Cables which are run from PC to Hub are 'straight through' type cables. This is because the hub is providing the required crossover functions internally for you. Thus, when you connect two machines together without the use of a hub or switch, a crossover cable is required - because both 'ends' are essentially the same - a NIC Card. The crossover function must take place somewhere, and since there is no hub or switch to do it for you, the cable must.
Typically the ports on a hub are MDIX ports. This allows the machine at the other end to utilize its MDI Port (which is what typically a NIC card uses) without the need for a crossover cable. When I say that the ports on the hub are MDIX ports, what I mean is that one of the functions of the hub is to automatically perform the crossover functions, which are required to properly align the cables with each other. When no hub or switch is used, your cable itself must physically perform these crossover functions.
To expand on this a little, when using a hub or switch, the Transmit wires on the workstation need to be connected to the Receive wires on the hub; likewise, the Receive wires on the hub need to be connected to the Transmit wires on the workstation.
-----Original Message-----
From: Garth Meisel [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
Sent: Monday, February 10, 2003 7:37 AM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: (clug-talk) crossover cables
Question. Will a simple hub (repeater) work if instead of running regular
cables in and out, by running a crossover to feed the hub and then crossover
cables to the individual systems?
