This configuration describes a crossover cable. A crossover cable is used to connect two similar devices directly, such as two computers or two switches, without the need for an intermediate device like a router. The wires at one end of a crossover cable are in reverse sequence to the wires at the other end, which allows the transmit and receive signals to be properly aligned between the two devices. This is different from a straight-through cable, where the wire sequence is the same at both ends1.