Crossover "switch"?

[l0cke]

Does anyone know of some way or a kind of switch I could use to make a cable into a crossover cable just by flicking a switch?

If you don't know, a crossover cable would be completely reversed on one side.

like this: Text

 

[Matthias99]

Originally posted by: l0cke
Does anyone know of some way or a kind of switch I could use to make a cable into a crossover cable just by flicking a switch?

If you don't know, a crossover cable would be completely reversed on one side.

like this: Text

In theory, yes, you could build a coupler that you could toggle to be either straight through or crossover on the fly. But I've never seen one.

They do make crossover coupler/extender plugs, like this: http://techstore.doit.wisc.edu/product.asp?login=P&itemnum=C22907

This site has instructions on how to make one: http://www.ossmann.com/5-in-1.html

But I've never seen one where you could flip a switch while it's plugged in and turn it from straight-through to crossover. Such a device would only be useful for debugging or testing; flipping the wires like that while something is plugged in would undoubtedly cause it to lose its Ethernet connection. If you're plugging/unplugging devices on the same cable, you can use a coupler/adapter as needed.

 

[spidey07]

most modern network switches have this capability.

There are two kinds of ethernet interfaces. MDI and MDI-X. If MDI and MDI-X are connected no crossover needs to occur. MDI devices are normally end nodes, like a network card. MDI-X are normally communications devices like hubs and switches.

However, most modern switches allow you to set the switch port MDI or MDI-X. Heck, auto-MDI is built into the 1000 Base-T standard so no more need for crossover cables.

 

[BladeVenom]

How about a crossover adapter on a keychain. http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/tools/7470/