Question about Ethernet cables

[Ultima]

Can you connect two computers directly with Category 5e patch cables?
Can you connect a computer to a hub with Category 5e patch cables?

 

[punkrawket]

to hook two computer up with cable... you need crossover cable (i believe)

 

[Ultima]

<< to hook two computer up with cable... you need crossover cable (i believe) >>



Yes, so is a Category 5e patch cable a crossover cable? If not, what is? I don't know sh!tall about home networking

 

[punkrawket]

<<

<< to hook two computer up with cable... you need crossover cable (i believe) >>



Yes, so is a Category 5e patch cable a crossover cable? If not, what is? I don't know sh!tall about home networking >>

heh... i don't know much either... i don't think cat5e will work...not sure though

 

[Elledan]

PC <-> PC => cross-over cable.
PC <-> Hub <-> PC => 'straight' cable
PC <-> Switch <-> PC => shouldn't matter. Just use straight to save yourself a headache.

Cat-5 and Cat-5e should both do fine for 10Mbit && 100 Mbit Fast-Ethernet. Cat-5e is meant for Gigabit Ethernet (well, sorta).

 

[Sunner]

"Patch cable" doesn't really say much, I've seen both crossover and straight cables referred to as "Patch cables".

 

[flyerI]

There is a difference between a straight thru cable (usually referred to as a patch cable) and a crossover cable. On a straight thru cable the wires on one end are on the same pins as the other. On a crossover they are not identical. I found a diagram of each type once by doing a Google search. With a little digging you should be able to find what you need. If you are hooking two computers directly together (no hub or router) you will have to have a crossover cable. That is the most simple way to connect. If you want more than one computer you will need a hub and two straight thru cables.

 

[Paulson]

Crossover cables are used pc to pc, or from say cable/dsl modem to router...

After than most everything else uses straight through...

If you have existing cables, most straight through cables have this order of cables...

White-Orange/Orange/White-Green/Blue/White-Blue/Green/White-Brown/Brown...

It would go in that order if you were looking at the bottom of the connector (the side without the little clip thing)

Now I appologize if I've confused the hell outta ya

 

[Mota331]

Patch cable is used to connect your computer to a HUB and not directly to each other. If you want to connect 2 computers directly you need a Crossover cable.

Here are the 2 way that you can connect the 2 computers with Cat5 cable

1. You need a Hub, 2 Patch cables, and 2 ethernet cards. Both computers have a Ethernet card and out of those ethernet cards are patch cables that run into the hub so it would kinda be like

Computer(ethernet card) ----Patch Cable----> Hub <----Patch Cable---- Computer(ethernet card)

2. The other way is to use the Crossover Cable, You would need 2 ethernet cards, and 1 crossover cable. Plug the ends of the crossover cable into the computers and thats it.

Computer(ethernet card) --------------------Crossover Cable----------------------Computer(ethernet card)


If you ever need to add more computers to the network you will need the Hub but if you are just going to have 2 computer connected just use the Crossover cable.


I hope I explained that well, post if not.