These highly affordable, unmanaged Gigabit switches are the ideal network building blocks for supporting dynamic, creative small-to-midsize business environments. With wirespeed Gigabit throughput and a switching capacity of up to 48 Gbps, these switches deliver the performance needed for the most bandwidth hungry applications. Advanced Class-of-Service (CoS) 802.1p traffic prioritization makes sure that real-time applications such as video and audio take priority so they run effectively, and enable the switches to operate in larger network environments. With 3Com Baseline Switch 2800 family, you can support legacy Ethernet and Fast Ethernet desktops while connecting demanding higher speed desktops and servers. As network equipment evolves - new servers with built-in Gigabit Ethernet connections, for example - you can smoothly transition to higher speeds while protecting your network investment. This flexibility means that you can take advantage of high bandwidth LAN connections today and avoid exceeding throughput capacity as your office staff or application bandwidth needs grow. Designed for small businesses that do not require network management, the 3Com Baseline Switch 2824 operates straight out of the box, with no configuration required. The auto MDI/MDIX cable detection feature on all ports identifies and adapts to the Ethernet cable type, eliminating most common cabling errors and simplifying installation. Once the switch is up and running, autosensing ports detect and adjust to the speed of the connected device to optimize network performance. Small-business configurations can vary, so these Gigabit switches are designed to operate as a free-standing switch, or as a rack-mounted switch using the included mounting kit. The standard 19-inch, one rack-unit-high (1RU) enclosure optimizes valuable rack space in small-to-midsize office spaces. As with 3Com's other award-winning small-business products, once these Gigabit switches are up and running, they tend not to stop. Their sturdy design and construction pays off in high reliability and long service life - highly appreciated by today's resource-strapped organizations. 3Com switches are consistently among the industry's most reliable products.