Using a Straight-Through Cable
Using a Crossover Cable
Fig. 1-4 Cable Switch functions
Notes on MDI and MDI-X Ports
MDI (Media Dependent Interface) is the IEEE 10BASE-T standard for the interface to the UTP cable. For two 10BASE-T devices to communicate with each other, the transmitter of one device must be connected to the receiver of the other device. This can be achieved by using a crossover cable, or by using one MDI-X port that implements the cross-over internally.
Port 1 through Port 7 (or 15), like all normal hub ports, are configured MDI-X. All NICs (Network Interface Cards) and Router ports are usually by default configured MDI. A simple illustration shows the relationship of cable types to port types:
Switch | Port | For Connection to | For Connection to a |
Position | Config | another Hub Port (MDI-X) | Network Adapter (MDI) |
| | | | | |
| | | MDI-X | Use Crossover cable | Use Straight-through cable |
| | | | | |
| | | MDI | Use Straight-through cable | Use Crossover cable |
| | |
| | |
| | | | | |
Table 1-5 Cable Switch functions
EtheRx User’s Guide - Rev. B00 | Kingston Technology Company |
