Subject: What is the pinout for RJ45 cables?
Date: 09/13/97

Pinouts for RJ45 jacks (Serial and 10Base-T)


A 10Base-T cable is wired with a straight thru cable. Often either T568A or T568B is used instead of 10Base-T wiring:

10Base-T Wiring Chart
PinColorSignal
1White-BlueTD+
2BlueTD-
3White-OrangeRD+
4--
5--
6OrangeRD-
7--
8--
T568A Wiring Chart
PinColorSignal
1White-GreenT3
2GreenR3
3White-OrangeT2
4BlueR1
5White-BlueT1
6OrangeR2
7White-BrownT4
8BrownR3
T568B Wiring Chart
PinColorSignal
1White-OrangeT2
2OrangeR2
3White-GreenT3
4BlueR1
5White-BlueT1
6GreenR3
7White-BrownT4
8BrownR4

A 10Base-T Cross-over swaps TD and RD. That is, swap pins 1 and 3 as well as pins 2 and 6, on one end of the cable.

AT&T 258A wiring is comparable to T568B


Serial cables must be pin-swapped ( 1 - 8, 2 - 7, etc.) The serial pinout is the same as used by SCCS, though the documentation in the USENET Serial Board II Owner's Manual has the pin numbering swapped from above. These are their tables, modified for the above pin numbering. The USOC 4-Pair wiring can be used (swapping one side)

USOC 4-Pair Wiring Chart
PinColorSignal
1White-BrownT4
2White-GreenT3
3White-OrangeT2
4BlueR1
5White-BlueT1
6OrangeR2
7GreenR3
8BrownR4

Serial Pinout Applications
ConnectorPinoutConnect toPretend to be
DB25-MDCEModemIBM PC 25-pin
DB25-MDTETerminal 
DB25-FDTEIBM PC 25-pinModem
DE9-MDCEMouseIBM PC 9-pin
DE9-FDTEIBM PC 9-pin 

Serial Pinout Details
RJ45 PinWire ColorDTEDCE
NameDE9DB25NameDB9DB25
1blueCTS85RTS74
2orangeDCD18DTR420
3blackTD32RD23
4redGnd57GndN/C1
5greenGndN/C1Gnd57
6yellowRD23TD32
7brownDTR420DCD18
8whiteRTS74CTS85

Make Equinox terminal server cables as straight through with pins 5 and 6 swapped on the Equinox side.

On cisco routers, as well as SPARC Netras, RJ45 jacks are also used. The wiring is slightly different than the one listed above. They have RTS/CTS flipped as well as DTR and DCD (actually, they use DSR instead of DCD). Below is a table that reflects these changes.

Serial Pinout Details - cisco
RJ45 PinWire ColorDTEDCE
NameDE9DB25NameDB9DB25
1blueRTS74CTS85
7orangeDTR420DSR16
3blackTD32RD23
4redGnd57Gnd57
5greenGnd57Gnd57
6yellowRD23TD32
7brownDSR16DTR420
8whiteCTS85RTS74

BayTech RPC and DS series data switches and power controllers have yet another pinout. Below is a table that reflects their pinout.

Serial Pinout Details - BayTech
RJ45 PinWire ColorDTEDCE
NameDE9DB25NameDB9DB25
1blueDTR420CTS85
7orangeN/C--GND57
3blackRTS74DSR16
4redTX32RD23
5greenRD23TD32
6yellowDSR16RTS74
7brownGND57N/C--
8whiteCTS85DTR420

If you are using a 10baseT patch cable to connect two serial ports, one end must be changed from DTE to DCE or DCE to DTE.

The wire colors given here are those used in the adapters offered by South Coast Computing Services, Inc. Verify the color code of any connector you use by comparing pin numbers and configuration with the pin number map in figures 1 and 2.