The previous network administrator made his own patch cables

The previous network administrator made his own patch cables and crossover cables but did not mark them in any way. How can you tell them apart? a. Patch cables use two RJ45 connectors, but crossover cables use one RJ45 and one RJ11. b. Pairs 2 and 3 are swapped at one end of a crossover cable c. Patch cords use only two pairs of a Cat 5 cable, but a crossover cable uses all four. d. Pairs 1 and 4 are swapped at one end of a crossover cable

Solution

Patch Cable is the one where if you hold the cable with the copper contacts facing upward and RJ45 plug pointed away from you, it should be easy to see the individual pairs through the clear plug. The first wire seen from left to right should be the white/orange wire which is followed by orange, white/green, blue, white/blue, green, white/brown, brown. On a CAT 5e patch cable, the wiring configuration is identical on both ends of the cable.

Crossover Cable - Using the same visual orientation, one end of the cable should have the wiring configuration where one end will start with the white/green wire and is followed be green, white/orange, blue, white/blue, orange, white/brown, brown. On a CAT 5e crossover cable, the wiring of pins 1, 2, 3, and 6 are \"crossed-over\" to pins 3, 6, 1, and 2.