Ethernet cables
What is Ethernet cable?
Ethernet cable is the normal network cable that you know from your everyday life ("twisted pairs"), or the super network cable in datacentres that is the "fiberoptic".
What is Ethernet?
Ethernet is an OSI Layer 2 (data link) protocol, the cable is the medium for Layer 1 (physical layer). Wifi (802.11...) is another OSI Layer 2 (data link) protocol. Above Layer 2 is the OSI Layer 3 (network) is IP (~Internet) / ICMP (~ping) / IPX (~network boot) / etc. and Layer 4 (transport) is TCP (~World Wide Web) / UDP (~streaming) / etc.
Where are Ethernet cables?
In the Hacklab corner:
Where is the crimper and the connectors?
In the little white cupboard:
The crimper is an expensive tool so please please please take care of it and put it back. We decided to keep it in a public space so everybody can use it. Leave a note in the drawer if you take it.
How to make an Ethernet cable?
1. Use the crimper to cut the cable to be as long as you need. 2. Then use the crimper to install a connector on both ends. 3. Finally, test if the cable works!
Nota bene: connectors and cables are cheap, so feel free to experiment, but try not to install dodgy cables on the network that are not working properly!
Tutorials
You can easily find instructions on the World Wide Web, for example:
http://matt.might.net/articles/how-to-make-your-own-cat-5-ethernet-cable/
http://www.groundcontrol.com/galileo/ch5-ethernet.htm
http://www.linuxplanet.com/linuxplanet/tutorials/6892/1
Who can I ask for help with Ethernet cables?
You can ask maxigas, ariel and others.
