Building a Copper Cable

Straight-Through Cable (Patch Cable)

Contains the exact same pinout on both ends of the cable

Crossover Cable

Swaps the send and receive pins on the other end of the cable when the connector and its pinout are created

Starts with 568B and ends with 568a

568B standard pinout

The preferred standard for wiring jacks inside buildings

568B color scheme

orange white, orange, green white, blue, blue white, green, brown white, brown

568A color scheme

Green white, green, orange white, blue, blue white, orange, brown white, brown

Data Terminal Equipment (DTE)

Endpoint devices that connect to a piece of data communications equipment or DCE (EX: laptops, desktops, servers, and routers)

Data Communications Equipment (DCE)

Things like switches, hubs, modems, and bridges

Straight-through cable connects…

DTE to DCE or DCE to DTE

EX: Connecting a computer to a switch

Crossover cable connects….

DTE to DTE or DCE to DCE

EX: Connecting a switch to a switch

Medium Dependent Interface Crossover (MDIX)

An automated way to electronically simulate a crossover cable even if using a straight-through patch cable

Is in most modern switches

EXAM TIP: Always assume a switch is….

An older device that does not support MDIX unless the exam question states otherwise