What is cross-connect cable?

[MikeTheTV]

I wanted to hook up a Home network using @Home service. Because I need to know what is cross-connect cable. One of my cable modem(Cyber Surfer) needs one of them to hook up for both PCs to use Internet. Are the newer hubs has these connections or do I need some special hubs.

Any reply would help

[This message has been edited by MikeTheTV (edited 06-19-99).]

[toms111]

A crosover cable is used to connect ttwo network devices directly to each other without the use of a eterbet hub. This works, for example, to connect 1 pc to a cable modem, or one pc to another pc. If you use a hub you cannot use a crosover cable but must use a regular cable to connect each device to the hub. Be careful. Both cables look the same. Thy both have RJ-45 connectors on both ends, but they are wired different.

[BBA]

toms111,

Cable modems do not require a cross connect cable to go to a single PC NIC, they are designed to connect directly!

BBA

[jmatrix]

I'll have to go along with BBA on this one...crossover cables are used to connect two computers, and two computers only, via their NIC cards in a simply network. The host computer needs a second NIC card that is configured for and connnected directly to the cable modem, phone modem, etc. You only need a hub if you are connecting more than two computers ata time. I use a Mediaone Road Runner Cable modem ( it is a two-way modem...no need for a phone line connection). You will also need some kind of software in order to set up the network so that the Host Computer can assign IP adresses automatically to the other computers on the network inorder for them to share one internet connection. I use "Sygate"...works flawlessly!
Good Luck,
Paul

[MikeTheTV]

If you Don't know read this. I got this from @Home Tech support. (My cable modem is CyberSurfer)


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Setting up a Home Network:

One way to set up a home network is to use Ethernet cards in each networked computer, connected to a hub that is connected to your cable modem. To set up such a network between the computers in your home, you will need at least the following gear for each computer:

A 10BaseT Ethernet card (NIC) running at 10 MB/sec. Note that Ethernet cards vary greatly in performance; an inferior card will greatly reduce the speed you achieve with your @Home service.
An RJ45 category 5 cable to connect the computer to your network hub.
For your cable modem, you may need:

An RJ45 category 5 cable to connect your cable modem to your network hub. Depending on your brand of cable modem and whether or not your hub offers a cross-connect port, you may need a cross-connect cable:
You need a cross-connect cable if you have a Motorola CyberSURFR or LANcity (Bay Networks) LCPT cable modem and your hub does not have a cross-connect port. If your hub does have a cross-connect port, connect that port to your cable modem with a standard cable.
You need a standard cable if you have a LANcity (Bay Networks) LCP cable modem.
For troubleshooting, an RJ45 category 5 cable to connect a computer directly to your cable modem (this one may have to be a cross-connect cable, depending on your type of cable modem, as listed above).
To complete your network, you'll need:

A 10BaseT Ethernet hub running at 10 MB/sec. Note that Ethernet hubs can vary in performance; an inferior hub will reduce the speed you achieve with your @Home service.
An example of how a home network could be connected together is shown here:




In this figure, the red cable between the cable modem and the hub might need to be either a standard or a cross-connect category 5 cable. This depends on your type of cable modem and whether or not your hub has a cross-connect port, as explained above. The cables between the hub and your computers are standard category 5 cables.
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I got every thing hook up and now every thing is working fine. Each PCs has its own IP addresses and can share files and a printer. Not bed for 2 players games

[This message has been edited by MikeTheTV (edited 06-22-99).]

[toms111]

Thanks for the help. I assumed that any connection of two ethernet devices without a hub required a crossover cable. But this brings up a question... Can a cable modem be connected directly to a hub? It would seem to me that if a normal cable is used to connect direct to NIC that a crossover cable must be needed to connect direct to a HUB. This may have been implied by the original posting.

[This message has been edited by toms111 (edited 06-22-99).]