CONFIGURING COMPUTER SYSTEMS

AND NETWORKS
THE COLOR QUIZ
Local Area Network (LAN) Cable
•Also known as Ethernet Cable.
•Robert "Bob" Melancton Metcalfe , an
Electrical Engineer from the United States
invented Ethernet in 1973
•It connect devices like PCs, routers, and
switches.
LAN CABLING
•process of
creating cable
used to create a
network that
interconnects
computers.
T568A
T568B
STRAIGHT-THROUGH CONNECTION
CROSS-OVER CONNECTION
Use straight
through Ethernet
cable for the
following cabling:
• Switch to router
• Switch to PC or
server
• Hub to PC or
server
Use crossover
cables for the
following cabling:

• Switch to switch
• Switch to hub
• Hub to hub
• Router to router
• Router Ethernet
port to PC NIC
• PC to PC
The following items are the
materials and tools used for
making Ethernet Cables:
 Ethernet
Cable
(Category 5 or
Cat5e)
 RJ-45
(crimpable
connectors for
Cat5e)
Crimping Tool
Wire Cutter /
Wire Stripper
LAN Tester
Cable Fabrication Procedures
Cable Fabrication 1. Cut into the plastic sheath 1 inch from
Procedure the end of the cut cable.
Cable Fabrication 2. Unwind and pair the similar colors.
Procedure
Cable
Fabrication
Procedure
3. Pinch the wires between
your fingers and straighten
them out as shown. The
color order is important to
do this correctly.
Cable
Fabrication
Procedure
4. Use wire cutter/crimping tool
to make a straight cut across the
wires 1/2 inch from the cut
sleeve to the end of the wires.
Cable Fabrication
Procedure
5. Push the wires into the
connector. Each wire fits into a
slot in the RJ45 connector.
Cable Fabrication
Procedure
6. Take view from the top. Make
sure the wires are all the way in.
There should be no short wires.
Cable Fabrication
Procedure
7. Crimping the Cable
 8. For a standard "Straight-Through" cable, repeat all
Cable Fabrication steps and wire color order on the other end of cable. For
Procedure a cross-over cable - the other end will have a different
color order
Cable
Fabrication
Procedure
9. Make sure to test the cables
before installing them. An
inexpensive Ethernet cable tester
does this quite well.
 LAN TESTER CHECKING
STRAIGHT-THROUGH CROSS-OVER
Pin 1 Pin 2 Pin 1 Pin 2
1 1 1 3
2 2 2 6
3 3 3 1
4 4 4 4
5 5 5 5
6 6 6 2
7 7 7 7
8 8 8 8