In a lab setup where a PC is connected to a switch's console port and other devices connect via FastEthernet, which UTP cable types can be used to connect the devices?

• A. Rollover, Crossover, Straight-Through
• B. Rollover, Straight-Through, Crossover
• C. Crossover, Straight-Through, Rollover
• D. Crossover, Rollover, Straight-Through

Answer: (A)

The key idea is matching cable types to how devices connect. A rollover cable is specifically for the management console: it lets a PC talk to the switch’s console port to configure and manage the device. It isn’t used for regular data traffic on FastEthernet ports.

For FastEthernet data connections, straight-through cables are the standard when connecting different types of devices (for example, a PC to a switch) because the transmit/receive pairs are flipped appropriately. Crossover cables are used for connections between like devices (PC to PC, switch to switch) when auto-sensing isn’t available. In modern gear, auto-MDI/MDIX often handles either cable type, so either straight-through or crossover can work.

In the described lab, you have a console connection (rollover) and FastEthernet connections (straight-through or crossover, depending on the devices and auto-sensing). That means all three cable types can be used in this setup, which is why the best answer includes rollover, straight-through, and crossover.