Crossover cable - still needed?

So I want to connect two GigE network interfaces together to create a small two PC network. I'm not sure if a crossover cable is still required, or if the internal circuits auto-detect when the RX/TX lines should be swapped.

???

 

I think routers generally auto-detect crossover cables, and PC's generally don't. I could very well be wrong, but I remember talk of that a year or two back--perhaps newer PC ethernet jacks are also auto-detecting.

 

I don't know if this helps, but I've had mixed success networking to computers with a regular cat5 cable...but it has worked.

 

If the mfg added the detection in as per spec it should work. Some work some don't, give it a try and let us know.

 

You would normally need a crossover cable unless;

Automatic crossover

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. This feature eliminates the need for crossover cables, obsoletes the uplink/normal ports and manual selector switches found on many older hubs and switches, greatly reducing installation errors. Note that although Automatic MDI/MDI-X is generally implemented, a crossover cable would still be required in the occasional situation that neither of the connected devices has the feature implemented and enabled.

Even for legacy 10/100 devices, many NICs, switches and hubs automatically apply an internal crossover when necessary. Besides the eventually agreed upon Automatic MDI/MDI-X, this feature may also be referred to by various vendor-specific terms including: Auto uplink and trade, Universal Cable Recognition and Auto Sensing.

 

Alright, I'll try a standard cable tonight.

Question two: Is Cat5e good for GigE connections?

 

Absolutely, Cat5e is actually full spec for Giga Ethernet.

 

Cat5e is fine for gig ethernet. However, on all the switches i set up i use a cross over cable between them. I also like to use a different colored cable (yellow) for cross over, and blue for between patch panels and switches. It looks much nicer that way and is easier to find cables...but i think your just doing it at your house so you probably don't have many devices, or even a patch panel.

Err edit. i thought you were connecting 2 gig switches together.

 

Nope...just two GigE adapters. I think both are Broadcom ICs, which gave me hope that I didn't need a crossover.

And it turns out that it looks like I do not need one . Just tried.

Turns out I'm pretty lucky too...a random Cat5 cable I found allowed the two to auto-negotiate to a 1Gbps link...perfect.

 

Good for you, enjoy it

 

Sweet...my two PCs are now file sharing...I can finally dump all my D430 data into my XPS 420 automatically.

 

...that's o.k. i guess...but a lot of the newer switches have auto sensing ports...i have a Netgear Pro-Line Switch...doesn't have an uplink port...each port does what it's supposed to do automatically...believe they are called 'smart switches'

 

That's right, even the router for the residential market are I believe switches level 4, which is also a designation for smart switches.

Anyway, almost nobody talk about crossover cables anymore.

 

yeah i always wondered where the crossovers came from...i think two high corporate level tech's had a conversation one day that went like this, Bill: "What are you going to do today Bob?"...Bob: "Dunno, nuthing scheduled for me, I know what I'll do, invent crossover cables." Bill: "What for". Bob: "Dunno, but it's gonna be fun to see the confusion it's gonna cause...devious laff." Bill: "Laffs along with Bob, can I help?" Bill: "Sure lets see what kind of mess and confusion we can cause." Bob: "O.K. you take that end, and I'll take this end, we'll be creative."....lmao...A#1's story anyway....

 

Lol, very funny story, and perhaps was not Bill and Bob, it was Bill and Gate

This is as old as rs232, where the TX/RX tips needed to be inverted to connect one machine to another.

 

With RS232 there were a lot of wiring setups. I had to makeup custom cables all the time for box a to talk to box b. I have a smart cable config box to custom config cables bases on the what signals are need and which ones need to be forced high to make it work. With this box I could have a working cable pinout in less than a minute. The fun of acq and control work.

 

@ Wirelessman & blue...i like my version of the story better...lol...but thnx for the technical side....

 

Hilarious, a magic box. I had always technician to do all the cable stuff for me, it was just too much to think of.

I know your story is better, and probably you are too young to have worked with RS232.

 

not to young...48...just didn't get into the pc scene until about 2000

 

Well, RS232 was also used in many other applications, like data modems for monitoring systems, etc.