[tlug] using a cross-cable

[Jean-Christian Imbeault <jc@example.com>]

I couldn't find an answer to this on the web.

Is it possible to network two Linux machine directly without a hub if I 
use a cross-cable?

I put together a cross-cable (at least my tester says it's a 
cross-cable. I've never made a cable before so I am assuming a cross 
cable just mean all the wires are reversed ...) and tried networking two 
Linux boxes but the ethernet cards don't light up when I plug the cable 
in. However if I use two straight cables and a hub the machines network 
fine ...

Is this some special procedure to network machines using a cross-cable?

Thanks!

Jc