06-05-2013 06:10 AM - edited 03-07-2019 01:43 PM
I have an issue here with cabling, not sure what to do. We are being handed off ethernet from our isp, it is a business only broadband connection and wherever the demarc is there is the ISP'S switch and the extension from the dmarc to our suite is a straight through cable (must be). What I did was put in a 2950 switch before our firewall so I can hand off an external ip to another router that will connect to this 2950. The problem is I used a straight through cable from this ISP's jack in our suite to our 2950 (Doesn't support auto-mdix) and the connection didn't come up. However, I used a crossover and the connection came up. The thing is, I don't know if this will be reliable, because basically it is straight thru cable from the ISP's switch to the port in our suite and then I am going crossover from there. I have never tried mix and matching cables like this because usually I have an ISP's router right in my suite. Does anybody have any idea here if this is a bad situation even though it is working? Maybe it is working because the ISP's switch does support auto-mdix, just don't know if it is a good idea.
Let me know,
Thanks!
Solved! Go to Solution.
06-05-2013 06:55 AM
06-05-2013 06:35 AM
Completely common and normal. There is no issue what that connectivity. The older switches don't support auto-mdix and so in order to connect one switch to another you have to use a crossover cable and that is what you did.
You are good to go.
HTH
06-05-2013 06:41 AM
Right, but usually it is crossover from one switch right to the other. Here it is ISP's switch straight through to a port in our suite then crossover to our switch. Just don't know if that is a good idea mixing cable types like that.
06-05-2013 06:46 AM
It doesn't really matter. The cable has to get crossed some where. Now, you can go directly from one switch to another using a cross over cable or go straight to the wall jack and then cross to the other switch.
HTH
06-05-2013 06:53 AM
So even though it isn't crossed to ISP's switch it is fine to cross to my switch? Probably because their switch supports auto-mdix right, so it doesn't matter?
06-05-2013 06:55 AM
That is correct. You just need to cross it on one side.
HTH
06-05-2013 06:56 AM
Thanks, this helps, now I don't have to buy a switch that supports auto-mdix, just a long crossover.
06-05-2013 06:59 AM
Correct.
Please rate and mark the post as answered so others can benefit from it.
Thanks,
Discover and save your favorite ideas. Come back to expert answers, step-by-step guides, recent topics, and more.
New here? Get started with these tips. How to use Community New member guide