Rj45 Cable
A common type of connector used in computer cables is the RJ45 connector. It is a standard, and almost all computers have a port for a RJ45 cable to plug into. There are three primary types of cables with RJ45 connectors used in networking: straight-through, crossover, and rollover. Each type is used for different connections. For example, the straight-through wiring connects two different devices together. The crossover connects two of the same devices to each other, such as a PC to a PC. Finally the rollover connection is used to connect a computer to a router via the console port, but this is not used as often anymore. The crossover and straight-through wirings are used more often.
Because almost all computers have an RJ45 port on them, the RJ45 cable is among the most prevalent types of networking cables available. This type of connector is not used for telephones, so a person should make sure to buy a different cable if he or she wants to network his or her telephones. However, if a person buys a computer networking cable, more than likely it will have an RJ45 connector at both ends.
Three types of wiring are used with network cables using RJ45 connectors. The first of these three types is the straight-through connections. It is only used to connect two different devices together, such as a PC to a router. The pinout diagrams of a straight-through connection show that the wires run straight across, i.e. 1 to 1, 2 to 2, and so on. A crossover cable has the pins 1, 2, 3, and 6 on one side of the cable connected to pins 6, 3, 2, 1 on the other side. It is the only wiring configuration that can connect two devices of the same type together. Connections such as PC-to-PC or router-to-router use the crossover cable.
The final type of connection used is the rollover connection, which is not used much anymore. It connects a computer to a router's console port. Unlike the other types of cables, it has a flat shape. The pins on one side in a rollover cable are in a reverse order as the other side.
Using an RJ45 cable ensures that a person can connect his or her computer to any networking device. The only thing to check for is the wiring and pin layout. The three types of cables with RJ45 connectors can confuse a person who does not know what to look for.