Ethernet may also be used as a direct computer-to-computer communications method using an Ethernet crossover cable.

An Ethernet crossover cable is a type of Ethernet cable used to connect computing devices together directly.

A well-known crossover cable is the Ethernet crossover cable, which converts between T568A and T568B termination.

The primary thing one has to be careful of is not to accidentally wire the ends of the same cable according to different configurations (unless one intends to create an ethernet crossover cable).

(It will also work with Wi-Fi networks with the help of an optional adapter like the D-Link Wireless Bridge and can connect directly to a Mac with an Ethernet crossover cable.)

This communication is done via an Ethernet crossover cable as opposed to a PC to DCE (hub, switch, or bridge) communication which is done via an Ethernet straight cable.

An Ethernet crossover cable is a type of Ethernet cable used to connect computing devices together directly where they would normally be connected via a network switch, hub or router, such as directly connecting two personal computers via their network adapters.

When two devices, that are both DTE or both DCE, must be connected together without a modem or a similar media translator between them, a crossover cable must be used, e.g. a null modem for RS-232 or an Ethernet crossover cable.

To connect two ports of the same configuration (MDI to MDI or MDIX to MDIX), an ethernet crossover cable is needed to cross over the transmit and receive signals in the cable, so that they are matched at the connector level.