Copy 3COM switch configuration file to a TFTP server. It uses Telnet connection (usually enabled by default).

saveconf_3C3800.py

#! /usr/bin/python

'''
This script backups your 3COM
switch configuration data. It
needs a TFTP service running!

Usage: saveconf_3C3800 <host>

It works with:
    - 3COM 3870 (3CR17451-91)
    - 3COM SuperStack 3824 (?)
    - 3COM 4400PWR (3C17205)
'''

import sys
import telnetlib

### EDIT ###
username = "admin"
password = "mypassword"
tftp = '192.168.1.14'
#############

telnet_timeout = 1

def connect(ipaddress, username, password):
    try:
        tn = telnetlib.Telnet(ipaddress)
        try:
            #print "Authentication..."
            tn.read_until("Login:", telnet_timeout)
            tn.write(username + "\r")
            tn.read_until("Password:", telnet_timeout)
            tn.write(password + "\r")
            tn.read_until("Select menu option:", telnet_timeout)
            #print "OK!"
            return tn
        except Exception, e:
            print "Incorrect user/password"
            print "\nException: %s" % str(e)
            tn.close()
    except Exception, e:
        print "Error connecting to " + ipaddress
        print "\nException: %s" % str(e)


def disconnect(tn):
    try:
        tn.write("logout\r\n")
        tn.close()
    except Exception, e:
        print "Error: connection problem or model not supported"
        print "\nException: %s" % str(e)


def summary(tn):
    prompt = "Select menu option:"
    try:
        tn.write("system summary\r\n")
        tn.write("\r\n") #some models need it :S
        output = tn.read_until(prompt, telnet_timeout)
    except Exception, e:
        print "Error connection problem or model not supported"
        print "\nException: %s" % str(e)

    data = {}
    for line in output.splitlines():
        if ':' in line:
            key, value = line.partition(':')[::2]
            key = key.strip()
            value = value.strip()
            if value is not '':
                data[key] = value
    tn.read_until(prompt, telnet_timeout)
    return data


def backup(tn, tftp, filename):
    print "TFTP: " + tftp
    print "File: " + filename
    prompt = "Select menu option"
    print "Backing up..."
    try:
        tn.write("system backupConfig save %s %s\r\n" % (tftp, filename))
        tn.write("\r\n")
        output = tn.read_until(prompt, 120)
    except Exception, e:
        print "Error: connection problem or model not supported"
        print "\nException: %s" % str(e)

    if "bytes transferred" in output:
        return True
    elif "Save of system configuration Successful" in output:
        return True
    else:
        print "Error #5: can't connect to TFTP server"
        return False


if __name__ == "__main__":
    if len(sys.argv) > 1:
        ipaddress = sys.argv[1]
    else:
        print "Usage: %s <host>" % sys.argv[0]
        sys.exit(1)
    
    tn = connect(ipaddress, username, password)

    if not tn:
        sys.exit(1)

    s = summary(tn)    
    if s['Product Number'] != '3C17205' and s['Product Number'] != '3CR17451-91':
        print "Warning: Model not tested: %s" % s['Product Number']
        print "Continuing..."
        #sys.exit(1)
    
    filename = s['System Name'] + '.cfg'

    if backup(tn, tftp, filename):
        print "Backup created succesfully!"
        disconnect(tn)
        sys.exit(0)
    else:
        print "Error: Backup failed!"
        disconnect(tn)
        sys.exit(1)

saveconf_3C4200G.py

#! /usr/bin/python

'''
This script backups your 3COM
switch configuration data. It
needs a TFTP service running!

Usage: saveconf_3C4200G.py <host>

It works with:
    - 3COM 4200G (PN: 3CR17662-91)

'''

import sys
import re
import telnetlib

### EDIT ###
username = "admin"
password = "mypassword"
tftp = '192.168.1.14'
#############

telnet_timeout = 1

def connect(ipaddress, username, password):
    try:
        tn = telnetlib.Telnet(ipaddress)
        name = None
        #print "Connecting..."
        #print "OK!"
        try:
            #print "Authentication..."
            tn.read_until("Username:", telnet_timeout)
            tn.write(username + "\r")
            tn.read_until("Password:", telnet_timeout)
            tn.write(password + "\r")
            tn.write("\r\n")
            output=tn.read_until(">", telnet_timeout)
            tn.write("undo terminal logging\r\n")
            #print "OK!"
            return tn
        except Exception, e:
            print "ERROR: Incorrect user/password"
            print "Exception: %s" % str(e)
            tn.close()
    except Exception, e:
        print "Error connecting to " + ipaddress
        print "Exception: %s" % str(e)


def disconnect(tn):
    try:
        tn.write("\r\n")
        tn.write("quit\r\n")
    except Exception, e:
        print "Error: connection error or model not supported"
        print "Exception: %s" % str(e)
    return True


def getName(tn):
    name = None
    try:
        #tn.write("\r\n")
        output=tn.read_until(">", telnet_timeout)
    except Exception, e:
        print "Error: connection error or model not supported"
        print "Exception: %s" % str(e)

    r = re.compile('<(.*?)>')
    m = r.search(output)
    if m:
        name = m.group(1)
    return name


def getConfigFile(tn):
    prompt = "<%s>" % getName(tn)
    filename = None
    try:
        tn.write("display startup\r\n")
        output = tn.read_until(prompt, telnet_timeout)
    except Exception, e:
        print "Error: connection error or model not supported"
        print "Exception: %s" % str(e)
    for line in output.splitlines():
        if "Current Startup saved-configuration file" in line:
            #print line
            return line.split()[-1]


def backup(tn, tftp, filename):
    print "TFTP: " + tftp
    print "File: " + filename
    configFile = getConfigFile(tn)
    print "Config: " + configFile

    print "Backing up..."
    try:
        tn.write("tftp %s put %s %s\r\n" % (tftp, configFile, filename))
        output = tn.read_until("fully", 120)
    except Exception, e:
        print "Error: connection error or model not supported"
        print "Exception: %s" % str(e)

    if "File uploaded successfully" in output:
        return True
    else:
        print "Error: can't connect to TFTP server"
        return False


if __name__ == "__main__":
    if len(sys.argv) > 1:
        ipaddress = sys.argv[1]
    else:
        print "Usage: %s <host>" % sys.argv[0]
        sys.exit(1)
    
    tn = connect(ipaddress, username, password)
    if not tn:
        sys.exit(1)
    name = getName(tn)
    filename = name + '.cfg'
    
    if backup(tn, tftp, filename):
        print "Backup created succesfully!"
        disconnect(tn)
        sys.exit(0)
    else:
        print "Error: backup failed"
        disconnect(tn)
        sys.exit(1)

Funciona con el 3COM SuperStack 3824. Gracias Xabi ;-)