Ok, The 3com switch auto detects the Empeg as 10 Half Duplex. I set the switch to 10 Full Duplex and then reconnected the Empeg. Emplode would see the Empeg(so it was getting served DHCP) but it would not get past the 'Retrieving Database' task.

I think that would indicate the Empeg is only cable of Half Duplex transmission.