MX Linux Forum

@all:

I sometimes need a 10 m (approx. 33 ft) "Ethernet cable" for configuration work. Currently I don't have a 10 m cable but e.g. two 5 m cables.

When connecting those cables using a coupler, would you have to check which Category the cable is (e.g. Cat 5, Cat 6)?

Or could you possibly mix all kinds of cables as long as they have 8P8C plugs (often falsely identified as "RJ45 plugs"), from Category 3 to Category 8?


Greetings, and thanks a lot in advance for any answer, Joe

For a 10 meter run the minor differences between Cat 5 & Cat 6 (or 7) won't matter. If you have an old Cat 3 cable involved it may limit the speed to 100 mb/s (or even 10 if it has deteriorated over the years).
Just make sure you are using a straight-through coupler if it's intended to replace a longer single cable. There are also crossover couplers that are used to make port to port connections without using a hub or router.

If it's something you need to do more than once, a 10m Cat 6 cable is only £2.82 ($3.69).

That's probably about the same as the coupler cost. ;-)

Chris

@chrispop99:

chrispop99 wrote: ↑Sun Sep 23, 2018 12:41 pm (...) a 10m Cat 6 cable is only £2.82 ($3.69).

That's probably about the same as the coupler cost. ;-)

I know, but a coupler consumes less space. 10 m cables tend to come in rather inflexible qualities and thus tend to consume a lot of space.


Greetings, Joe

@timkb4cq:

timkb4cq wrote: ↑Sun Sep 23, 2018 12:27 pm (...) There are also crossover couplers that are used to make port to port connections without using a hub or router.

Great hint, thanks! Greetings, Joe

@timkb4cq:

timkb4cq wrote: ↑Sun Sep 23, 2018 12:27 pm For a 10 meter run the minor differences between Cat 5 & Cat 6 (or 7) won't matter. If you have an old Cat 3 cable involved it may limit the speed to 100 mb/s (or even 10 if it has deteriorated over the years). (...)

Appropriate speed is being autonegotiated, correct?

Meaning: Assuming that both cables are intact, and the coupler is intact, too, there's actually nothing that should go wrong (except for having a low speed connection). Correct?


Greetings, Joe

MX-16_fan wrote: ↑Sun Sep 30, 2018 10:38 am Appropriate speed is being autonegotiated, correct?

Meaning: Assuming that both cables are intact, and the coupler is intact, too, there's actually nothing that should go wrong (except for having a low speed connection). Correct?

Yup! Unless you have disabled auto negotiation on one or more of the nics. Haven't had a need to do that in well over a decade but it's till an option in many drivers.

@timkb4cq:

timkb4cq wrote: ↑Sun Sep 30, 2018 11:07 am

MX-16_fan wrote: ↑Sun Sep 30, 2018 10:38 am Appropriate speed is being autonegotiated, correct?

Meaning: Assuming that both cables are intact, and the coupler is intact, too, there's actually nothing that should go wrong (except for having a low speed connection). Correct?

Yup! Unless you have disabled auto negotiation on one or more of the nics. Haven't had a need to do that in well over a decade but it's till an option in many drivers.

Thanks a lot. That fully solves my question.

I'll mark this thread "SOLVED".


Greetings, and have a great week, Joe