Which cable type is typically used to connect a host to a switch in modern Ethernet?

• A. Straight-Through
• B. Crossover
• C. Rollover
• D. Fiber Optic

Answer: (A)

When you connect a host to a switch in Ethernet, you use a straight-through patch cable. The host’s NIC sends on its TX pair and the switch port receives on its RX pair, so the cable aligns the transmitter with the receiver. Modern devices support Auto-MDI/MDIX, which lets them automatically adjust if the pairing isn’t standard, so you’ll often still get a working link even if a crossover is used. But the established, typical approach is straight-through copper.

Crossover cables were used to connect like devices (host to host, switch to switch) in the past, but Auto-MDI/MDIX reduces the need for that. Rollover cables are used for management console access, not for normal data paths. Fiber optic cables are for longer distances or higher-speed links and aren’t the typical choice for a host to a switch in common Ethernet LANs.