Making Your Own Crossover Networking Cables (Update)...

Making Your Own Crossover Networking Cables UPDATE

Last night, or earlier this morning, I posted about F-I-N-A-L-L-Y getting around to making my own crossover networking cable using a length of CAT 5e Ethernet cable, two RJ-45 connectors, and the Klein Tools crimper/stripper that I had bought from Home Depot a couple of weeks ago.

How did I do? I will get to that in a moment.

For those who do not know, here is a brief review.

There are two types of Ethernet cables used in computer networking.

• Straight-through Ethernet cable
• Most commonly used Ethernet cable.
• Typically used to connect different devices, such as a host to a switch.
• Uses the T568-A standard.
• Crossover Ethernet Cable
• Used to connect similar devices.
• A host to a host.
• A switct to a switch.
• A router to a router.
• Uses the T568-B standard.

T568-A and T568-B Cabling Standards

Making your own Ethernet cables can be a frustrating exercise.

When I was taking the in-person class for the CompTIA A+ certification at UMBC a few years ago, each student was given a short length of Ethernet cable, two RJ-45 connectors, and a cutter/crimper. We were instructed to make our own Ethernet crossover cable. That is, one end of the Ethernet cable had to be set to the T568-A standard, while the opposite end had to be set to the T568-B standard.

More to follow.

I will probably end up re-writing this post.