Ethernet Cable

ETHERNET CABLING

An Ethernet cable is one of the most popular forms of network cable used on wired networks. Ethernet cables connect devices on local area networks such as PCs, routers and switches.

Types of Ethernet Cabling

·         Straight-through cable

·         Crossover cable

·         Rolled cable

Straight-Through Cable

The straight-through cable is used to connect

·         Host to switch or hub

·         Router to switch or hub

Four wires are used in straight-through cable to connect Ethernet devices. Straight-Through refers to cables that have the pin assignments on each end of the cable. In other words Pin 1 connector A goes to Pin 1 on connector B, Pin 2 to Pin 2 etc. Straight-Through wired cables are most commonly used to connect a host to client. When we talk about cat5e patch cables, the Straight-Through wired cat5e patch cable is used to connect computers, printers and other network client devices to the router switch or hub (the host device in this instance).

CONNECTOR (A)                                                                                            CONNECTOR (B)

Crossover Cable

A crossover cable is a special type of Ethernet cable specially designed for connecting two computers to each other. By contrast, most Ethernet cables are designed to connect one computer to a router or switch.

The crossover cable can be used to connect

·         Switch to switch

·         Hub to hub

·         Hub to switch

·         Router direct to host



Rolled Cable

Although rolled cable isn’t used to connect any Ethernet connections together, you can use a rolled Ethernet cable to connect a host to a router console serial communication (com) port.

          If you have a cisco router or switch, you would use this cable to connect your PC running Hyper Terminal to the cisco hardware. Eight wires are used in this cable to connect serial devices, although not all eight are used to send information, just as in Ethernet networking.