A computer network is a collection of interconnected computers.

Computers in a network
are connected to each other via optical fiber, Ethernet, wireless LAN, or power line
communication. There are various types of computer networking. Check out the list of
kinds of computer networking.
 
 Local Area Network (LAN),
 Wide Area Network (WAN),
 Metropolitan Area Network (MAN),
 Personal Area Network (PAN),
 Virtual Private Network (VPN),
 Campus Area Network (CAN),
 Storage Area Network (SAN)
An Internetworking use internet protocol and known as
 
 Intranet
 Extranet
 Internet
 
Basic hardware components for computer networking
 
If you are planning for setup a computer network, then you need these hardware
components according to types of computer network.
 
 Network adapter or NIC
 Hubs
 Repeaters
 Bridges
 Switches
 Routers

LAN Wiring & Pinouts

10base-T, 100base-TX/T4, 1000base-T

There is NOTHING more annoying than spending 30 minutes debugging a network problem
to find it was the cable. Badly made or non-standard cabling is a foolish thing to spend time
on - do it once and do it right. This guide may help you to forget cabling problems and spend
time time doing really useful things - like pondering the meaning of life.

Contents

Crossed and Straight cables - when to use them.

Standards Summary
Category 5 (UTP) colour coding table
10base Straight Cable (PC to HUB/SWITCH)
10baseT Crossed cable (PC to PC or HUB to HUB)
100baseT Straight Cable (PC to HUB/SWITCH)
100baseT Crossed cable (PC to PC or HUB to HUB)
1000base-T Gigabit Ethernet
RJ45 Connector Pin Numbering
RJ45 Connections - some hints
Shielded Twisted Pair (STP)

Notes:

1. LAN cables are generically called UTP (Unshielded Twisted Pair) and are identified with
a category rating. When installing new cable, unless there is a very good reason not
to, you should be using category 5, 5e or 6 UTP which is rated for both 10 and 100mb
LAN operation.Info on Shielded Twisted Pair (STP) cabling.
2. UTP comes in two forms SOLID or STRANDED. SOLID refers to the fact that each
internal conductor is made up of a single (solid!) wire, STRANDED means that each
conductor is made up of multiple smaller wires. Stranded cable (which is typically
more expensive) has a smaller 'bend- radius' (you can squeeze the cable round tighter
corners with lower loss) and due to its flexibility should be used where you plug and
unplug the cable frequently. All other things being equal the performance of both types
of cable is the same. In general, solid cable is used for backbone wiring and stranded
for PC to wall plug (patch) cables. Beware: Each type of wire, solid or stranded, needs
its own connector type.

3. <rant> There is NO excuse with all the choice of color cable and other techniques
available to-day for not being able to visually spot the difference between at least a
straight and a crossed cable before you spend 1 hour fitting the wrong cable into
your network. For cheap-skates (which includes us) you can get heat-shrink colour
tubing in a slew of colours which you fit on each end of the cable beside the connector
to indicate the wiring type and standard instead of using different coloured cables. The
advantage of this scheme is that when you change your wiring standard you can just
change the sleeve colour - you don't have to rip out the cable. Disadvantage: You
have to remember to put the tubing on BEFORE the connector! </rant>
 4. You CAN use 100base-TX wiring with a 10base-T network (but not always the other
way round). In general ALWAYS use 100baseTX/T4 wiring standards.

5. If you are using category 5, 5e or 6 wiring EVERYWHERE you can use the 100base-TX
standard (this only uses 2 pairs , 4 conductors). Most of the information below
assumes you are using category 5, 5e or 6 cables.

6. If you are using category 3 or 4 cables with 100M LANs ANYWHERE you MUST use the
100Base-T4 standard and this has ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS documented
throughout (it uses all 4 pairs, 8 conductors). LAN connections/pinouts are defined by
IEEE 802.3u.

7. Maximum LAN cable runs are 100 meters (~300ft).

8. We provide a Cabling FAQ which provides additional information or background.

9. We have added an article on mixing 100 MB LAN and Telephony on a single category
5(e) or 6 cable. It can be done, but you must be very, very cautious.

10. We have updated some of the material for 1000base-T (Gigabit Ethernet 802.3ab)
which uses all 4 pairs (8 conductors) and added notes where relevant about Power-
over-Ethernet (PoE 802.3af). A copper standard for 10GB Ethernet is being worked on
(802.3an) but as of February 2005 the IEEE was still standardizing away.

Crossed and Straight cables - when to use them

The following diagram shows the Normal use of Crossed and Straight cables (see also the
notes below).

Notes:

1. We show Straight cables as BLUE and Crossed as RED. That is our convention. The
cable color can be anything you choose or, more likely, the vendor decides.
2. To avoid the need for Crossed cables many vendors provide UPLINK ports on Hubs or
Switches - these are specially designed to allow the use of a STRAIGHT cable when
connecting back-to-back Hubs or Switches. Read the manufacturers documentation
carefully.
 3. Increasingly vendor hubs (can you still buy them) and switches will auto-detect the
connection type and internally switch the connectors so that STRAIGHT cables can be
used everywhere.

Standards Summary

The various standards can get a tad complicated and messy. We get occasional email requesting a
summary of the standards - this is our attempt to provide a quick overview.

Standard Required Pairs 10M 100M 1000M Notes

10base-T 2 (1/2 and 3/6) yes yes no 100m support only if no cat 3/4 in run

100base-TX 2 (1/2 and 3/6) yes yes no 100m support only if no cat 3/4 in run

100base-T4 4 (1/2, 3/6, 4/5 and 7/8) yes yes yes

1000base-T 4 (1/2, 3/6, 4/5 and 7/8) yes yes yes Functionally identical to 100base-T4

Category 5(e) (UTP) colour coding table

The following table shows the normal colour coding for category 5 cables (4 pair) based on
the two standards supported by TIA/EIA (see also our primer on this topic)

We get occasional email about the difference between 568A and 568B wiring. Which one you
use is a matter of local decision. These standards apply to the color code used within any
SINGLE cable run - BOTH ENDS MUST USE THE SAME STANDARD. However, since they both
use the same pinout at the connectors you can mix 568A and 568B cables in any installation.
10baseT Straight Cable (PC to HUB/SWITCH)

Straight cables are used to connect PCs or other equipment to a HUB or Switch. If your
connection is PC to PC or HUB to HUB you MUST use a Crossed cable.

The following cable description is for the wiring of both ends (RJ45 Male connectors) with the
568B category 5(e) wiring colors you could, of course, use the 568A colour scheme.

Pin No. strand color Name

1 white and orange TX+

2 orange TX-

3 white and green RX+

4 NC *

5 NC *

6 green RX-

7 NC *

8 NC *

NOTE: Items marked * are not necessary for 10M LANs (10base-T) but since you will be
moving shortly to 100MB LANs (won't you) you will save yourself a LOT OF TIME finding
crappy cable (that you made) that does not work. Instead we suggest you wire to 100Base-
T4 standards. After all you gotta stick the ends somewhere man.

We use BLUE for 10base-T straight cables. NOTE: All our wiring is now done to the 100base-
T4 spec which you can use with 10base-T networks - but NOT necessarily the other way
around.

10baseT Crossed cable (PC to PC or HUB to HUB)

Crossed cables are used to connect PCs to one other PC or to connect a HUB to a HUB.
Crossed cables are sometimes called Crossover, Patch or Jumper cables. If your connection is
PC to HUB you MUST use a Straight cable.

The following description shows the wiring at both ends (male RJ45 connectors) of the crossed
cable.

One end Other end

RJ45 Male RJ45 Male

1 3

2 6

3 1

4* 5*

5* 4*

6 2

7* 8*

8* 7*

NOTES:

1. Items marked * are not necessary for 10M LANs but since you will be moving shortly
to 100MB LANs (won't you) you will save yourself a LOT OF TIME finding crappy cable
(that you made) that does not work. Instead we suggest you wire to 100BaseT
standards.
2. We use RED for crossed cables (or more commonly now a red heat-shrink collar at
each end).
3. All our crossed wiring is done to the 100base-T4 spec which you can use with 10baseT
networks - but NOT always the other way around.

100base-T Straight Cable (PC to HUB/SWITCH)

Straight cables are used to connect PCs or other equipment to a HUB or Switch. If your
connection is PC to PC or HUB to HUB you MUST use a Crossed cable.

The following cable description is for the wiring of BOTH ends (RJ45 Male connectors) with
your category 5 wiring colors (TIA/EIA 568A or 568B though the example uses 568B colors).

Pin No. conductor color Name

1 white and orange TX_D1+

2 orange TX_D1-

3 white and green RX_D2+

4 blue BI_D3+ **

5 white and blue BI_D3- **

6 green RX_D2-

7 white and brown BI_D4+ **

8 brown BI_D4- **

We use BLUE for 100baseT straight cables.

NOTES:

1. Wires marked ** are ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY for 100Base-T4 networks - used when
any combination of category 3/4/5 cables are present, when using 1000base-T (GigE)
and MAY be required for Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) - see below.
2. Wires marked ** are not essential for 100Base-TX (using cat 5/5e ONLY cables) and
CAN be used for other purposes, for example, telephony but, .. beware .. read this
FAQ and our LAN plus Telephony article before you wire your entire neighbourhood for
surround sound.

3. The Power-over-Ethernet spec (802.3af) allows three schemes where power may be
supplied. Two of these schemes use pairs 4,5 and 7,8 (marked ** in above table) for
power (called Midspan PSE and Alternative B or Mode B), one scheme uses ONLY pairs
1,2 and 3,6 (Endpoint PSE, Alternative A or Mode A) for both signals and power.
Depending on which scheme you use pairs 4,5 and 7,8 may be required.

4. Gigabit Ethernet requires all 4 pairs (8 conductors).

5. All our wiring is now done to the 100base-T4 spec which you can use with 10baseT
networks - but NOT the other way around.

100base-T Crossed cable (PC to PC or HUB to HUB)

Crossed cables are used to connect PCs to one other PC or to connect a HUB to a HUB.
Crossed cable are sometimes called Crossover, Patch or Jumper cables. If your connection is
PC to HUB you MUST use a Straight cable.

The following description shows the wiring at both ends (male RJ45 connectors) of the
crossed cable. Note: The diagrams below shows crossing of all 4 pairs and allows for the use
of cat3/4 cables with 100m LANs (100base-T4). Pairs 4,5 and 7,8 do not NEED to be crossed
in 100base-TX wiring. See notes below.

We use RED for crossed cables (or more commonly now a red heat-shrink collar at each end).

NOTES:

1. All our crossed wiring is now done to the 100base-T4 spec (uses all 4 pairs, 8
conductors) which you can use with 10base-T networks - but NOT necessarily the
other way around.
2. Many commercial 100m LAN cables seem not to cross pairs 4,5 and 7,8. If there is no
cat3/4 wiring in the network this perfectly acceptable.
3. Gigabit Ethernet uses all 4 pairs so requires the full 4 pair (8 conductor) cross
configuration (shown above).
4. If you are using Power-over-Ethernet (802.3af) then Mode A or Alternative A uses
pairs 1,2 and 3,6 for both signals and power. Mode B or alternative B uses 4,5 and 7,8
to carry power. In all cases the spec calls for polarity insensitive implementation (using
 a diode bridge) and therefore crossing or not crossing pairs 4,5 and 7,8 will have no
effect.

1000base-T Gigabit Ethernet

1000base-T is the copper based version of the gigabit Ethernet standard defined by 802.3ab
which, since it is over 6 months old, is available free of charge from the enlightened IEEE.
Great work. In passing, if you want to see sophistry raised to an art form read the EIA's
justification for charging for their specifications. (Note: The original EIA statement is
unfortunately no longer avilable on-line. This is a great loss to both the development of the
English language in general, and comedy writing in particular.) The following notes apply to
the 1000base-T spec:

1. The standard defines auto-negotiation of speed between 10, 100 and 1000 Mbit/s so
the speed will fall to the maximum supported by both ends - ensuring inter-working
with existing installations.
2. The cable specification base-line is ANSI/TIA/EIA-568-A-1995 (which you have to pay
for). This means that if you know your cat5 cable was manufactured to this standard
(there was a lower spec 1991 version of this specification) then it will support Gigabit
Ethernet. Cat5 cable manufactured to the old specification may work or it may not -
you need to run some tests. Cat5e and cat6 being higher spec cables will clearly
support Gigabit Ethernet.

3. Maximum runs are the standard 100m (~300ft).

4. Gigabit Ethernet uses all 4 pairs (8 conductors). The transmission scheme is radically
different (PAM-5 a 5 level amplitude modulation scheme) and each conductor is used
for send and receive.

5. Crossed Gigabit Ethernet cables must cross all 4 pairs.

RJ45 Connector Pin Numbering

RJ45 Male Connector

RJ45 Connections - some hints

We get mail saying 'Help. I've wired it correctly but it does not work'. Here are some simple
notes that may help. Remember it's more difficult that you think.

1. The RJ45 connector is the critical connection - always use the highest quality
connectors you can afford. The most common cause of connection faults are bad
connectors.

There are different connectors for stranded and solid cable and manufacturers do not always do
a good job at differentiating them. Spend the time to make sure you have the right connector
type. If you use the wrong type of connector the cable may or may not work initially but it will
almost certainly fail very quickly.

2. Make and test practice cables until you get it right every time - especially before you
destroy a cable you just spend 2 hours fitting.
3. When cutting the exterior cover of the cable be very careful not to cut the insulation
cover of the conductors since this can cause shorts - bottom line: the cable won't
work.
4. Expose a maximum of 1 inch of individual conductors when preparing the cable for
connection.
5. Line up all the conductors according to the wiring standard you are using.
6. Measure the cable and trim the conductor ends so they are are all the same length and
no individual conductor wire is visible outside the plastic cover of the RJ45 connector.
7. Carefully slide the prepared cable into the RJ45 connector making sure the end of the
conductors reaches the end of the RJ45 connector.
8. Using the crimp tool make the connection using one firm squeeze operation.
9. Test the cable before fitting if possible.

Shielded Twisted Pair

Shielded Twisted Pair (STP) comes in a variety of formats. It is typically used in three
applications:

1. Where there is significant EMI in the environment such as caused by high-powered

electric motors (elevator shafts), flourescent lighting etc. Additionally where there is
significant Alien Crosstalk (ANEXT) such as in very high speed (gigabit and 10gb)
LANs. In this case the ethernet signals in the cable are protected against external
interference from either adjacent pairs or the environment.
2. Where there is extremely sensitive electrical/electronic equipment in the surrounding
environment or where security requirements demand elimination of eavesdropping
 possibilities from radiated LAN signals (TEMPEST). In this case the ethernet signals in
the cable are contained and prevented from polluting, or escaping into, the external
environment.

3. Where maximum performance - either speed or distance - is required. As Ethernet

speeds continue to increase either fiber or Shielded Twisted Pair is becoming
increasingly common, for instance, to reach 100m distances at 10Gb speeds on copper
will require shielded cable (limited to 55m for UTP).

Shielded cable comes in three broad types with a confusing range of terminology:

1. Where there is a single foil (FTP - Foil Twisted Pair) or braided (ScTP - Screened
Twisted Pair) shield inside the jacket covering all four pairs.
2. Where there is a foil shield covering each pair. This is frequently refered to as PiMF
(Pairs in Metal Foil) and is designed primarily to eliminate Alien Cross-talk (ANEXT)
from adjacent pairs.

3. Where there is a foil shield covering each pair and a (Foil or Braided) shield covering
the whaoe cable. This is frequently refered to as SSTP (Double Shield Twisted Pair) or
even PiMF - since many manufacturers also add a jacket shield to foil covered pair
cables.

In almost all cases there is a single ground wire (called a drain) which allows for connection to
secondary grounding sources.

The diagram below illustrates the differences:

Notes:

1. Shielded cable of any variety has a greater diameter than UTP and will therefore
occupy more space in cable ducting and raceways.
2. Connecting shielded cable is more complex and time consuming - but not execessively
so - than conventional UTP. Manufacturers specifications vary enormously, expecially
with respect to grounding, and should be followed closely.
3. In shielded cable installations the jacks and receptacles are typically made of metal
and the cable shield (foil or braid) is connected electrically to the connector and thence
through the receptable to a suitable ground.

4. Foil covered pairs are typically not connected to ground and thus provide only alien
crosstalk immunity from adjacent pairs (ANEXT).

5. Manufacturers specifications and measurements suggest that shielded cables do NOT

create antenna effects - indeed experiments show that UTP creates a substantially
greater antenna effect (~40db) over correctly grounded shielded cables.

6. Even ungrounded shielded cables provide better performance (by ~20db) than
conventional unshielded twisted pair (UTP).

7. The drain wire provides a secondary or auxiliary ground method where metallic path
grounding is provided by the connectors and, as such, is optional. In cases where
metal connectors are not being used the drain wire may be used as the primary
grounding method and needs to be routed independantly to a suitable ground.