What is the difference between Connector and Cable

Connector and Cable

A unique end of jack, plug, or the edge of a card that connects to a port, like expansion cards of all desktop computers has a connector that allows connecting in a motherboard slot. And Connector is the Cable end that connects to a port.

What is Connector

The connector is an electromechanical device that is used to join electrical conductors and create an electrical circuit. It is used for connecting together two wires, cables, or hoses, allowing electricity or fluid to flow but also allowing easy disconnection and reconnection when necessary. Connecters have two genders the male component, called a plug, connects to the female component, or socket.

The connection may be removable or serve as a permanent electrical joint between two points. A male connector is a type of connector with one or more uncovered conductors which can be inserted into a female connector to ensure a physical connection. It is also called a plug, and it is used for establishing an electrical or data connection between two devices. It can be fitted inside a female connector that has one or more holes. Serial and parallel computer cables can also have male connectors.

Male Connector

What is Serial Cable

Serial cables are the most widely used form of cable in a computer network. They consist of two individual conductors that are fused into one cable. Each conductor has a separate end connected to another end of the cable. There are many different ways to connect your computer system to the internet, but the best way to do it would be with an Ethernet connection or any other data cable that is supported by a router such as a switch or a hub.

The ends of the cable connect directly to your motherboard or hard drive, which then connects to the same type of connector if there is one. For example, a motherboard connection (or SATA-to-SATA) cable will typically connect to a single SATA port. A three-port (SAT-to-SATA) cable connects two SATA ports. This means each port is connected at the same time as the previous one, so you can connect an SSD to the back and a USB drive to the front. Now to our next question, how does one know whether a particular cable is for connecting an input device, an output device, or both? That is where the serial interface comes in because it takes up the entire length of the cable.

When a certain cable is plugged into a socket, it takes up most of the cable, leaving only about 0.5 inches on each side. An external cable is also available that attaches to the same physical connector as the cable used to connect the computer to the router; this cable then extends down the length of the cable from the rear to the front until it reaches the plug.

Serial Cable

Serial Cable Types

The below image shows the DB-60 end of the serial cable that connects to a 2500 series of routers.

DB - 60

In below image shows the newer smart serial end of a serial cable that connects to a smart serial port on your router. Smart serial ports are found in modular routers, like ISR (x800) series, or older modular routers like the 1700 or 2600 series.

Smart Serial Cable

The male DTE (Data Terminal Equipment) and the female DCE (Data Communication Equipment) ends are on another side of the serial or smart serial cable.

DCE and DTE Cable

Most laptops are equipped with a USB port; no serial ports are available today, but you need a USB to the serial connector to access the device like the look below image...

USB Cable

What is Ethernet Cable

An Ethernet cable is a type of network cable which is used for wired networks that connects devices to the Internet or other networks using cables. It allows devices to communicate via a protocol, which is a set of rules or common network language. An Ethernet cable is a physical, encased set of wires that allows data to travel, and also it is used to connect devices on local area networks (LANs), such as routers, PCs, and switches.

Ethernet Cable

Ethernet Cable Types

A crossover cable or Straight-through cable is a type of Ethernet cable that is used to connect directly computing devices together.

Crossover vs Straight-through Cable

Rollover cable is also known as Yost Cable or Cisco console cable is a type of Ethernet cable that is used to connect a computer terminal with a router console port.

Rollover or Cisco Console Cable

Check proper cabling of devices while wiring devices together. When wiring the devices together which cable should be used following table shows the complete detail.

Diffrence between Ethernet Cable Types

Pinouts for Different Ethernet Cables

Ethernet Cable Pinouts

Pinouts for Different Ethernet Cables with Diagrams

1. Crossover Cable

Crossover cables use TX and RX lines are at opposite positions on either end of the cable. Connector A of Pin 1 goes to Pin 3 of connector B. Connector A of Pin 2 goes to Pin 6 of connector B. Connector A of Pin 3 goes to Pin 1 of connector B. Connector A of Pin 4 goes to Pin 4 of connector B and so on. It is used to connect two hosts directly. To connect a computer directly to another computer, connect a switch directly to another switch, or connect a router directly to another router.

Crossover Cable Pinouts

2. Straight-through Cable

Straight-through refers to cables that have pin assignments on each end of the cable. Connector A of Pin 1 goes to Pin 1 of connector B, Pin 2 to Pin 2, Pin 3 to Pin 3, and so on. It is used to connect a host to a client.

Straight-through Cable Pinouts

3. Rollover Cable

Rollover cables have opposite pin assignments on each end of the cable, which means connector A of Pin 1 would be connected to Pin 8 of connector B. Connector A of Pin 2 would be connected to Pin 7 of connector B. Connector A of Pin 3 would be connected to Pin 6 of connector B and so on.