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Old 21st January 2017
thirdm thirdm is offline
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Default How old is Auto MDI-X

How long ago did laptops start automatically detecting the need for a crossover cable and switching the transmit and receive for you? I've been using an HP laptop from around 2010 and connecting it by ethernet to a Soekris net4801 which serves as my router/firewall. Recently I had the idea that I should put aside this new computer and use up my older one before it is completely useless. This second computer is an Asus from around 2006. When I connect its ethernet port to the net4801 using the same cable that works with the newer HP I get no carrier and no status lights lit up on either side. At first I was afraid the old machine's NIC had failed, but could it just be that I need a crossover cable for it?
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Old 21st January 2017
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jggimi jggimi is offline
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Gee. Wikipedia says the HP patents were issued in 2001 and 2002. See citations 3 and 4: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medium...ce#cite_note-3
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Old 21st January 2017
thirdm thirdm is offline
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Ah, you would think it would have gotten out and around faster. Having slept on it, it came to me to do the obvious experiments. Geez, if I hadn't such humble gifts that being any kind of scientist is out of the question, it's clear where I'd have fallen between the theoretical physicists and the experimental ones. Why did I not think of this earlier?

Results

Code:
Cable End A             Cable End B             Carrier?
---------------------------------------------------------------
Net4801                Asus Z35                   No
Cable modem            Asus Z35                   Yes
HP Elitebook 8440      Asus Z35                   Yes
Interpretation: the elitebook has the auto switching capability. The cable modem does too or else has reverse connections -- perhaps the latter is more likely. Neither the Soekris Net4801 nor the Asus Z35(fm?) has auto MDI-X.

Thanks for taking the time. I guess I have to go to the store for a crossover cable.

Last edited by thirdm; 21st January 2017 at 04:57 PM. Reason: table format
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Old 21st January 2017
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I don't even know if they still sell 'em. If not, I can make you one and ship it to you.

(I have a box of cat6 in a closet, a crimping tool, and some cat6 connectors.)
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Old 22nd January 2017
thirdm thirdm is offline
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Thanks for the offer but the Microcenter across the river has them. I took the whole afternoon walking there and back (for some exercise - there are trains and buses here) and now the laptop is working nicely.
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