What is the maximum switching capacity of the 3Com 5500G-EI 48-port model?

The 48-port model delivers up to 232 Gbps switching capacity with optional 2-port 10-Gigabit modules installed. Without optional modules, it provides 192 Gbps. The forwarding rate reaches 172.6 Mpps maximum with 10-Gigabit modules and 142.3 Mpps without them, ensuring wirespeed performance across all ports.

How many switches can be stacked, and what is the total port count?

Up to eight 3Com Switch 5500G-EI units can be stacked using XRN technology, creating a single managed entity. A full stack of eight 48-port switches provides 448 total Gigabit Ethernet ports with 96 Gbps full-duplex stacking bandwidth for inter-switch communication.

Does this switch support Power over Ethernet (PoE)?

Yes, the PWR (Power over Ethernet) variant supports IEEE 802.3af PoE, delivering up to 15.4 Watts per port on 48-port models. The switch can supply up to 300W total PoE power, supporting IP phones, wireless access points, and other PoE-enabled devices. Non-PWR models are field-upgradeable to PoE.

What management interfaces are available?

The switch offers multiple management options: CLI (Command Line Interface), web-based GUI, and SNMP for remote monitoring. It supports RADIUS authentication and IEEE 802.1x access control for enterprise security. Management is simplified in stacked configurations through a single IP address.

What routing protocols does this switch support?

As a Layer 2/3/4 switch, it supports OSPF (Open Shortest Path First) and PIM-SM (Protocol Independent Multicast - Sparse Mode) routing protocols. It also supports IEEE 802.1Q VLANs with 16K MAC addresses in the address table and 1K static MAC addresses for advanced network segmentation.

What are the physical dimensions and power requirements?

The switch features a 1U rack-mountable chassis. Power consumption varies by model: 48-port non-PWR requires 142W maximum, while 48-port PWR requires 181W plus up to 300W for PoE delivery. It operates at 0-40°C with redundant hot-swappable power supply options for high-availability deployments.

What fiber connectivity options are available?

The switch includes four dual-purpose ports functioning as either 10/100/1000 Ethernet or 1000Base-X SFP Gigabit ports. An expansion module slot supports optional 2-port 10-Gigabit modules or additional SFP ports, enabling flexible fiber uplink configurations for core network connectivity.

3CR17255-91 - 3Com Switch 5500G-EI 48-Port 48 x 10/100/1000Base-T RJ-45 ports Switch

Name: 3CR17255-91 - 3Com Switch 5500G-EI 48-Port 48 x 10/100/1000Base-T RJ-45 ports Switch
Brand: 3Com
SKU: 3CR17255-91

3CR17255-91 - 3Com Switch 5500G-EI 48-Port 48 x 10/100/1000Base-T RJ-45 ports Switch | US IT Hardware

Product overview

The 3Com Switch 5500G-EI 48-Port is an enterprise-grade Layer 2/3/4 stackable Gigabit Ethernet switch designed for demanding network environments. It features 48 10/100/1000Base-T ports with four dual-purpose ports supporting 1000Base-X SFP connectivity, delivering up to 232 Gbps switching capacity and 172.6 Mpps forwarding rate. The switch supports IEEE 802.1Q VLANs, OSPF and PIM-SM routing protocols, and includes SNMP management with CLI and web-based interfaces. Up to eight units stack via 3Com XRN technology with 96 Gbps full-duplex stacking bandwidth, enabling 448 total Gigabit ports per stack. Optional PoE support delivers 15.4 Watts per port for IP telephony and wireless access points. The 1U rack-mountable chassis operates at 0-40°C with redundant power supply options, making it ideal for data centers, enterprise networks, and converged network deployments requiring high-density, reliable switching.

232 Gbps switching capacity with 172.6 Mpps forwarding
48 Gigabit ports + 4 SFP dual-purpose ports
Stackable up to 8 units via XRN technology
Layer 2/3/4 with OSPF, PIM-SM routing support
Optional PoE: 15.4W per port for IP devices
CLI, Web, SNMP management + 802.1x security

Expedited and overnight shipping options are available at checkout, priced by destination and service.
Purchase orders accepted from qualified institutions.
Refunds within 14 days and replacements within 30 days of delivery with an RMA (25% restocking fee on customer-initiated returns), and every part carries our Standard 30-Day Warranty - see our return policy or contact US IT Hardware.

Featuring

Manufacturer part #	3CR17255-91
Brand	3Com
Condition	New
Model	Switch 5500G-EI 48-Port
Status LEDs	Port status, power, S/N:MAC indicators
Product Line	SuperStack 4 Switch 5500G-EI Family
Product Type	Stackable Gigabit Ethernet Switch
VLAN Support	IEEE 802.1Q VLANs; all ports in Default VLAN 1
Layer Support	Layer 2/3/4 switching and routing
Routing Protocols	OSPF, PIM-SM supported
Management Interface	CLI, Web-based management; SNMP support

Compatible systems

No specific compatibility lists found in sources

Best for

Data Center Switching
Provides high-density 48 Gigabit ports with 232 Gbps switching capacity and sub-10µs latency for core and edge data center deployments requiring wirespeed performance across all ports.
Enterprise Campus Networks
Supports Layer 2/3/4 switching with OSPF routing, VLAN segmentation, and stackable architecture enabling up to 448 ports per XRN stack for large-scale enterprise connectivity.
Converged Networks
Delivers optional PoE support with 15.4 Watts per port and redundant power supplies for continuous operation of IP phones, wireless access points, and other PoE devices.
Network Edge Deployment
Offers four dual-purpose SFP ports for fiber uplinks, CLI/web management, SNMP monitoring, and RADIUS/802.1x authentication for secure edge network access control.
High-Availability Networks
Features hot-swappable power supplies, 96 Gbps resilient stacking bandwidth, and store-and-forward switching with zero frame loss for mission-critical network continuity.

Flash Memory	16 MB
Internal Memory	64 MB
Packet Buffer Memory	32 MB
MAC Address Table Size	16K entries

Latency	<10 µs
Switching Capacity	up to 176 Gbps for 52-port models; 48-port similar high-capacity

Max Wattage	181 W, plus up to 300 W for PoE
Power Supplies	External power supply 3C17267; hot-swappable option

Acoustic Noise	53.0 decibels
Operating Altitude	0 to 4,572 meters (0 to 15,000 feet)
Operating Temperature	0° to 40°C (32° to 104°F)

Ethernet Ports	48 x 10/100/1000Base-T RJ-45 ports
Expansion Slots	4 x 1000Base-X SFP ports

3Com Switch 5500G-EI 48-Port 48 x 10/100/1000Base-T RJ-45 ports Switch

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