<div>
If it's only 2 switches the environment doesnt sound complex. I never used crossover cables but I did make sure to connect them using the trunk ports which I believe are usually on the right side.
</div>


If it's only 2 switches the environment doesnt sound complex. I never used crossover cables but I did make sure to connect them using the trunk ports which I believe are usually on the right side.

<div>
<div class="content wysiwyg-content">
Hello,<br />
<br />
I bought two new switches from Dell. I need to connect one to the other. I have connect both with a standard ethernet cable, not a crossover cable. No problems. I read online (oh oh) that I should be using a crossover cable....? Also, spanning tree is off on both by default and no issues. Another website recommends spanning tree be on. <br />
<br />
Who is correct? <br />
<br />
Thanks,<br />
J
</div>
</div>


Hello,

I bought two new switches from Dell. I need to connect one to the other. I have connect both with a standard ethernet cable, not a crossover cable. No problems. I read online (oh oh) that I should be using a crossover cable....? Also, spanning tree is off on both by default and no issues. Another website recommends spanning tree be on. 

Who is correct? 

Thanks,
J

Connecting two managed Dell Switches (not expensive ones). Best way?

Networking hardware includes the physical devices facilitating the use of a computer network. Typically, networking hardware includes gateways, routers, network bridges, modems, wireless access points, networking cables, line drivers, switches, hubs, and repeaters. But it also includes hybrid network devices such as multilayer switches, protocol converters, bridge routers, proxy servers, firewalls, network address translators, multiplexers, network interface controllers, wireless network interface controllers, ISDN terminal adapters and other related hardware.

Networking Hardware-Other

Networking software modules are interfaced with a framework implemented on the machine's operating system that implements the networking functionality of the operating system. The best known frameworks are the TCP/IP model and the OSI model. Systems typically do not use a single protocol to handle a transmission. Instead they use a set of cooperating protocols, sometimes called a protocol family or protocol suite.[9] Some of the best known protocol suites include: IPX/SPX, X.25, AX.25, AppleTalk and TCP/IP. Other protocols indirectly related to networking include the hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) and its related technologies, Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP), Domain Name Server (DNS) and other Internet protocols.

Networking Protocols

A switch is a device that filters and forwards packets of data between LAN segments. Switches operate at the data link layer or the network layer of the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) Reference Model and therefore support any packet protocol. LANs that use switches to join segments are called switched LANs or, in the case of Ethernet networks, switched Ethernet LANs. A hub is a connection point for devices in a network. Hubs are commonly used to connect segments of a LAN. A hub contains multiple ports; when a packet arrives at one port, it is copied to the other ports so that all segments of the LAN can see all packets.

Switches / Hubs

Since 1984, Dell has been delivering technology to fit your life.
Dell is in Enterprise, Home Office and Consumer sectors of the market, supplying a broad range of customizable desktops, laptops, notebooks, servers, storage, and network devices.