Materials and Tools Provided – Purpose (5 Marks)
Material/Tool Purpose
Cat5e/Cat6 Ethernet The cable used to make the physical connection between the two
Cable computers.
The connectors attached at both ends of the Ethernet cable to plug
RJ-45 Connectors
into network ports.
Used to attach the RJ-45 connectors securely to the Ethernet cable
Crimping Tool
wires.
Used to strip the outer insulation of the Ethernet cable and cut
Cable Stripper/Cutter
wires neatly.
Used to verify that the cable is wired correctly and is functioning
Cable Tester
properly.
2. Wiring Pattern for a Crossover Cable (5 Marks)
In a crossover cable, one end follows T568A and the other end follows T568B. This allows
the transmit and receive pairs to cross, enabling direct communication between devices of
the same type (e.g., two computers).
T568A Color Order (Pin 1 to 8):
1. White/Green
2. Green
3. White/Orange
4. Blue
5. White/Blue
6. Orange
7. White/Brown
8. Brown
T568B Color Order (Pin 1 to 8):
1. White/Orange
2. Orange
3. White/Green
4. Blue
5. White/Blue
6. Green
7. White/Brown
8. Brown
Wiring ends:
End A: T568A
End B: T568B
3. Step-by-Step Process to Create a Crossover Cable (15 Marks)
1. Cut the Cable to Desired Length
o Use the cutter to cut a manageable length of Cat5e/Cat6 cable.
2. Strip the Cable Jacket (Outer Insulation)
o Use the cable stripper to remove about 1–2 inches of the outer jacket from
both ends.
3. Untwist and Arrange the Pairs
o Untwist the wires and straighten them out.
o Arrange the wires according to T568A on one end and T568B on the other.
4. Trim the Wires Evenly
o Use the cutter to make sure all wires are the same length, about half an inch
from the jacket.
5. Insert Wires into RJ-45 Connectors
o Insert the wires into the RJ-45 plug with the clip facing away from you,
making sure each wire goes into its correct channel.
6. Crimp the Connector
o Insert the connector into the crimping tool and press firmly until the plug is
properly attached.
7. Repeat for the Other End
o Follow the same process for the other end, using the opposite wiring
standard (T568A or B).
8. Test the Cable
o Use a cable tester to confirm correct pin alignment and continuity.
4. Configure IP Addresses for File Sharing (10 Marks)
To allow communication between the two PCs:
On Both Computers (Windows):
1. Go to Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center > Change adapter settings.
2. Right-click on the Ethernet connection > Properties.
3. Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) > Properties.
4. Set Manual IP Address:
o Computer 1:
IP: [Link]
Subnet Mask: [Link]
o Computer 2:
IP: [Link]
Subnet Mask: [Link]
5. Click OK and close all windows.
Enable File Sharing:
Go to Network and Sharing Center > Advanced sharing settings.
Turn on:
o Network Discovery
o File and Printer Sharing
o Allow Windows to manage homegroup connections (if applicable)
Place files in the Public folder or share specific folders for access.
5. Test the Cable and Connection (10 Marks)
A. Using a Cable Tester:
1. Plug one end of the cable into the tester’s main unit and the other into the remote
unit.
2. Turn on the tester and observe the LED lights:
o For a crossover cable, the transmit and receive pins will show crossed lines
(1↔3 and 2↔6).
o All 8 pins should light up in the correct crossover pattern.
B. Ping Test (Windows):
1. On Computer 1, open Command Prompt.
2. Type:
nginx
CopyEdit
ping [Link]
If you receive replies, the connection is working.
3. Perform the same from Computer 2 (ping [Link]).
C. File Sharing Test:
Open File Explorer > Type \\[Link] (from Computer 1) or \\[Link] (from
Computer 2) to access shared folders.
6. Difference Between Straight-Through and Crossover Cables (5 Marks)
Cable Type Wiring Standard Use Case
Straight- Same standard on both ends (T568A– Connecting different devices (e.g., PC
Through T568A or T568B–T568B) to Switch, Router to PC)
T568A on one end, T568B on the Connecting similar devices (e.g., PC to
Crossover
other PC, Switch to Switch)
Summary:
Straight-through is used for most modern networks due to Auto MDI-X support.
Crossover is still useful for older devices or manual configurations.
Let me know if you'd like diagrams or help practicing the IP configuration and ping test.
