LAN Wiring & Pinouts

10base-T, 100base-TX/T4, 1000base-T, 10Gbase-T

Note: These pages were originally written when the world was young and 10m LANs were nose-bleedingly fast. They have been updated over the years but still contain some now long-in-the-tooth (otherwise know as legacy) stuff about crossed cables especially. You will need this information when working with specialised or older equipment but not otherwise. Crossed cables used to add a lot of color to wiring environments - sad really. There is NOTHING more annoying than spending 30 minutes debugging a network problem to find it was the cable. Badly made or non-standard cabling is a foolish thing to spend time on - do it once and do it right. This guide may help you to forget cabling problems and spend time doing really useful things - like pondering the meaning of life. Note: The IEEE 802 committee has a policy such that 12 months after the publication of a standard it is made freely availble for download. This enlightened and generous policy (relative to the ITU and TIA/EIA) has been operational for many years though it was originally 6 months after the standard was ratified - but who's counting. Documents may be found at the IEEE site. Notes: 1. LAN cables are generically called UTP (Unshielded Twisted Pair) and are identified with a category rating. When installing new cable, unless there is a very good reason not to, you should be using category 5e or 6 UTP which is rated for 10mb, 100mb or Gigabit LAN operation. If you are moving to the exotic world of 10G LAN you will need category 6a wiring to go the full 100m (~330ft). Downhill, with a following wind, you can run 10G LANs over catgory 6 wiring over reduced distance. Info on Shielded Twisted Pair (STP) cabling. 2. UTP comes in two forms SOLID or STRANDED. SOLID refers to the fact that each internal conductor is made up of a single (solid!) wire, STRANDED means that each conductor is made up of multiple smaller wires. Stranded cable (which is typically more expensive) has a smaller 'bend- radius' (you can squeeze the cable round tighter corners with lower loss) and due to its flexibility should be used where you plug and unplug the cable frequently. All other things being equal the performance of both types of cable is the same. In general, solid cable is used for backbone wiring and stranded for PC to wall receptacle (patch) cables. Beware: Each type of wire, solid or stranded, and each cable category (5e, 6, 6a) needs its own connector type. 3. Straight and crossed cables are still shown in the various diagrams. Crossed are now practically irrelevant for anything but older equipment. Modern switches (and hubs - if they still exist) auto-sense the connections meaning that you can use straight cables almost everywhere - but when using older equipment you may still need a crossed cable. 4. 100M LAN Notes: When working with 100M LANs you CAN use 100base-TX wiring with a 10base-T network (but not always the other way round). In general ALWAYS use 100baseTX/T4 wiring standards. If you are using category 5, 5e or 6 wiring EVERYWHERE in a 100M LAN you can use the 100base-TX standard (this only uses 2 pairs , 4 conductors). Most of the information below assumes you are using category 5, 5e or 6 cables. If you are using category 3 or 4 cables with 100M LANs ANYWHERE you MUST use the 100Base-T4 standard and this has ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS documented throughout (it uses all 4 pairs, 8 conductors). LAN connections/pinouts are defined by IEEE 802.3u. 5. Gigabit and Gigabit+ LAN Notes: While 100M LANs allowed a 2-pair (4 conductor) wiring version (100base-TX) gigabit LANs require 4-pairs (all 8 conductors) which is functionally similar to 100base-T4 wiring. Even if gigabit LANs are still in the future - use 100base-T4/1000base-T (4-pair) wiring. If you still have 100base-TX (or even 10base-T) wiring in a gigabit LAN it will still function but autonegotiation will limit speeds on those segments to 100Mbit/s. 6. Maximum LAN cable runs or segments are 100 meters (~330ft) unless otherwise noted. Segments can joined using hubs (Class II repeaters) in which case up to 5 such segments (500m or ~1650 feet) are allowed for 10Base-T. When using 100Base-T/TX 2 hubs are allowed (200m or ~660 feet). When modern switches are used with 100M and Gigabit LANs these limits are raised and the switch vendors specification should be consulted. 7. We provide a Cabling FAQ which provides additional information or background. 8. We have added an article on mixing 10/100 MB LAN and Telephony on a single category 5(e) or 6 cable. It can be done, but you must be very, very cautious. If you are use Gigabit LANs this requires use of all 4 pairs( 8 conductors) thus eliminating the possibility of mixing LAN and telephony on the same wiring. 9. We have updated most of the material for 1000base-T (Gigabit Ethernet 802.3ab) which uses all 4 pairs (8 conductors) and added notes where relevant about Power-over-Ethernet (PoE 802.3af and 802.3at). 10. A copper standard for 10GB Ethernet (802.3an) was published by the IEEE in 2006 and is known as 10GBASE-T. It requires category 6A cables (ANSI/TIA-568-C.2/ISO 11801 Ammendment 2) for 100m (~330ft) operation but will run shorter distances over category 6 cables that meet TIA-155-A (ISO TR 24750) specifications.

Crossed and Straight cables - when to use them

The following diagram shows the Normal use of Crossed and Straight cables (see also the notes below).

Notes: 1. We show Straight cables as BLUE and Crossed as RED. That is our convention. The cable color can be anything you choose or, more likely, the vendor decides. 2. To avoid the need for Crossed cables many vendors provided UPLINK ports on Hubs or Switches these were specially designed to allow the use of a STRAIGHT cable when connecting back-to-back Hubs or Switches. Read the manufacturers documentation carefully. 3. Increasingly vendor hubs (can you still buy them) and switches will auto-detect the connection type and internally switch the connectors so that STRAIGHT cables can be used everywhere.

Standards Summary
The various standards can get a tad complicated and messy. We get occasional email requesting a summary of the standards - this is our attempt to provide a quick overview. Standard 10base-T 100baseTX 100baseT4 1000baseT 10Gbase-T Required Pairs 2 (1/2 and 3/6) 2 (1/2 and 3/6) 4 (1/2, 3/6, 4/5 and 7/8) 4 (1/2, 3/6, 4/5 and 7/8) 4 (1/2, 3/6, 4/5 and 7/8) 10M 100M 1000M 10G Cable yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes no no yes yes no no yes yes cat 5, 5e, 6 cat 5, 5e, 6 cat 3, 4, 5, 5e, 6 cat 5e, 6 Notes 100m support only if no cat 3/4 in run 100m support only if no cat 3/4 in run max of 100m if cat 3 or 4 in network Functionally identical to 100base-T4. Some cat cables may be acceptable. cat 6 cables may be used but havedistance limitations.

yes

yes

yes

yes

cat 6a

Category 5(e) (UTP) colour coding table

The following table shows the normal colour coding for category 5 cables (4 pair) based on the two standards supported by TIA/EIA (see also our primer on this topic) We get occasional email about the difference between 568A and 568B wiring. Which one you use is a matter of local decision. These standards apply to the color code used within any SINGLE cable run - BOTH ENDS MUST USE THE SAME STANDARD. However, since they both use the same pinout at the connectors you can mix 568A and 568B cables in any installation.

10baseT Straight Cable (PC to HUB/SWITCH)

Straight cables are used to connect PCs or other equipment to a HUB or Switch. If your connection is PC to PC or HUB to HUB you MAY need to use a Crossed cable with older equipment. Most modern Hubs and Switches provide auto-sensing which means a straight cable can always be used. The following cable description is for the wiring of both ends (RJ45 Male connectors) with the 568B category 5(e) wiring colors you could, of course, use the 568A colour scheme.
Pin No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 strand color white and orange orange white and green NC NC green NC NC Name TX+ TXRX+ * * RX* *

NOTE: Items marked * are not necessary for 10M LANs (10base-T) but since you will be moving shortly to 100MB or Gigabit LANs (won't you) you will save yourself a LOT OF TIME finding crappy cable (that you made) that does not work. Instead we suggest you wire to 100Base-T4 standards. After all you gotta stick the ends somewhere man. We use BLUE for 10base-T straight cables. NOTE: All our wiring is now done to the 100base-T4 spec which you can use with 10base-T networks - but NOT necessarily the other way around.

10baseT Crossed cable (PC to PC or HUB to HUB)

Crossed cables are used to connect PCs to one other PC or to connect a HUB to a HUB. Crossed cables are sometimes called Crossover, Patch or Jumper cables. If your connection is PC to HUB you MUST use a Straight cable. The following description shows the wiring at both ends (male RJ45 connectors) of the crossed cable.
One end RJ45 Male Other end RJ45 Male

1 2 3 4* 5* 6 7* 8* NOTES:

3 6 1 5* 4* 2 8* 7*

1. Items marked * are not necessary for 10M LANs but since you will be moving shortly to 100MB or Gigabit LANs (won't you) you will save yourself a LOT OF TIME finding crappy cable (that you made) that does not work. Instead we suggest you wire to 100BaseT standards. 2. We use RED for crossed cables (or more commonly now a red heat-shrink collar at each end). 3. All our crossed wiring is done to the 100base-T4 spec which you can use with 10baseT networks - but NOT always the other way around.

100base-T Straight Cable (PC to HUB/SWITCH)

Straight cables are used to connect PCs or other equipment to a HUB or Switch. If your connection is PC to PC or HUB to HUB you MAY need to use a Crossed cable with older equipment. Most modern Hubs and Switches provide auto-sensing which means a straight cable can always be used. The following cable description is for the wiring of BOTH ends (RJ45 Male connectors) with yourcategory 5 wiring colors (TIA/EIA 568A or 568B though the example uses 568B colors).
Pin No. conductor color Name

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

white and orange orange white and green blue white and blue green white and brown brown

TX_D1+ TX_D1RX_D2+ BI_D3+ ** BI_D3- ** RX_D2BI_D4+ ** BI_D4- **

We use BLUE for 100baseT straight cables. NOTES:

1. Wires marked ** are ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY for 100Base-T4 networks - used when any combination of category 3/4/5 cables are present, when using 1000base-T (GigE) and MAY be required for Powerover-Ethernet (PoE) - see below. 2. Wires marked ** are not essential for 100Base-TX (using cat 5/5e6/6a ONLY cables) and CAN be used for other purposes, for example, telephony but, .. beware .. read this FAQ and ourLAN plus Telephony article before you wire your entire neighbourhood for surround sound. 3. The Power-over-Ethernet spec (802.3af) allows three schemes where power may be supplied. Two of these schemes use pairs 4,5 and 7,8 (marked ** in above table) for power (called Midspan PSE and Alternative B or Mode B), one scheme uses ONLY pairs 1,2 and 3,6 (Endpoint PSE, Alternative A or Mode A) for both signals and power. Depending on which scheme you use pairs 4,5 and 7,8 may be required. See Power over Ethernet (PoE). 4. Gigabit Ethernet requires all 4 pairs (8 conductors). 5. All our wiring is now done to the 100base-T4 spec which you can use with 1000base-T and even 10baseT networks - but NOT the other way around.

100base-T Crossed cable (PC to PC or HUB to HUB)

Crossed cables are used to connect PCs to one other PC or to connect a HUB to a HUB. Crossed cable are sometimes called Crossover, Patch or Jumper cables. If your connection is PC to HUB you MUST use a Straight cable. Most modern Hubs and Switches provide auto-sensing which means astraight cable can always be used. The following description shows the wiring at both ends (male RJ45 connectors) of the crossed cable. Note: The diagrams below shows crossing of all 4 pairs and allows for the use of cat3/4 cables with 100m LANs (100base-T4). Pairs 4,5 and 7,8 do not NEED to be crossed in 100base-TX wiring. See notes below.

We use RED for crossed cables (or more commonly now a red heat-shrink collar at each end). NOTES: 1. All our crossed wiring is now done to the 100base-T4 spec (uses all 4 pairs, 8 conductors) which you can use with 1000base-T and even 10base-T networks - but NOT necessarily the other way around. 2. Many commercial 100m LAN patch cables seem not to cross pairs 4,5 and 7,8. If there is no cat3/4 wiring in the network this perfectly acceptable. 3. Gigabit Ethernet uses all 4 pairs so requires the full 4 pair (8 conductor) cross configuration (shown above).

4. If you are using Power-over-Ethernet (802.3af) then Mode A or Alternative A uses pairs 1,2 and 3,6 for both signals and power. Mode B or alternative B uses 4,5 and 7,8 to carry power. In all cases the spec calls for polarity insensitive implementation (using a diode bridge) and therefore crossing or not crossing pairs 4,5 and 7,8 will have no effect. See Power over Ethernet (PoE).

1000base-T Gigabit Ethernet

1000base-T is the copper based version of the gigabit Ethernet standard defined by 802.3ab which, since it is over 12 months old, is available free of charge from the enlightened IEEE. Great work. In passing, if you want to see sophistry raised to an art form read the EIA's justification for charging for their specifications. (Note: The original EIA statement is, unfortunately, no longer available on-line. This is a great loss to the development of the English language in general, and comedy writing in particular.) The following notes apply to the 1000base-T spec: 1. The standard defines auto-negotiation of speed between 10, 100 and 1000 Mbit/s so the speed will fall to the maximum supported by both ends - ensuring inter-working with existing installations. 2. The cable specification base-line is ANSI/TIA/EIA-568-A-1995 (which you have to pay for). This means that if you know your cat5 cable was manufactured to this standard (there was a lower rated 1991 version of this specification) then it will support Gigabit Ethernet. Cat5 cable manufactured to the old specification may work or it may not - you need to run some tests. Cat 5e and cat 6 being higher spec cables will support Gigabit Ethernet. 3. Maximum runs are the standard 100m (~330ft). 4. Gigabit Ethernet uses all 4 pairs (8 conductors). The transmission scheme is radically different from 10 and 100 Mbit/s standards (PAM-5: a 5 level amplitude modulation scheme) and each conductor is used for send and receive. 5. Crossed Gigabit Ethernet cables must cross all 4 pairs however it should be noted that since all 1000base-T equipment includes automatic crossover detection, crossed 1000base-T cables are extremely rare. 6. Because of the higher speeds everything about a Gigabit cable must be correct. Specifically the connectors must be rated for Gigabit operation with minimal untwisting of the cable when adding the connector. See also cabling hints. 7. When Cat6 cables are used these will also support 10 Gbit/s operation up to 55m. When Cat6a cables are used these will support 10 Gbit/s operation up to 100m.

10Gbase-T 10 Gigabit Ethernet

This is serious stuff only for server-server installations at this time - most PCs have a hard time even driving Gigabit networks. 10Gbase-T defines 10 gigabit Ethernet over copper cables (multiple other PHYs also exist within the 10G Ethernet ecosystem). Originally defined in 802.3an (2006) this has now been consolidated into the base 802.3-2008 spec (available at no cost from the IEEE). The followings notes apply to 10Gbase-T: 1. The standard allows for auto-negotiation and thus 10Gbase-T will interwork with 10base-T, 100baseTX/T4 and 1000base-T networks but default, obviously, to the highest common speed supported on any given point-to-point connection. 2. All 4 pairs - 8 connectors are required - it uses 1000base-T (or 100base-T4) wiring. 3. 10Gbase-T requires category 6a wiring defined by ANSI/TIA-568-C.2 (ISO 11801 amendment 2) to support 100m (~330ft) runs. Category 6a wiring is bigger (standard allows up to 0.35 inch cable diameter vs ~0.20 for cat 5e and ~0.23 for cat 6) and currently (2011) around 30% more expensive than cat 6 which is around 50% more expensive than cat 5e. 4. Category 6 wiring will support 10Gbase-T at up to 55m (~185ft) in electrically quiet environments and up to 37m (~81ft) in electrically noisy environments (such as in cable bundles, elevator shafts, proximity to flourescent lights). The measurement of electrical noise threshold levels (especially crosstalk) for cat 6a cables is defined by TIA-155-A (and ISO TR 24750) both of which you will have the dubious pleasure of paying for - handsomely. 5. To maintain 10G speeds needs serious attention to all wiring practices. Minimum bending radii, careful attention to connectors and minimum untwisting of pairs are all crucial - this is not amateur stuff. STP may be a safer option (a view not always shared by the cable suppliers) or optical.

Power over Ethernet (PoE)

The original PoE specification was 802.3.af (2003) which has been superseded by 802.3at (2009). The primary differences are that the new 802.3at specification includes support for Gigabit LANs and raises the power levels available when using certain cable types. The following notes apply: 1. The power available at each end-point with 802.3af is 13.0 Watts (W). The maximum input voltage is 44V DC at a current of 350ma which gives a figure of 15.4 W (44 x 350/100) but due to power losses in cables the 13.0 W value is guaranteed even at maximum (100m - ~330ft) runs on category 5, 5e and 6 wiring. 2. The current 802.3at standard spilts systems into two categories for PoE levels based on the cable type. Type 1 covers cat 5 cables and these remain limited to the 802.3af limits of 13 W. Type 2 covers cat 5e (the actual minimum spec is ANSI/TIA/EIA-568-A-1995 which does cover some late cat 5 cables which only became available some time after 1995) and cat 6 cables and increases the maximum current to 600ma giving a maximum power figure of 44 x 600/100 = 26.4 W. Again due to losses over distance (lower than with Type 1 systems) this gives a figure of 25.5 W which is available even at maximum (100m - ~330ft) runs. 3. Power Wiring: 802.3at defines two Alternatives (A and B) depending on your wiring system. o If you are using 10base-T or 100base-TX (both only need 2 pairs - 4 connectors) then Alternative A wiring sends power over the signal pairs 1,2 and 3,6 since these may be the only ones connected. Alternative B wiring uses the unused pairs 4,5 and 7,8 for power and will clearly only work for systems which have connected all 4 pairs (and are therefore using 100base-T4 wiring!). o If you are using 100base-T4 or 1000base-T (both need 4 pairs - 8 connectors) then Alternative A wiring sends power over the signal pairs 1,2 and 3,6. Alternative B wiring uses the signal pairs 4,5 and 7,8. Since 100base-T4 and 1000base-T need all 4 wires connected there is no functional difference between Alternative A and B in this case.

RJ45 Connector (Plug and Receptacle) Pin Numbering

RJ45 Male Connector (Plug) and Female Connector (Receptacle)

Notes: 1. Today the male connector is more normally called a plug and the female connector areceptacle. Historically the term Jack was frequently used to describe what is now called a plug and Wall-Jack, or even just Jack, to describe the receptable. It's complicated. 2. While most commonly referred as an RJ45, it is a modular connector with the catchy name of 8P8C (8 Positions, 8 Connections). RJ - in case you were wandering - means Registered Jack. 3. The receptacle numbering is shown using a FRONT view (left to right, pin 1 - 8). Beware however, receptacles are wired from the REAR and hence the numbering will be inverted. Viewed from the REAR the numbering will be left to right, pin 8 - 1.