Creating LANs

Some labs require host connections. For example, in Chapter 13, "Using AAA to Scale Access Control in an Expanding Network," you need to test the configuration between the routers and the AAA server. You can use several different methods to model LANs:

If you will not connect more than two devices, a common method is to use an Ethernet crossover cable. In the lab environment, you can use this cable to connect two routers or to connect a router to one host. An Ethernet crossover cable is just an RJ-45-to-RJ-45 patch cable, pinned out in a crossover pattern. Figure 2-2 illustrates the pinouts (pins 1, 2, 3, and 6 are used) for an Ethernet crossover cable.