Kingston Technology KNS500/WG, KNS800/WG Notes on MDI and MDI-X, Using a Straight-Through Cable

Front Panel 7

The following diagrams show the relationship between cable type and which cascade configuration to use. To verify the pin wiring of your UTP cable, see “Appendix A Pin Assignments.”

Using a Straight-Through Cable

EtheRx Switch

CASCADE

Leave the cascade switch in the default crossover (MDI-

X)position when connecting the last UTP port on the Fast EtheRx Switch to a network card or router (or

other MDI configured device).

EtheRx Switch

CASCADE

Move the cascade switch to the straight-through position when connecting the last UTP port on the Fast EtheRx Switch to another hub or switch (or other MDI- X configured device).

Using a Crossover Cable

EtheRx Switch

CASCADE

Leave the cascade switch in the default crossover (MDI-

X)position when connecting the last UTP port on the Fast EtheRx Switch to another hub or switch (or other MDI-X configured device).

EtheRx Switch

CASCADE

Move the cascade switch to the straight-through position when connecting the last UTP port on the Fast EtheRx Switch to a network card or router (or other MDI configured device).

Notes on MDI and MDI-X

MDI (Media Dependent Interface) is the standard that defines the mechanical and electrical configuration of a UTP port. For any two devices to communicate with each other on the network, 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 the MDI-X port, which implements the crossover internally.

Port 1 through port 4 on the KNS500/WG, and port 1 through port 7 on the KNS800/WG, like all normal hub ports, are configured MDI-X. The last UTP port, port 5 on the KNS500/WG, or port 8 on the KNS800/WG, supports both port configurations, MDI and 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

KNS800/WG User’s Guide - Rev. B01 Kingston Technology Company