Apple products that require an Ethernet crossover cable
This document outlines which Apple products require an Ethernet crossover cable, and which can use a standard Ethernet cable when connecting directly to another Apple product.
You can connect two computers together using an Ethernet cable to form a small network. Depending on the computer model, you may need to use a crossover Ethernet cable instead of a straight-through Ethernet cable.
Many later Macintosh computers are able to use either a straight-through Ethernet cable or a crossover Ethernet cable automatically through the use of Auto-Medium Dependent Interface Crossover (Auto-MDIX). Earlier Macintosh computers require the use of an Ethernet crossover cable because they only work with the Medium Dependent Interface (MDI) .
Auto-MDIX automatically switches between MDI and MDI-X, which allows either type of cable to be connected regardless of whether you are connecting two computers directly, or you are connecting to a hub or switch. MDI devices connected to Auto-MDIX devices do not require a crossover Ethernet cable.
This article has been archived and is no longer updated by Apple.
Products that do not require a crossover cable
iMac (17-inch 1GHz) and later
eMac (ATI Graphics) and later
iBook (Dual USB) and later
Power Mac G4 (Gigabit Ethernet) and later
Xserve and later
Power Mac G5 and later
PowerBook G4 and later
Mac mini
AirPort Base Station (Dual Ethernet)
AirPort Extreme Base Station
AirPort Express
Time Capsule
All Intel-based Macintosh computers
Products that require a crossover cable if connecting to another product from this list