Network Tools and Cabling

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Network Tools

CAT 5 RJ-45 Connector

RJ means "Registered
Jack"
This is a plastic connector
that looks like a large
telephone-style connector.
Used as terminator to the
UTP cable.

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KEYSTONE JACK - IS A FEMALE CONNECTOR
USED IN DATA COMMUNICATIONS, PARTICULARLY
LOCAL AREA NETWORKS (LANS). THE JACK IS
USUALLY MOUNTED IN A WALL PLATE OR PATCH
PANEL. A KEYSTONE PLUG IS THE MATCHING MALE
CONNECTOR, USUALLY ATTACHED TO THE END OF A
CABLE OR CORD.

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 UTP Cable

4
 Crimping Tool

Used to crimp or
connect a
connector to the
end of a cable.

5
 UTP Cable Tester

used to find the right

cable connection in a
large bundle of identical
looking cables.

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 Straight-Through

A straight-through network cable is just

what the name implies, a cable that
passes data straight through from one
end to another.

It is used for a variety of connections.

(e.g. connecting a computer to a hub or
switch, connecting a computer to a
cable/ISDN/DSL modem, and linking
switches and hubs together.)

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 Cross-over

A cross-over cable is used

to connect two computers
via their NICs, without
using a hub or switch.
(Note: You can only
connect two computers at
one time, connecting
three or more will require
a hub or switch).
It is used also to connect
switch to switch or router
to router or router to
switch.
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 Straight Through Color

Straight through Connection

1 White with Orange 1 White with Orange
Orange Orange
2 2
White with Green White with Green
3 3
Blue Blue
4 4
White with Blue White with Blue
5 5
Green Green
6 6
White with Brown White with Brown
7 7
Brown Brown
8 8
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 Cross-Over

Cross-over Connection
White with Orange White with Green
1 1
Orange Green
2 2
White with Green White with Orange
3 3
Blue Blue
4 4
White with Blue White with Blue
5 5
Green Orange
6 6
White with Brown White with Brown
7 7
Brown Brown
8 8
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 Tip

Note: that pins 4, 5, 7, and 8 or the blue

and brown pairs are not used in either
standard.

These pins and wires are not used or

required to implement 100BASE-TX
duplexing--they are just plain wasted.
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 Tip

12
 Steps

Cut a piece of Cat 5 as

long as you need. When
you cut, remember the old
saying: Measure twice,
cut once.
Make sure the cut on
each end is clean and
straight.

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 Steps

Strip about an inch of the

insulation off the cable.

Cut it back nice and square.

It is extremely important that

you only cut the plastic
insulation/jacket and not the
wire. Damaging one of the 8
wires, even if you just nick it or
partially cut it, will ruin your
cable.
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 Steps

Untwist the wires.

There are 4 pairs of multi-colored

wires inside.

Sort the pairs by color, as follows:

blue/blue-white,
orange/orange-white,
green/green-white,
brown/brown-white.

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 Steps

Now align the wires in

the following order from
left to right. (see the W O W B W G W B
figure) H R H L H R H R
I A I U I E I O
T N T E T E T W
E G E E N E N

The order is important O

R
E G
R
B
L
B
R
since there is a wiring A
N
E
E
U
E
O
W
standard defined by the G
E
N N

Telecommunications
Industry Association
(TIA)

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 Steps

Get the wires lined up

and nice and straight.

Then clip off the top

millimeter so that they
are all the same length
and stick out about half
an inch from the
insulated part.
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 Steps

Insert the RJ-45

properly into the
wire.

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 Tips: The best way to insert the cable into the RJ-45 connector is this:

Squeezing the cable

so that the jacket
does not move on the wires,
insert the sorted and
aligned wires
carefully into the RJ-45
connector partway.
Hold an RJ-45 connector
so that the plastic release clip
is facing away Now push the jacket
from you, as far as it will go into
and the opening of the connector.
the wires is pointing down.
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