On 16 May 99, at 9:23, Ashok Bhiman wrote:

> What is a CAT5 cable and how is it used to connect two computers?
> Please excuse my ignorance.

  Category 5 UTP (Unshielded Twisted Pair) cable contains 8 wires (4 pairs)
and has an RJ-45 connector at each end.  [This looks similar to the RJ-11
connector used on modular telephone cables, but a bit larger.]
  It is normally used to link a computer (or other network node) to a network
hub or switch.  However, if the lines within the cable are "crossed over", it
can be used like a null-modem cable (cross-over RS-232 serial) to connect two
PCs' network cards directly to each other.  [This is what the poster was
asking about.]


David G

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