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Twisted-Pair Cabling
There are different grades, or categories, of twisted-pair
cabling. Category 5 is the most reliable and widely
compatible, and is highly recommended. Category 3 is a
good second choice. Straight-through cables are used
for connecting computers to a hub. Crossed cables are
used for connecting a hub to another hub (there is an
exception: some hubs have a built-in uplink port that is
crossed internally, which allows you to uplink hubs
together with a straight cable instead).
You can buy Category 5 cabling that is pre-made, or cut
and crimp your own. Category 5 cables can be pur-
chased or crimped as either straight-through or crossed.
A Category 5 cable has 8 thin, color-coded wires inside
that run from one end of the cable to the other. All 8
wires are used. In a straight-through cable, wires 1, 2, 3,
and 6 at one end of the cable are also wires 1, 2, 3, and
6 at the other end. In a
crossed cable, the order of
the wires change from one
end to the other: wire 1
becomes 3, and 2
becomes 6.
The color code for the 4 wires should be as follows:
Wire 1, white with an orange stripe; Wire 2, orange;
Wire 3, white with a green stripe; Wire 6, green. The
other four wires have to be connected as follows: Wire
4, blue; Wire 5, white with a blue stripe; Wire7, white
with a brown stripe, Wire 8, brown.
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Appendix