3.2 Hardware

Copper cable

A network cable that uses electrical signals transmitted through copper wires to carry data.

Category cables

Ethernet twisted-pair cables classified by performance, bandwidth, and transmission speed (Cat5e, Cat6, Cat6a, Cat7, Cat8).

T568A

An Ethernet wiring standard with the green pair on pins 1 and 2 and the orange pair on pins 3 and 6.

T568B

An Ethernet wiring standard with the orange pair on pins 1 and 2 and the green pair on pins 3 and 6.

T568A vs. T568B

Both are Ethernet wiring standards. The main difference is that the green and orange wire pairs are swapped.

Straight-through cable

An Ethernet cable wired with the same standard on both ends (A-A or B-B). Commonly connects different device types.

Crossover cable

An Ethernet cable wired with T568A on one end and T568B on the other. Traditionally connects similar devices.

Coaxial cable

A cable with a central copper conductor, insulation, metallic shielding, and an outer jacket. Commonly used for cable internet and TV.

Shielded Twisted Pair (STP)

A copper Ethernet cable with shielding to reduce electromagnetic interference (EMI).

Direct burial cable

An outdoor-rated cable designed to be buried underground without needing additional conduit, when installed according to its rating.

Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP)

A twisted-pair copper cable without additional metallic shielding. Commonly used for Ethernet networks.

Plenum-rated cable

A cable with a fire-resistant, low-smoke jacket designed for use in building air-handling spaces such as plenum ceilings.

Optical fiber cable

A cable that transmits data as pulses of light instead of electrical signals. Resistant to electromagnetic interference.

Single-mode fiber

Fiber-optic cable with a very small core that carries light over long distances, typically using a laser.

Multimode fiber

Fiber-optic cable with a larger core that carries multiple light paths. Commonly used for shorter distances.

ST connector

Straight Tip fiber-optic connector. Uses a bayonet-style twist-lock connection.

SC connector

Subscriber Connector fiber-optic connector. Uses a square, push-pull connection.

LC connector

Lucent Connector fiber-optic connector. A small form-factor connector commonly used in high-density installations.

USB 2.0

Universal Serial Bus standard with a maximum theoretical speed of 480 Mbps (High Speed).

USB 3.0

Universal Serial Bus standard with a maximum theoretical speed of 5 Gbps (SuperSpeed). Often identified by a blue connector, though color is not guaranteed.

USB 2.0 vs. USB 3.0

USB 2.0 supports up to 480 Mbps, while USB 3.0 supports up to 5 Gbps.

Serial cable

A cable that transmits data one bit at a time over a serial connection. Often used for legacy devices and console connections.

Thunderbolt

A high-speed interface that can carry data, video, and power over one connection. Supports daisy-chaining compatible devices.

What is Thunderbolt commonly used for?

Connecting high-speed storage, displays, and docking stations.

HDMI

High-Definition Multimedia Interface. Carries digital video and audio through one cable.

DisplayPort

A digital display interface that carries video and audio. Commonly used with computer monitors and supports high resolutions and refresh rates.

DVI

Digital Visual Interface. Primarily carries video and comes in digital, analog, and combined digital/analog versions. Most DVI connections do not carry audio.

VGA

Video Graphics Array. An older analog video connection that uses a 15-pin connector, usually colored blue.

USB-C

A reversible, oval-shaped USB connector. Depending on the device and cable, it can support data, power delivery, and video through DisplayPort Alt Mode or Thunderbolt.

HDMI vs. DisplayPort

Both transmit digital video and audio. HDMI is common on TVs and consumer electronics, while DisplayPort is common on computer monitors.

What video cable uses an analog signal?

VGA. DVI can also carry analog signals in certain versions.

SATA

Serial Advanced Technology Attachment. An interface used to connect internal storage drives to a motherboard.

SATA data cable

A narrow, typically seven-pin cable that transfers data between a storage drive and the motherboard.

SATA power connector

A 15-pin power connector that supplies electricity to SATA storage devices from the power supply.

eSATA

External Serial Advanced Technology Attachment. An external interface designed to connect storage devices using SATA technology.

Adapter

A device that allows two otherwise incompatible connectors, cables, or interfaces to connect.

RJ11

A small modular connector commonly used for telephone lines. Usually has six positions and commonly uses two or four contacts.

RJ45

An eight-position modular connector commonly used with Ethernet network cables (8P8C).

F-type connector

A threaded coaxial connector commonly used for cable television, cable internet, and satellite connections.

ST connector

Straight Tip. A fiber-optic connector with a bayonet-style twist-lock mechanism.

SC connector

Subscriber Connector. A square fiber-optic connector that uses a push-pull mechanism.

LC connector

Lucent Connector. A small fiber-optic connector commonly used in network switches and high-density fiber installations.

Punchdown block

A networking termination block used to connect and organize copper wires. Wires are pushed into slots using a punchdown tool.

Micro-USB

A small USB connector commonly found on older smartphones, accessories, and other portable electronics.

Mini-USB

An older, larger USB connector than Micro-USB, used on older cameras and portable devices.

USB-C connector

A small, reversible USB connector that can support data transfer, charging, and video depending on its capabilities.

Molex connector

A four-pin power connector traditionally used to supply power to older internal computer components and peripherals.

Lightning connector

Apple's proprietary reversible connector used on many older iPhones, iPads, and accessories.

DB9 connector

A nine-pin D-subminiature connector commonly used for RS-232 serial communications.

RJ11 vs. RJ45

RJ11 is commonly used for telephone connections, while RJ45 is commonly used for Ethernet networking.