Abt Interface Connection

Hi All

Can any1 tell why a crossover cable is used to connect a PC to router or Switch to hub??? Based on my home network experiences, i currently use connect my pc to my 4 ports SMC router using a straightthrough cable without any problems. however, since i studied the CCNA material, i had found that the description on the interface connection is different from me!!!

Use crossover cables for the following connections:

Switch to switch
Switch to hub
Hub to hub
Router to router
PC to PC
Router to PC

Have a look at www.firewall.cx/ftopict-1845-crossover.html in the first instance, and feel free to come back if you have any more questions

yes that is a good point to start from. you see, some devices does the x over withing themselves and some don't. so it all depends on whether both end devices support internal cross over or not.
but still, go ahead and give the article a read.

Just to note that you do not connect your PC to the SMC router but to the switch that is implemented with the router...

it works most of the times however what u read in the CCNA materials are the recommendations about the product ...

and it's always advised to take the medicine from a doctor rather than a pharmacy shop

Agreed. Although auto-crossover seems like a great feature, not all devices do it properly and I've actually measured inferior throughput with an auto-MDIX'd link compared to using the same two device ports with the correct cable so that the auto crossover is not necessary