An ethernet cable has 4 pairs of twisted wires, but normally, only 2 pairs are used. Looking at the back, from left to right, they are white/orange Used orange Used white/blue Used white/green --- Not Used green --- Not Used blue Used white/brown --- Not Used brown --- Not Used --------------------------------------------------------------------- Since only half the wires are used, you can easily see that you can have two ethernet cables in one 8-strand, 4-twisted pair wire. Wire the single ends normally as shown above. At the 2-into-1 end, snip off the two pairs of green and brown wires of both cables, leaving only 8 wires total, 4 from each cable. One of those cables (cable #1 below) is wired normally. The other cable is wired the same at both ends. Our convention is |---- orange/white from cable #1 ==== Ethernet cable #1 |---- orange from cable #1 |---- blue/white from cable #1 |---- orange/white from cable #2 |---- orange from cable #2 |---- blue from cable #1 ==== Ethernet cable #2 |---- blue/white from cable #2 |---- blue from cable #2 Since you have one of these 2-into-1 cables at both ends of the connection, that is, from the patch panel to the switch, and from the cubicle outlet to the two machines, as long as both cables are wired the same, everything works and you have two ethernet connections from one cable.