Gigabit ethernet question

[flxnimprtmscl]

Ok, this is kind of a dumb question here but bear with me. Can computers with onboard gigiabit ethernet be directly connected with standard Cat5e networking cable or do I have to use a crossover cable, go through some type of router, switch, etc? I'm kind of a networking noob so I'm just making sure.

Thanks

 

[mcmilljb]

You can use the standard Cat5e(or Cat 6) cable for connecting to most devices. It just depends on which device you're connecting to as to whether you'll need a cross over cable. Unless you're connecting 2 computers directly to each other, you probably will not need a cross over.

 

[flxnimprtmscl]

Yes, as I said in my first post I'll be directly connecting them. What is the difference between regular cable and a crossover cable?

Thanks

 

[EULA]

Pairs 2 & 3 are swapped in a crossover cable; This way the transmit pins on one end go to the recieving end on the other, otherwise both cards would be transmitting over the same pair, and receiving on the same pair.

See this diagram for the pinout of a typical crossover cable: http://www.home-network-help.c...es/crossover-cable.jpg

 

[jlazzaro]

you don't need a crossover in gigabit networking, auto-crossing is built into the standard.

 

[flxnimprtmscl]

Originally posted by: jlazzaro
you don't need a crossover in gigabit networking, auto-crossing is built into the standard.

Can anyone else confirm this? This would be great news if accurate. Thanks for the response

 

[robmurphy]

You need CAT5E cable at least for Gigabit. Gigabit uses all 4 pairs of the cable.

I can confirm what jlazzaro says, auto-crossing is built into the gigabit standard. To connect the 2 PCs just use a normal CAT5E or CAT6 patch lead between them.

Rob.

 

[tranceport]

Originally posted by: jlazzaro
you don't need a crossover in gigabit networking, auto-crossing is built into the standard.

Correct.

You can use crossover or straight through to connect any 2 gigabit interfaces.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: flxnimprtmscl

Originally posted by: jlazzaro
you don't need a crossover in gigabit networking, auto-crossing is built into the standard.

Can anyone else confirm this? This would be great news if accurate. Thanks for the response

What's to confirm? It's part of the standard.

 

[flxnimprtmscl]

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: flxnimprtmscl

Originally posted by: jlazzaro
you don't need a crossover in gigabit networking, auto-crossing is built into the standard.

Can anyone else confirm this? This would be great news if accurate. Thanks for the response

What's to confirm? It's part of the standard.

Well, the small bit of info I was able to dig up seemed to indicate that it was while it was part of the standard it was optional and isn't enabled on all devices.

Automatic MDI/MDI-X Configuration is specified as an optional feature in the 1000BASE-T standard[1], meaning that straight-through cables will usually work between Gigabit capable interfaces.

 

[ScottMac]

Many early GigE devices required a crossover cable to go directly device-to-device (early Cisco stuff, for example).

The crossover cable for gig swaps pins:
1&2-3&6
4&5-7&8

Most, if not all, current GigE stuff is Auto-MDI/MDI-X, meaning that it'll figure out straight-through versus crossover.

FWIW

Scott