What is the common name for a cable which connects a computer to a switch?

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• Crossover cable, Pin 1 is crossed with Pin 3, and Pin 2 is crossed with Pin 6, while in Straight-through cable Pin connection is one-to-one.
• Straight-through cables are mainly used for connecting non-similar devices, while crossover cables are mostly used for connecting similar devices.
• Straight-through cable connects a computer with a DSL modem, while Crossover cable connects Router to Router and Computer to Computer.

An Ethernet cable is a network cable used for high-speed wired network connections between two devices. This network cable is made of four-pair cable, which is consists of twisted pair conductors. It is used for data transmission at both ends of the cable, which is called RJ45 connector.

The Ethernet cables are categorized as Cat 5, Cat 5e, Cat 6, and UTP cable. Cat 5 cable can support a 10/100 Mbps Ethernet network while Cat 5e and Cat 6 cable to support Ethernet network running at 10/100/1000 Mbps.

What is Straight Through Cable?

Straight-through cable is a type of CAT5 with RJ-45 connectors at each end, and each has the same pin out. It is in accordance with either the T568A or T568B standards. It uses the same color code throughout the LAN for consistency. This type of twisted-pair cable is used in LAN to connect a computer or a network hub such as a router. It is one of the most common types of network cable.

What Is Crossover Cable?

A Crossover cable is a type of CAT 5 where one end isT568A configuration and the other end as T568BConfiguration. In this type of cable connection, Pin 1 is crossed with Pin 3, and Pin 2 is crossed with Pin 6.

Crossover cable is used to connect two or more computing devices. The internal wiring of crossover cables reverses the transmission and receive signals. It is widely used to connect two devices of the same type: e.g., two computers or two switches to each other.

In regard to physical appearance, Crossover Ethernet cables are very much similar to regular Ethernet cables. Still, they are different with regard to the order with which the wires are arranged. This type of Ethernet cable is made to connect to network devices of the same kind over Ethernet directly. Crossover cables are mostly used to connect two hosts directly.

Difference Between Straight Through Cables and Crossover Cables

Here are the difference between Crossover and straight-through cable

When to use Straight Through Cable?

Here are applications where you should use Crossover Cable:

• It helps you to connect a computer to a switch/hub’s normal port.
• You can use it to connect a computer to a cable/DSL modem’s LAN port.
• It allows you to connect a router’s WAN port to a cable/DSL modem’s LAN port.
• Connect 2 switches or hubs with one of the hub or switch using an upline port and the other one using a normal port.

When to use Crossover Cable?

Here is an application where you should use Crossover Cable:

• It can use a computer to a computer with no switch or hub.
• Network devise to the network device. For example, the route to the router.
• Crossover cable enables one to establish a direct connection between two computing devices using Ethernet ports.
• It Connects two computers directly.
• You can connect two hubs/switches by using the normal port in both switches and hubs.

Straight Through vs. Crossover Cable, which one to choose?

The selection or network cable should be done based on your application. If you want your cable to connect to your computer and printer together, you need a crossover cable. If you have several computers and a printer, you should buy a switch.

All the computers connected to the switch with a straight–through cable and printer should be connected to the switch with a straight-through cable.

An Ethernet cable is a common type of network cable used with wired networks. Ethernet cables connect devices such as PCs, routers, and switches within a local area network.

These physical cables are limited by length and durability. If a network cable is too long or of poor quality, it won't carry a good network signal. These limits are one reason there are different types of Ethernet cables that are optimized to perform certain tasks in specific situations.

An Ethernet cable resembles a traditional phone cable but is larger and has more wires. Both cables share a similar shape and plug, but an Ethernet cable has eight wires, while phone cables have four. Ethernet cable connectors are also larger.

Ethernet cables come in many different colors, but phone cables are usually grey.

Ethernet cables plug into Ethernet ports, which are larger than phone cable ports. An Ethernet port on a computer is accessible through the Ethernet card on the motherboard. This port is usually on the back of a desktop computer, or on the side of a laptop.

Ethernet cables support one or more industry standards including Category 5 and Category 6. Most technicians refer to these standards as CAT5 and CAT6, respectively. Because of this, many online stores that sell network cables use this abbreviated language as well.

Ethernet cables are manufactured in two basic forms:

• Solid Ethernet cables offer slightly better performance and improved protection against electrical interference. They're also commonly used on business networks, wiring inside office walls, or under lab floors to fixed locations.
• Stranded Ethernet cables are less prone to physical cracks and breaks, making them more suitable for travelers or in-home network setups.

A crossover cable is a type of Ethernet cable that connects two computers to each other. By contrast, most Ethernet cables connect one computer to a router or switch.

A single Ethernet cable has a maximum distance capacity, meaning the cable has an upper limit as to how long it can be before there is a signal loss (called attenuation). This problem results because the electrical resistance of a long cable affects performance.

Both ends of the cable should be close enough to each other to receive signals quickly, and far enough away from outside electrical interference to avoid interruptions. However, this precaution doesn't limit the size of a network, because hardware like routers or hubs can join multiple Ethernet cables together on the same network. This distance between the two devices is called the network diameter.

The maximum length of a CAT5 cable, before attenuation occurs, is 100m (328ft). CAT6 can go up to 700 feet. Ethernet cables can be longer but may suffer from signal loss, especially if they pass near large electrical appliances.

A short cable may suffer from signal reflection. However, some people have reported no problems with cable lengths as low as 4 inches.

Different types of RJ-45 connectors serve different purposes. One type, designed for use with stranded cables, is incompatible with solid cables. Other types of RJ-45 connectors may work with both stranded and solid cables.

Wireless technologies such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth have replaced Ethernet in many home and business networks. Most tablets and other mobile devices don't have a network port.

These wireless technologies are advantageous if the cable runs outside or in locations with a heightened risk of wire damage.

FAQ

• How do I connect an Ethernet cable?

  Look for an Ethernet port on your device. It has a square build that fits the standard RJ45 connector. Insert one end of the cable into an available port in your computer and connect the other end to a router or another network device.

• Which type of Ethernet cable do I need?

  If your network supports Gigabit Ethernet, you may want to select Cat5e or Cat6 cables over prior generation Cat5 cables.

• Can I run Ethernet cables outside?

  Yes, you can wire Ethernet cables outside between buildings or over exterior walls. Choose cables with a protective coating or weatherproof wires explicitly designed to provide more durability against the elements.

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