Lab - Building an Ethernet Crossover Cable

Topology

Addressing Table

Device InterfaceIP
Subnet Mask Default Gateway

Address

PC-A NIC
192.168.10.1
255.255.255.0
N/A
PC-B NIC192.168.10.2 255.255.255.0 N/A

Objectives
Part 1: Analyze Ethernet Cabling Standards and Pinouts Analyze diagrams and tables for the TIA/EIA 568-
A standard Ethernet cable. Analyze diagrams and tables for the TIA/EIA 568-B standard Ethernet cable.
Part 2: Build an Ethernet Crossover Cable

Build and terminate a TIA/EIA 568-A cable end. Build and terminate a TIA/EIA 568-B
cable end. Part 3: Test an Ethernet Crossover Cable

Test an Ethernet crossover cable with a cable tester. Connect two PCs together using an
Ethernet crossover cable.

Background / Scenario
In this lab, you will build and terminate an Ethernet crossover cable and test it by connectingtwoPCstogetherand pinging
between them. You will first analyze the Telecommunications Industry Association/ElectronicIndustries Association (TIA/EIA)
568-A and 568-B standards and how they apply to Ethernet cables. Youwillthen construct an Ethernet crossover cable and test
it. Finally, you will use the cableyoujust constructedtoconnect two PCs together and test it by pinging between them.
Note: With autosensing capabilities available on many devices, such as the Cisco 1941IntegratedServicesRouter (ISR) switch,
you may see straight-through cables connecting like devices.

Required Resources
One length of cable, either Category 5 or 5e. Cable length should be 1.5mto 2m. 2 RJ-45 connectors
RJ-45 crimping tool
Wire cutter
Wire stripper
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Lab - Building an Ethernet Crossover Cable

Ethernet cable tester (optional)

2 PCs (Windows 7, or Windows
10)

Part 1: Analyze Ethernet Cabling Standards and Pinouts

The TIA/EIA has specified unshielded twisted pair (UTP) cabling standards for use inLANcablingenvironments. TIA/EIA 568-A and 568-B
stipulates the commercial cabling standards for LANinstallations;these are the standards most commonly used in LAN cabling for organizations
and theydeterminewhichcolor wire is used on each pin.
With a crossover cable, the second and third pairs on the RJ-45 connector at one endof thecablearereversed at the other end, which reverses the
send and receive pairs. The cable pinoutsarethe568-Astandard on one end and the 568-B standard on the other end. Crossover cables
arenormallyusedtoconnect hubs to hubs or switches to switches, but they can also be used to directly connect twohoststocreate a simple
network.
Note: With modern networking devices, a straight-through cable can often be used evenwhenconnectinglikedevices because of their autosensing
feature. With autosensing, the interfaces detect whether thesendandreceive circuit pairs are correctly connected. If they are not, the interfaces
reverse oneendof theconnection.Autosensing also alters the speed of the interfaces to match the slowest one. For example, if connectingaGigabit
Ethernet (1000 Mb/s) router interface to a Fast Ethernet (100 Mb/s) switch interface, theconnectionuses Fast Ethernet.
The Cisco 2960 switch has autosensing turned on, by default; therefore, connectingtwo2960switchestogether works with either a crossover or a
straight-through cable. With some older switches, thisisnot thecase and a crossover cable must be used.
In addition, the Cisco 1941 router Gigabit Ethernet interfaces are autosensing and astraight-throughcablemay be used to connect a PC directly to
the router interface (bypassing the switch). Withsomeolderrouters,this is not the case and a crossover cable must be used.
When directly connecting two hosts, it is generally advisable to use a crossover cable. Step 1: Analyze diagrams and tables for the

TIA/EIA 568-A standard Ethernet cable.

The following table and diagrams display the color scheme and pinouts, as well as thefunctionof thefourpairs of wires used for the 568-A
standard.
Note: In LAN installations using 100Base-T (100 Mb/s), only two pairs out of the four areused. © 2013 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. This

document is Cisco Public. Page 2 of 6

 Lab - Building an Ethernet Crossover Cable

568-A 10/100/1000Base-TX Ethernet

Pin NumberPairNumberWire
10Base-T Signal 100Base-TXSignal

Color 1000Base-TSignal

1 Transmit
2
White/Green BI_DA+

2 Transmit
2
Green BI_DA
3 Receive
3
White/Orange BI_DB+
4 Not Used
1
Blue BI_DC+
5 Not Used
1
White/Blue BI_DC
6 Receive
3
Orange BI_DB
7 Not Used
4
White/Brown
BI_DD+
8 4 Brown Not Used BI_DD

The following diagrams display how the wire color and pinouts align with an RJ-45 jack for the568-Astandard.
 © 2013 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. This document is Cisco Public. Page 3 of 6
Lab - Building an Ethernet Crossover Cable

Step 2: Analyze diagrams and tables for the TIA/EIA 568-B standard Ethernet cable. The following table and
diagram display the color scheme and pinouts for the 568-Bstandard. 568-B 10/100/1000-BaseTX Ethernet

Pin NumberPairNumberWire
10Base-T Signal 100Base-TXSignal

1 1000Base-TSignal
Color

2
White/Orange
Transmit
BI_DA+
2
2
Orange
Transmit
BI_DA
3
3
White/Green
Receive
BI_DB+
4
1
Blue
Not Used
BI_DC+
5
1
White/Blue
Not Used
BI_DC
6
3
Green
Receive
BI_DB
7
 4
White/Brown
Not Used
BI_DD+
8 4 Brown Not Used BI_DD-

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Lab - Building an Ethernet Crossover Cable

Part 2: Build an Ethernet Crossover Cable

A crossover cable has the second and third pairs on the RJ-45 connector at one end, reversedat theotherend (refer to the table
in Part 1, Step 2). The cable pinouts are the 568-A standard ononeendandthe568-Bstandard on the other end. The two
following diagrams illustrate this concept.

Step 1: Build and terminate a TIA/EIA 568-A cable end.

a. Determine the cable length required. (Your instructor will let you knowthe cablelengthyoushouldmake.)
Note: If you were making a cable in a production environment, the general guidelineistoaddanother12in. (30.48
cm) to the length.
b. Cut off a piece of cable to the desired length and using your wire stripper, remove5.08cm(2in.)ofthecable
jacket from both ends.
c. Hold the four pairs of twisted cables tightly where the jacket was cut away. Reorganizethecablepairsinto the
order of the 568-A wiring standard. Refer to the diagrams, if necessary. Takeasmuchcareaspossible to
maintain the twists in the cable; this provides noise cancellation.
d. Flatten, straighten, and line up the wires using your thumb and forefinger.
 e. Ensure that the cable wires are still in the correct order for the 568-A standard. Usingyour wirecutters,trim the four pairs in a
straight line to within 1.25 to 1.9 cm (1/2 to 3/4 in.).
f. Place an RJ-45 connector on the end of your cable, with the prong on the undersidepointingdownward.Firmly insert the wires
into the RJ-45 connector. All wires should be seen at theendof theconnectorintheir proper positions. If the wires are not
extending to the end of the connector, takethecableout, rearrange the wires as necessary, and reinsert the wires back into the
RJ-45 connector.
g. If everything is correct, insert the RJ-45 connector with cable into the crimper. Crimpdownhardenoughto force the
contacts on the RJ-45 connector through the insulation on the wires, thuscompletingtheconducting path. See the
following diagram for an example.

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Lab - Building an Ethernet Crossover Cable

Step 2: Build and terminate a TIA/EIA 568-B cable end.

Repeat steps 1a to 1g using the 568-B color wiring scheme for the other end. Part 3: Test an

Ethernet Crossover Cable

Step 1: Test the cable.

Many cable testers will test for length and mapping of wires. If the cable tester has awiremapfeature, itverifies which pins on
one end of the cable are connected to which pins on the other end.
If your instructor has a cable tester, test the crossover cable for functionality. If it fails, checkwithyourinstructor
first as to whether you should re-cable the ends and re-test.

Step 2: Connect two PCs together via NICs using your Ethernet crossover cable.
a. Working with a lab partner, set your PC to one of the IP addresses shown in theAddressingTable(seepage 1). For
example, if your PC is PC-A, your IP address should be set to 192.168.10.1witha24-bitsubnet mask. You partner’s IP
address should be 192.168.10.2. The default gatewayaddresscanbeleftempty.
b. Using the crossover cable you made, connect the two PCs together via their NICs. c. On the PC-A command prompt,
ping the PC-B IP address.
Note: The Windows firewall may have to be temporarily disabled for pings to be successful. If thefirewall isdisabled, make
sure you re-enable it at the conclusion of this lab.
d. Repeat the process and ping from PC-B to PC-A.
Assuming IP addressing and firewall are not issues, your pings should be successful if thecableswereproperly made.

Reflection
1. Which part of making cables did you find the most difficult? 2. Why do you have to learn how to make a cable if you can

easily buy pre-made cables?

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