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. Irfan Younas Mughal
Lab Report Rubrics Total
(Add the points in each column, then add across the bottom row to find the total Marks
score)
[Link] Criterion 0.5 0.25 0.125
1 Accuracy  Desired output  Minor  Critical
mistakes mistakes
2 Timing  Submitted within the  1 day late  More than 1
given time day late

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

Submission Profile
Name: Asma Channa Submission date (dd/mm/yy):
Enrollment ID: 133-22-0042 Receiving authority name and signature:
Comments: __________________________________________________________________________
Instructor Signature
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.
 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.
 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

➢ 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.

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.

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

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 [Link]
Subnet mask [Link]
Gateway Address [Link]

PC2
IP address [Link]
Subnet mask [Link]
Gateway Address [Link]

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
Go to command prompt and test the connectivity
PC1 → ping [Link]
PC2 → ping [Link]
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-0: Attached results after folder sharing In above Lab Activity