7100 to iMac X.5

[beachycove]

Can a 7100 be directly linked via onboard ethernet and transceiver + standard crossover ethernet cable to an Intel iMac running X.5, or does any networking connection need to go through a hub and router? I can figure out the software issues, it's the hardware issue that I am uncertain of.

 

[Anonymous Freak]

If you have a proper crossover cable, then a direct connection will work fine.

 

[LCGuy]

You shouldn't even need a crossover cable - most Macs from the G4 era onwards should be able to detect what kind of cable is in use and automatically cross the connection, I remember this capability was released with the Gigabit G4s back in 2000, and I can do it with my MacBook.

 

[Gorgonops]

Any old cable should work, with the proviso that some old 10 megabit Ethernet transceivers don't get along with faster auto-sense ports, and if you really get old some don't like full-duplex. (meaning they work okay with hubs, but have issues with switches or crossovers that assume full.) Try it, and if it doesn't work that is probably the problem. (the easy workaround is to use an old hub as a go-between.)