Sukkur Institute of Business Administration University

Department of Computer Systems Engineering

CSE-222: Computer Communication and Networks LAB

Lab # 01: Preparing crossover and straight through

Ethernet Cables & Connecting two computers through
Ethernet Cables
Instructor: Engr. Umair Ayaz Kamangar
Lab Report Rubrics Total
(Add the points in each column, then add across the bottom row to find the total Marks
score)
S.N Criterion 0.5 0.25 0.125
o
1 Accuracy  Desired output  Minor  Critical
mistakes mistakes
2 Timing  Submitted within the  1 day late  More than
given time 1 day late

Submission Profile

Name: Submission date (dd/mm/yy):

Enrollment ID: Receiving authority name and signature:

Comments: __________________________________________________________________________

Instructor Signature

Note: Submit this lab hand-out in the next lab with attached solved activities and exercises

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Lab Learning Objectives:

After completing this session, student should be able to:

 Prepare straight through Ethernet cable using T-568A and T-568B standards and RJ45
connector
 Prepare crossover Ethernet cable using T-568A and T-568B standards and RJ45
connector
 Connect two computers with Ethernet cable

Lab Hardware and Software Required:

1. A Windows-based computer
2. Access to the Internet
3. 6 foot section of CAT 5 unshielded twisted pair (UTP) cable
4. Two RJ 45 connectors
5. Wire stripping tool
6. Cable-end crimping tool
7. Cable tester
Background Theory:

The TIA/EIA (Telecommunication Industry Association)/ (Electronic Industry Alliance) 568-

A standard which was ratified in 1995, was replaced by the TIA/EIA 568-B standard in 2002
and has been updated since. Both standards define the T-568A and T-568B pin-outs for using
Unshielded Twisted Pair cable and RJ-45 connectors for Ethernet connectivity. The standards
and pin-out specification appear to be related and interchangeable, but are not the same and
should not be used interchangeably.

Both the T-568A and the T-568B standard Straight-Through cables are used most often as
patch cords for your Ethernet connections. If you require a cable to connect two Ethernet
devices directly together without a hub or when you connect two hubs together, you will need
to use a Crossover cable instead.

A good way of remembering how to wire a Crossover Ethernet cable is to wire one end using
the T-568A standard and the other end using the T-568B standard. Another way of
remembering the colour coding is to simply switch the Green set of wires in place with the
Orange set of wires. Specifically, switch the solid Green (G) with the solid Orange, and
switch the green/white with the orange/white.

Straight Through Ethernet Cables

Straight through Ethernet cables are the standard cable used for almost all purposes. It is
highly recommending you duplicate the color order as shown on the left. Note how the green
pair is not side-by-side as are all the other pairs. This configuration allows for longer wire
runs.

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 Fig: 1.1: Straight through using T-568A

Fig 1.2: Straight through using T-568B

Crossover Cables

The purpose of a Crossover Ethernet cable is to directly connect one computer to another
computer (or device) without going through a router, switch or hub.

Fig 1.3: Crossover Cables

By looking at a T-568A UTP Ethernet straight-thru cable and an Ethernet crossover cable
with a T-568B end, we see that the TX (transmitter) pins are connected to the corresponding
RX (receiver) pins, plus to plus and minus to minus. You can also see that both the blue and
brown wire pairs on pins 4, 5, 7, and 8 are not used in either standard. What you may not
realize is that, these same pins 4, 5, 7, and 8 are not used or required in 100BASE-TX as well.
So why bother using these wires, well for one thing it’s simply easier to make a connection
with all the wires grouped together. Otherwise you’ll be spending time trying to fit those tiny
little wires into each of the corresponding holes in the RJ-45 connector.

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 Fig 1.4: Crossover and straight Cables color coding

Fig 1.5: T568A and T568B Standards

Lab Example:

 Pull the cable off the reel to the desired length and cut. The total length of wire
segments between a PC and a hub or between two PC’s cannot exceed 100 Meters
(328 feet) for 100BASE-TX and 300 Meters for 10BASE-T.
 Start on one end and strip the cable jacket off (about 1″) using a stripper or a knife. Be
extra careful not to nick the wires, otherwise you will need to start over.
 Cut into the plastic sheath about 1 inch (2.5 cm) from the end of the cut cable. The
crimping tool has a razor blade that will do the trick with practice.

Fig 1.6: Strip and cut the plastic sheath about 1 inch

 Spread, untwist the pairs, and arrange the wires pair the similar colors.

Fig 1.7: Untwisting pairs

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  Flatten the end between your thumb and forefinger.
 Pinch the wires between your fingers and straighten them out as shown in Figure 1.8.
The color order is important to get correct.
 Trim the ends of the wires so they are even with one another, leaving only 1/2″ in
wire length. If it is longer than 1/2″ it will be out-of-spec and susceptible to crosstalk.
Flatten and insure there are no spaces between wires.
 Use scissors to make a straight cut across the wires 1/2 Inch (1.3 cm) from the cut
sleeve to the end of the
wires.

 Hold the RJ-45 plug with the clip facing down or away from you. Push the wires
firmly into the plug. Inspect each wire is flat even at the front of the plug. Check the
order of the wires. Double check again. Check that the jacket is fitted right against the
stop of the plug. Carefully hold the wire and firmly crimp the RJ-45 with the crimper.
 Check the color orientation, check that the crimped connection is not about to come
apart, and check to see if the
wires are flat against the front of
the plug. If even one of these are
incorrect, you will have to start
over. Test the Ethernet cable.

Push the wires into the connector. Note

the position of the blue plastic shielding.
Also note how the wires go all the way to
the end.

A view from the top. All the wires are all the way in. There are no short wires.

WRONG WAY – Note how the blue

plastic sleeve is not inside the connector
where it can be locked into place. The
wires are too long. The wires should
extend only 1/2 inch from the blue cut
sleeve.

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WRONG WAY - Note how the cables do not go all the way to the end of the connector.

Crimping the Cable

Carefully place the connector into the
Ethernet Crimper and cinch down on
the handles tightly. The copper splicing
tabs on the connector will pierce into
each of the eight wires. There is also a
locking tab that holds the blue plastic
sleeve in place for a tight compression
fit. When you remove the cable from the crimper, that end is ready to use.

Fig 1.8: Crimping Cable

For a standard "Straight Through" cable, repeat all steps and wire color order on the other end
of cable. For a cross-over cable, the other end will have a different color order as shown by
the crossover picture above.
Make sure to test the cables
before installing them. An
inexpensive Ethernet cable
tester does this quite well.

Fig 1.9: Ethernet Cable Tester

Ethernet Cable Tips:

 A straight-thru cable has identical ends.
 A crossover cable has different ends.
 A straight-thru is used as a patch cord in Ethernet connections.
 A crossover is used to connect two Ethernet devices without a hub or for connecting
two hubs.
 A crossover has one end with the Orange set of wires switched with the Green set.
 Odd numbered pins are always striped, even numbered pins are always solid colored.
 Looking at the RJ-45 with the clip facing away from you, Brown is always on the
right, and pin 1 is on the left.
 No more than 1/2″ of the Ethernet cable should be untwisted otherwise it will be
susceptible to crosstalk.
 Do not deform, do not bend, do not stretch, do not staple, do not run parallel with
power cables, and do not run Ethernet cables near noise inducing components.

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Lab Activities:

Connecting two computers using

Ethernet cable
Step 1
Connect two computers through crossover cable

Step 2
Open network and sharing centre as shown in Figure 1.10.

Fig 1.10: Network and Sharing center Window

Step 3
Go to Change adapter settings

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 Fig 1.11: Change adapter settings window

Step 4
Right click on local area connection/Ethernet connection then double click on TCP/IPv4
option and select use the following IP address

Fig 1.12: Change adapter settings window

Step 5
Assign the following IP addresses.
PC1
IP address 192.168.2.2
Subnet mask 255.255.0.0
Gateway Address 192.168.2.3

PC2
IP address 192.168.2.3
Subnet mask 255.255.0.0
Gateway Address 192.168.2.2

Step 6
Go to Network and sharing center  change advanced sharing settings
Select the following options
 Turn on network discovery
 Turn file and printer sharing
 Enable file sharing that use 40 or 56 bit encryption
 Turn off password protected sharing
Step 7

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Go to command prompt and test the connectivity
PC1  ping 192.168.2.3
PC2  ping 192.168.2.2

Step 8
To share any folder
Right click on that folder  Properties  Sharing Tab  Advanced sharing  Share this
folder  permissions  select all allow columns and give group or username Everyone
Step 9
Right click on that folder  Properties Security tab  Edit permissions to Everyone and
select all allow columns.
Step 10
Accessing one PC from another PC.
Go to run and write IP address of desired PC.

Lab Exercises:

Task-1. Prepare straight through and crossover Ethernet cables using CAT-5 twisted pair
cable and RJ-45 connectors by following the T-568-A and T-568-B standards.

Task-2. Repeat the lab activity of connecting two PCs again, but use self-prepared crossover
Ethernet cable and confirm their connectivity by using ping command.

Task 3: Attached result after Folder Sharing in above Lab Activities:

PC-1:

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