Nic - Nic ?

If I were to install a Routing OS freesco on a computer, then put two NIC's in it would it take justa normal cat5 from it directly to another computer ? or would I have to make a crossover cable ?

From NIC to NIC you need a crossover. Or you could use two cat5 and a hub/switch.

yes... in any situation where you go from NIC to NIC you need a crossover cable... it doesn't matter if you are using routing software or not.

ok, why can you use a normal cable"cat5" when going from an actual router to a computer ? its different hardware ?

Huh?? What you mean go from router to a computer???
Cause most of the router has a switch built in, which mean the connection is just like hub/switch to computer and that needs straight cable.
BUT dont confuse with the uplink port on the router. So if you use that uplink port to connect to a computer (its like you dividing the whole network into small division) then you will need a crossover cable.

hope that helps,
MameXP,
PS. also in future dont use the term normal for straight, i getting hard time to figure out that j/k. There are only 3 type for the cat5 cable: rollover, crossover and straight(thankx OSUmax for reminding me)

MameXP said:

There is only 2 type for the cat5 cable: crossover and straight

Click to expand...

And rollover

opps lol i forgot about rollover cable, but its only used for terminal the most to config router or switch so not practical use for general network.
Thankx for remind me
Ps.
Oh, DDR-PIII if you plan to use a computer for a router, do you know what linux distro to use yet?? If you havent made up your mind, you can contact me for more info. I would be happy to help

no i mean if i used a distro to turn a computer into a router/switch wouldnt it be able to tell that it was connected directly to another computer ? no ? why not switches can do it.