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Thread ID: 44363 2004-04-16 21:06:00 2 questions about network switch and cables Jase1 (459) Press F1
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229898 2004-04-16 21:06:00 Hi guys ^^

Just have 2 questions . Pretty easy question though I wonder why I dont know the answer to them >_< .

Well, 1st question is, are there only 2 types of cables for networking, crossovers and "patched" cables that comes in CAT5 or 6?

2nd question, if I brought a switch can I connect a computer to it with a crossover while another 2 computers used Patched cable say CAT5 . Would all 3 computer be able to see each other? In other words can I connect to a switch with a crossover cable?

Any answers or comments would be great .


Thanks a lot guys :)
Jase1 (459)
229899 2004-04-16 21:21:00 1st The devices at each end are configured on whether they are connection point or an end point (a bit like master and slave). This means that a PC and a hub can be connected with a straight cable (and the crossover is done at the connector of the PC, if you like), but to get signals flowing between two hubs you either need a crossover cable or a crossover port on one of the hubs (not both, otherwise two crossovers make a straight).
Same applies to connecting two PCs directly, you need a crossover cable.

2nd you can connect a PC to a switch/hub with a crossover cable if it is plugged in to a crossover port (often marked with an X or maybe with a little switch so you can make it crossover or straight.

How's that?
robo.
robo (205)
229900 2004-04-16 23:07:00 Cool, very cool. Thanks a lot for your answer ^^
Thanks for replying so fast too :)
Jase1 (459)
229901 2004-04-16 23:33:00 Some (but NOT all) switches have auto sensing and will reconfigure for a cross-over cable. If they do this they will be advertised as such.

Its unlikely that hubs will be able to do this, just some switches.
godfather (25)
229902 2004-04-16 23:51:00 Essentially, the switch/hub acts like a crossover cable... as long as you connect to it with a straight. hamstar (4)
229903 2004-04-17 03:45:00 The tranceivers use two pairs of wires . One pair is the transmit pair,the other is the receive pair(as seen by each tranceiver) .

If you connect two computers together directly, you have to use a crossover cable so that they are connected as TX-RX, RX-TX . TX-TX, RX-RX won't cause smoke; it just won't work .

A hub or switch is a "multiport repeater" Its connectors are wired in the"crossover mode" so you use straight cables to connect computers to it . The internal logic of a hub regenerates all the signals it sees on any of its RX pins,and sends them out on all its TX pins . If it's to be extended, you use either a crossover cable from one of its ports to another hub (to get the TX-RX, RX-TX) or has a switch on one port to swap the wires so you can use a straight cable .

If you're short of straight cables you could use a crossover cable from a computer to the link port .

A "patch cable" is normally a straightthrough one; it's called a patch cable because it uses stranded cable, rather than the solid conductor cable used for the fixed wiring . (The RJ45 plugs come in two types -- for solid/stranded cable -- and it matters which sort is used) . Stranded cable is more flexible and stands up o handling better than solid . It's used from wallsockets to devices, or on "patch panels" which are used for organising big installations . A "crossover cable" will usually be made with stranded cable so it's a patch cable too . :D
Graham L (2)
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