RE: [MLUG] network cables?

["McNutt, Justin M." <EMAIL:PROTECTED>]

Technical Discussion:

There are two sides to any Ethernet connection:  the "terminal" side (DTE,
or "Data Terminal Equipment"), and the "switch" or "hub" side (DCE, or "Data
Circuit-Terminating Equipment").

The short - and more common - version of those names for Ethernet are "MDI"
for the station side and "MDI-X" on the switch/hub side.

The basic idea is that you always have to connect MDI to MDI-X.  So to hook
two computers directly together (MDI-to-MDI), you need a crossover cable.
The crossover cable essentially changes one side to MDI-X, allowing the two
to connect.

The same thing happens when you try to connect two switches to each other.
Both devices are MDI-X, so you need a crossover to change one of them to
MDI.

You know how some hubs/switches have a port marked "uplink"?  That's a MDI
port, so you can connect it directly to another switch/hub without a
crossover.

That's also why the "uplink" port and the port next to it often can't be
used at the same time.  They're the same Ethernet port, one jack is the MDI
jack and the other is the MDI-X jack, but it's still really only one port.
Most vendors will put a line on the chassis that connects the two jacks as a
visual reminder of this.

--J

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Michael [mailto:EMAIL:PROTECTED]
> Sent: Wednesday, February 28, 2001 6:29 PM
> To: EMAIL:PROTECTED
> Subject: [MLUG] network cables?
> 
> 
> the term for an ethernet cable to hook two computers together 
> w/out a hub
> is a crossover cable right? my dictionary says crossovers 
> only work for
> mac's. isn't that the right way to hook up any hubless 
> ethernet between
> two machines?
> 
> *^*^*^*
> Have the courage to take your own thoughts seriously, for 
> they will shape
> you. -- Albert Einstein
> 
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