Questions tagged [cable]

The questions tagged that way are for the physical aspect of the cable, like length limitation, physical properties, tubing, installation, etc..

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What happens when you plug two sides of a cable to a single networking device?

What is likely to happen when you plug two ends of a network cable to a single switch/router? Will this create problems on the network, or just be ignored?
lisa1987's user avatar
  • 891
65 votes
6 answers
128k views

Why do ethernet cables have 8 wires?

This might seem a stupid question but why do Ethernet cables have 8 wires? Cat5 cables were just using 4 of the 8 wires, so only 4 are actualy 'needed'. Why not 12 or 16 wires?
ProgrammerAtWork's user avatar
40 votes
2 answers
17k views

Why do cat5 cables sometimes have the fluffy fiber bit in them?

Why do cat5 cables sometimes have the fluffy fiber bit in them?
t123's user avatar
  • 729
38 votes
11 answers
394k views

Is there a difference between RJ-45 plugs for Cat-5e and Cat-6?

While looking around for some plugs to use for running and crimping some bulk Cat-6 cable, I noticed the online sites show RJ-45 plugs for Cat-5e and separate ones for Cat-6. Is there actually any ...
romandas's user avatar
  • 3,362
37 votes
14 answers
103k views

What is a patch panel?

What is a patch panel? How it is different from (layer 2) switch? EDIT: I think my primary question (and confusion) is this: Why don't network connections go straight to the switch? Don't we still ...
Arie K's user avatar
  • 1,633
37 votes
11 answers
93k views

How do you organise the cables in your racks?

I'm migrating my current half-size rack to a full-size rack and want to take the opportunity to reorganize and sort our spaghetti-hell of ethernet cables. What system do you use for organising your ...
Tim's user avatar
  • 395
34 votes
5 answers
26k views

What is the actual difference between Cat-5 and Cat-5e?

From the title, this sounds a whole lot like a repeat of this question, but it isn't, I promise. Because he wanted to know whether you could tell from looking at a cable whether it was Cat-5 or Cat-5e,...
Matt Simmons's user avatar
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32 votes
10 answers
29k views

Network cable color conventions? [closed]

Are there any color conventions for network cable? I'm talking jacket color here, not the color of the individual conductors. I've seen and used mostly grey and blue which is what's usually readily ...
Boden's user avatar
  • 5,008
26 votes
2 answers
7k views

How does the RJ45 crimping tool work?

There are plenty of videos and descriptions about how to use an RJ45 crimping tool. I've seen a few, and I have even tested a crimping tool, but I still don't understand how it does what it does. What ...
Arseni Mourzenko's user avatar
21 votes
4 answers
27k views

Connecting two desktop switches with more than one cable?

I was hoping to find a way to increase bandwidth between two desktop switches I have, and I wondered if connecting them with two cables (or perhaps three) instead of just one might increase ...
Code Jockey's user avatar
18 votes
6 answers
4k views

What else do I get with Cat 6 beyond future proofing my wiring?

We are about to put in the wiring in an expansion of our office building and the vendor is proposing we use Cat 6 cabling because it is "faster." Gigabit works fine over Cat 5e which is what our ...
Chris Magnuson's user avatar
18 votes
4 answers
45k views

Tracing a network cable that is already connected to the network

Some remodeling was done while I was away from work, and I'm left with several unlabeled cat5 cables that are terminated with RJ45 keystone modules. On the other end, all of the cables are terminated ...
Sherlock Bytes's user avatar
18 votes
3 answers
8k views

What is the wiring for a patch cable?

What is the wiring order for an 10/100/n-Base-T patch cable? What about a crossover (x-over) cable?
BIBD's user avatar
  • 1,876
17 votes
1 answer
6k views

What kind of SATA connector is this?

My Supermicro motherboard has a "vertical S-SATA connector". The manual simply says "A vertical S-SATA connector, offers four S-SATA 3.0 connections (S-SATA 0-3)". I took a picture of it and it ...
Pete's user avatar
  • 355
17 votes
6 answers
107k views

How to test cat5/cat6 cable runs, using software-only, or simple tools? [closed]

Are there any utilities or simple tools or techniques to easily test a CAT5 cable, to see how well was it installed? Cat5 is often installed by amateurs, but has been installed and "working" for ...
user135698's user avatar
17 votes
4 answers
39k views

10GbE sfp+ cross over cable required? Is there such a thing?

To preface, this is my first experience with 10GbE networking and I have encountered an issue which my research does not seem to locate a solution for... I have two servers (older DL580G5 and DL380G5)...
dc-patos's user avatar
  • 181
14 votes
6 answers
86k views

Cat 6e vs Cat 6a

From what I can understand, Cat 6e does not actually exist but a number of manufacturers are selling some cable labeled as Cat 6e. Some sources say that Cat 6e is just Cat 6a but the manufacturers ...
Jack's user avatar
  • 517
13 votes
3 answers
21k views

What is the difference between pvc and plenum cabling?

I'm looking into buying a few rolls of bulk Cat6 cable to wire up a few cubicles to a test rack we have. One of the choices is PVC cable versus Plenum cable. What is the difference? Will this make ...
romandas's user avatar
  • 3,362
13 votes
2 answers
16k views

Are SATA 1, 2 and 3 cables interchangeable?

I've got an older SATA drive (not sure if it's SATA 1 or 2). Same size plug as my new SATA 3 M/B. Are the cables interchangeable? Any decrease in performance from using a "lower" cable?
Clay Nichols's user avatar
  • 1,513
13 votes
2 answers
32k views

What is a RAID Controller's Sideband Cable used for?

I have some Adaptec SAS raid controllers and the fanout cable comes with an extra cable called a SideBand but I am curious what it does? I know it plugs into the backplane, but other than that I can'...
Chad Grant's user avatar
12 votes
15 answers
5k views

Network cables - make them or buy them

First of all, I must say I've never had a problems with making cables by myself, last years stopped using cable testers just because they always say the cable I've made is ok. But I see there's a lot ...
disserman's user avatar
  • 1,850
12 votes
4 answers
2k views

Why is CAT rating not applied to switches?

I see patch panels all come rated as CAT5e, or CAT6 (and so on). I understand the difference between CAT5e and CAT6 cables, more stringent interference shielding, etc. What I don't understand is why ...
Slav's user avatar
  • 231
12 votes
1 answer
23k views

Is crossover cable still needed? [closed]

Do I still need a crossover cable to connect two PC's directly? (NIC <-> NIC)? If not, then why was this needed in the past, and when was it used for this? Specifically, when did crossover cables ...
evachristine's user avatar
12 votes
11 answers
86k views

How to use a Tone Generator to trace a network cable

We have a tone generator kit for tracing network cables, but I am having trouble using it correctly. The tone generator end plugs into the network cable I am trying to trace, and then I assume I ...
Brent 's user avatar
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11 votes
7 answers
3k views

Why straight-through ethernet cables?

I was explaining the difference between straight and crossover cables to my friend, and began wondering why on earth the early designers thought it was a good idea to use two different cable types? ...
zokier's user avatar
  • 113
11 votes
9 answers
53k views

Physical difference between Cat 5 and Cat 5e cabling?

(This isn't really server-related, but it seems more appropriate here than SO or SU.) When we had this house built, we had network cabling run inside the house, or so I'm lead to believe. It's ...
Ryan McCue's user avatar
11 votes
2 answers
24k views

Is APC's smart-signaling cable (940-0024) really proprietary?

First, not sure if this question belongs here or SU, so please advice accordingly before wildly down-voting or blasting me. We have a UPS unit for which we recently configured to work on our network. ...
Chad Harrison's user avatar
11 votes
4 answers
3k views

Industry Standards for Network Infrastructure Labeling

Are there any current industry standards IEEE, ISO, ANSI.... available that state how a buildings physical infrastructure should be labeled at the rack and jack and how the documentation should be ...
Peter's user avatar
  • 1,102
11 votes
4 answers
3k views

Why is a suspended ceiling not allowed in a wiring closet?

I have read in the book Cabling: The Complete Guide to Network Wiring that wiring closets should not have a suspended ceiling. In a few Google searches, I see this concept repeated. I have not been ...
Creativehavoc's user avatar
11 votes
1 answer
9k views

Server room wiring questions

I'm looking at rewiring our server room to be more presentable, organized, and easier to troubleshooting. Right now we currently have 4 HP racks (don't know the model right now). We do not have a ...
Jacob's user avatar
  • 131
10 votes
7 answers
102k views

Are a RJ11 jack and a RJ45 socket physically compatible?

Can the smaller RJ11 jack be plugged into an RJ45 (technically a 8P8C) socket? I've seen the plug be plugged into the socket, but have not seen it used to transmit data.
StuperUser's user avatar
10 votes
2 answers
3k views

Cable management strategy for a small chassis switch

I'm working with a small site buildout that contains a single HP ProCurve 4200vl chassis switch. The data cabling contractor did not provision for any cable management. I'm looking at the rack ...
ewwhite's user avatar
  • 198k
9 votes
6 answers
2k views

What Ethernet twisted pair cable is best with a particular Ethernet switch

tl;dr I want the appropriate Ethernet cable for my Ethernet switch. How do I correlate Ethernet cabling speeds measured in hertz with an Ethernet switch "speed" measured in bits-per-second ...
JamesThomasMoon's user avatar
9 votes
1 answer
376 views

LAN: What are the things to look at when arriving in a new place

My company is moving to a new place, and the only thing I know about the cabling is that there are cables and a patch panel. I have no idea about the cable speed, quality, and I'm a software guy with ...
CharlesB's user avatar
  • 585
9 votes
2 answers
3k views

How do I label the network ports in our office?

We have a new office that was punched down with Ethernet in every office and every cubicle. The electrician didn't mark the ports on the patch panel or the wall ports, so I don't know where say port 1 ...
zippy's user avatar
  • 1,718
9 votes
6 answers
9k views

Gigabit with cat5 cable

Can a standard cat5 cable transmit at a speed of 1000 Mbit/s ? I've asked several people I know in the networking field and received different answers. I know a cat5 "works" on a Gigabit network but ...
Mark's user avatar
  • 754
9 votes
1 answer
4k views

Proper method for connecting multiple non-stackable network switches?

I deal with many clients in warehousing and industrial applications who have IT staff or local consultants. Many of these sites are still using a 10/100 Megabit switching backbone... I've managed to ...
ewwhite's user avatar
  • 198k
9 votes
3 answers
23k views

How to test/debug bad network wiring?

I recently bought a place already wired with Cat 5E (8 ports, leading to a central closet). However attempting to get link, nothing works. On closer examination, it was obvious that the ends in the ...
Jack Lloyd's user avatar
8 votes
8 answers
3k views

Stripping cat5 cable which doesn't have a ripcord

I need to patch a couple of cables. Normally I'd work with cat5 cable which contains a ripcord. The ripcord is used to pull outer insulation off without accidentally cutting the individual strands of ...
LadyLuck's user avatar
8 votes
14 answers
11k views

Tips for managing storage of computer cables? [closed]

I live in a college dorm during the school year, and I have tons of cables. USB cables, printer, power, headphones, everything. And, because of my college-ness, I am often packing these cables up in ...
8 votes
6 answers
3k views

Structured Cabling Server Racks

We have the opportunity next week to rewire five server racks which is currently in a real mess. Each rack currently has a switch installed up top with lots of cables hanging around. We are thinking ...
PeterG's user avatar
  • 81
8 votes
5 answers
20k views

What's a reliable way to test patch panel connections?

I just had to run a total of 12 cat5 cables into a patch panel. This was the first time I'd actually done that. I'm reasonably confident that I got all the wires in the right order after some initial ...
DWilliams's user avatar
  • 973
8 votes
6 answers
4k views

Effecient organization of spare cables and hardware

As many of you also likely do, I have a growing collection of cables, hardware, and spare parts (screws, connectors, etc.). I'm looking to find a good system of organization so that everything isn't a ...
7 votes
8 answers
35k views

Effect of heat on CAT5 Ethernet Cabling

I am wondering what the heat rating is on standard CAT5 cabling or where I can check the heat rating of my cabling by using the information inscribed on the cabling? In my specific situation, I am ...
jmlane's user avatar
  • 173
7 votes
3 answers
5k views

How to correctly run cables on servers in a data center?

I've read about a few key points, e.g. run all ethernet cables on the right side, all power on the left side, but if possible I'd like to know what you guys do from experience? For example, how do you ...
AX1's user avatar
  • 1,289
7 votes
6 answers
3k views

Securing power cables

It's always annoyed me that while the sockets for network, serial, parallel and display cables all have securing mechanisms (ie a screw-in bolt, or a clasp) to stop them from being pulled out by ...
Gavin Brown's user avatar
7 votes
7 answers
4k views

What is a DB 9 to 3.5mm quad plug cable used for?

While cleaning up the office today we ran across two odd looking cables still in bags. On one end is a female DB 9 connector and the other end is a 3.5mm plug with 4 contact points. The types of ...
murisonc's user avatar
  • 2,968
7 votes
1 answer
14k views

Difference between Cat 6a and Cat 6 plug

What's the difference between cat 6a STP and cat 6 STP plug connector? Can I use a cat 6 plug on a cat 6a wire?
Maurice's user avatar
  • 91
7 votes
2 answers
1k views

Can I use CAT 6a connectors with 7a cable (and get 6a performance)?

I'm re-wiring a building and want to get the best cable possible laid - it required re-plastering to make a change to the cables and the cables will be there for the next 10 - 20 years. Currently ...
Mr. Flibble's user avatar
7 votes
1 answer
5k views

How to remove a stuck wiring Snake?

I've managed to get a Snake stuck in ribbed conduit. I managed to get about 15 feet of the snake in the tube before it stopped advancing and now I can't get it out. How can I remove it without ...
citadelgrad's user avatar

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