[EricVanWyk]

The provided cross-over cable is orange.

Unfortunately, it can sometimes be a pain to figure out if an unknown cable is straight thru or cross over. Hopefully, they are obviously marked so that you can assume a cable is straight unless it is obviously not.

If it isn't well marked, you have to look at the colors of the wires on both ends. On a straight thru, the color order will match on both sides. On a cross over, two of the pairs are swapped with each other.

You can also buy devices that check for you.

Does anyone have any better suggestions? This has always been frustrating to me. I usually just put a piece of orange electrical tape on all my cross overs when I buy/make them.