeConnect Network Interface Cards.

Solution Fundamentals

3Com Office Connect Switches
At the centre of any network is a switch or hub. Now more affordable than ever, switches are ideal for growing businesses. The 3Com OfficeConnect family of compact-design switches brings business-class, high quality switches to your network, with a lifetime warranty and one year of telephone support.

3Com Network Interface Cards
To enable computers, printers, and other devices to talk to one another on a LAN, each requires a network interface. Most typically, this connection is provided by a Network Interface Card (NIC). This card fits into a computer's expansion slot and provides the physical connection for the network's cabling.

Alternatives to this Solution

Need higher performance? You may consider the OfficeConnect Gigabit switches. These products are capable of operating compatibly with both 10/100 and 1000 Mbps equipment and provide very high-speed networking for video on demand, ultra-fast file transfer, and mission-critical applications. 

Need shared Internet access? Some devices combine multiple functions including a switch. Gateway routers are devices that allow a broadband Internet connection to be shared by multiple devices. They include switching and router functionality as well as security and firewall features so that LAN devices on the local network can securely access the Internet. The included switch can be used to build a network or to connect to an existing network.

Call our 3Com Sales Team on 0845 260 9050 to discuss your requirements, or to send an email, click here. 

 

Building a Wireless Network

With today's latest technology, you can do away with the cost and hassle of wires and still reap the benefits of networking. With 3Com OfficeConnect wireless products, you get professional products at consumer prices.

Why go Wireless?

• Cut installation costs: a wireless network is more economical than running wires
• Easy to set up: installation is quick, and the network is portable, so it's easy to move as an organization grows and moves to a larger space
• High speed: new 54 Mbps speeds on 802.11a and 802.11g wireless networks make a wireless network a viable alternative for high-bandwidth usage

Why go Wireless with 3Com?

• Reliability and experience: get a wireless network from the company that wired the network
• Ease-of-use: usability design and testing allows a typical install in less than 15 minutes
• Security: advanced 256-bit WPA encryption solves the security issues of the older 802.11b WEP-encryption products
• Freedom of choice: 802.11a/b/g products, 802.11g products, 802.11b products

Understanding Wireless Standards

Standard	Speeds up to 11Mbps	Speeds up to 54Mbps	2.4GHz Frequency	5GHz Frequency	Compatible Standards
802.11a					802.11a
802.11b					802.11b
802.11g					802.11g/ 802.11b

The Solution
3Com has an extensive line of Wi-Fi compatible wireless networking products for your small office. For a network of up to 100 PCs, servers and printers, install an OfficeConnect Wireless 11a/b/g Access Point. The 3Com 11 Mbps Wireless LAN Workgroup Bridge brings wireless networking to devices such as printers with a standard Ethernet connection. Laptops and desktops can use an OfficeConnect Wireless 11a/b/g PC Card or the OfficeConnect Wireless 11g USB Adapter.

Solution Fundamentals

3Com Wireless LAN Access Point
At the centre of a wireless LAN network is an access point. 3Com's broad line of access points meet the wireless LAN requirements from the smallest to the largest of networks. Choose from an 802.11a/b/g access point that supports all 3 wireless standards, an 11g access point that supports 11b and 11g or 11b access points for heritage networks. All are Wi-Fi compatible, fully interoperable with the many Wi-Fi wireless products on the market. 

3Com Wireless LAN Clients
To enable computers to talk to one another on a wireless LAN, each requires a wireless client—either a PC card for use in a laptop, or a USB adapter for use in a desktop or laptop. Choose from tri-mode 11a/b/g, 11g, or 11b products.

3Com 11Mbps Wireless LAN Workgroup Bridge
Bring wireless connectivity to native Ethernet devices with the 3Com 11 Mbps Wireless LAN Workgroup Bridge. Bridge LANs across buildings using the 3Com 11 Mbps Wireless LAN Building-to-Building Bridge.

Alternatives to this Solution

Want shared Internet access and wireless connections? Gateways are devices that allow a broadband Internet connection to be shared by multiple devices. 3Com has a wireless gateway offering, combining an access point, switch and gateway router for shared Internet access. 

Call our 3Com Sales Team on 0845 260 9050 to discuss your requirements, or to send an email, click here. 

 

Connecting to the Internet

The Internet is an essential activity for any business today. With the widespread adoption of e-mail, and new technologies such as "instant messages", an Internet connection is key to maintaining close ties with customers and keeping up with industry trends and competitive developments. 3Com Cable/DSL Gateway Routers provide secure wired and wireless connections to the Internet.

Why use a Gateway Router to access the Internet?

• Economical Internet access: allows shared broadband access for an entire office
• Improved network security: a shared connection is easier to protect

Why choose a 3Com Gateway Router?

• Solution provided by a networking leader with a history of reliable, easy-to-use products
• Freedom of choice: choose gateway routers for wired connections, wired and wireless connections, and for high-security firewall protection
• Ease-of-use: usability design and testing means a typical install in less than 15 minutes
• Security: stateful-packet inspection firewalls and hacker-pattern detection on wired and wireless gateway routers. VPN tunneling, web content filtering, and a host of other security features on the secure router and VPN firewall.

The Solution
The simplest solution for connecting small businesses to the Internet is to network a cable or DSL broadband Internet connection. The connection and basic equipment typically comes from the local Internet Service Provider. The 3Com OfficeConnect Cable/DSL Gateway family devices can turn a single-user connection into a shared connection for a network of up to 253 network users. You can tie it to an existing network — for instance running a 3Com OfficeConnect Dual Speed Switch 8 Plus — or use the device's built-in 4-port switch alone in smaller sites.

Solution Fundamentals

3Com OfficeConnect Secure Router
The 3Com OfficeConnect Secure Router allows up to 253 users to economically share secure Internet access through an existing cable or DSL modem. Its robust hardware platform delivers ultra fast performance. An integrated four-port switch connects to multiple users or another LAN. This product also features an advanced stateful packet inspection firewall with hacker pattern detection and protection against denial of service attacks. 

3Com OfficeConnect Wireless 11g Cable/DSL Gateway
The 3Com OfficeConnect Wireless 11g Cable/DSL Gateway provides robust routing and security features and allows up to 128 wireless users and 253 total wired and wireless users to economically share a single broadband connection. The gateway provides wireless speeds up to 54 Mbps so it easily handles large data transfers and downloads.

Alternatives to this Solution

Looking for the most secure solution? The OfficeConnect VPN Firewall combines a four-port switch with capacity to initiate and terminate up to 50 simultaneous VPN tunnels, a stateful packet inspection firewall, and content filtering for the highest security. It also has hardware acceleration for rapid data encryption.

Wanting a wireless solution? The OfficeConnect Wireless Gateways deliver 802.11g and 802.11b Wi-Fi wireless access with a four-port switch, for mixed wireless and wired environments. Both products support up to 128 wireless users and a total of 253 combined wireless and wired users.

Looking for the lowest cost solution? The 3Com OfficeConnect Cable/DSL Gateway includes a four-port switch and a gateway router with basic firewall security features.

Call our 3Com Sales Team on 0845 260 9050 to discuss your requirements, or to send an email, click here.  

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Larch Computer Services Ltd
Tel: 0845 260 9050   Fax: 0845 260 9051